The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1911-06-23
Mr.. Henry S. Breckenridge, Balti

Mr.. Henry S. Breckenridge, Balti-
more, Md:
My Dear Sir-I am in receipt of
your valued favor inviting me to adj
dress a Woodrow Wilson meeting to
be held in your city at an early date.
| beg to thank you for the invitation
and to assure you of my regrets that
cannot be present on the day indi-
Gated. Perhaps on some future occa-
sion of the kind | may be able to at
tend.
Allow me to add that if it be the
purpose of the proposed meeting to
advance the prospects of Mr. Wilson
for the presidency l am in hearty ac-
cord with that motive and object l
have canvassed the political situation
and outlook with some care, and have
concluded to support Mr. Wilson for
the nomination Several distinguish
ed and deserving democrats are being
strongly urged for the presidential
nomination. 1t must be owned that
the democracy has a wealth of mate
rial for the presidency. 1t is easier to
nominate democrat who deserves to
win than to nominate one who is able
to win. We must seek a leader in
whom these two qualities are united.
believe that Mr.. Wilson answers
both requirements.
In saying this l disparage no one
who is or may be an aspirant. If the
collective wisdom of democracy
should elect another leader, l should
follow him with unfaltering fidelity.
To illustrate my feelings, if the bril-
liant speaker of the house should be
nominated. l should follow him with
as much devotion as the French SOL
diery followed THE white plume of
Navarro"
Our nominee should be chosen with
out prejudice or Partially. He should
deserve to win. He should receive
the unanimous support of an united
party When democrats divide, repub-
licans conquer. Harmony is inidspen-
sable to success. We should impose
prohibitive tariff on the apples of
discord"
I believe that every democrat could
support Mr.. Wilson without compro-
missing his conscience or his convic-
tions. In respect to principle, he is a
democrat of the ancient and accepted
order. Democracy means the rule of
the people, He believes that the gov
erned should govern. He trusts the
people, the people can trust him
In respect to legislative policies, he
is abreast of the times. He is in har-
mony with the spirit of enlightened
and rational progress. and yet he is
wise enough to know that too swift
arrives as tardy as too slow"
We must not overestimate our own
strength or underestimate that of our
adversary With New Jersey and New
York. democratic success is possible.
Without those states defeat is inevi-
table. If anyone can carry those
states Wilson can If he cannot, no
one can. In point of availability,
therefore, he outranks his democratic
compatriots.
Public sentiment is TO a nation
what conscience is to an individual"
Public sentiment today demands a
leader who has been weighed and has
not been found wanting. As governor
OF New Jersey, Wilson has made good.
He has redeemed the state He has
fought a good fight. He has kept the
faith. He has borne fruit. He has
been faithful over a few things" The
democracy should afford the Ameri-
can people an opportunity to place
him in authority over many things.
For my own pc~t. and speak for my
self alone, I shall do what | can to
~ 49, ,:sss: : - =