The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-01-28
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CRITICISM BY OPPONENTS
TURNED TO BOOSTS
Ocala Banner.
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| Those who heard Mr.. Blount's speech
at the court house Tuesday night were
discussing it all day Wednesday. and
without exception, every criticism was
in praise of it.
| Without a question Of a doubt Mr.
Blount created a deep and favorable
impression in Ocala and in the estima :
ton Of our people he left the city q
bigger man than when he entered 1t.
Mr.. Blount's effort was a clear, clea II
cut, able dignified presentation of the
! things he stands for, and at no time did
he descend from the lofty plane that ne
at first assumed to defame, criticize o:
ridicule his adversary. His speech
from start to finish was non abusive.
! Mr.. Blount drew in classic Language
| his conception of a United States SEN
ator, and while he did not for a mo-
ment lay the fiattering JUNCTION to his
soul that he would reach so lofty an
ideal. he promised, if elected, that the
effort of his life would be aimed in that
direction.
| Mr.. Blount met every charge that
was made against him by Mr.. Bryan
and Mr.. Bryan's friends without equiv
. ocation or an attempt at evasion. With
| cllu SIlSClItSISSS lie
j dissected charge by charge, and showed
to the consciousness of everyone pres
ent their utter fallaciousness.
For instance, he met the charge
made against him about his inserting
Joker" in the Jim Crow" bill, as is
set forth at some length elsewhere IN
this paper. If those who are opposed
to Mr.. Blount will take the time to
read the explanation as he sets it forth
they will see how baseless is the
| charge.
| So he explained away his connection
with the Shotter case. Those ugly
things said about him by Colonel
| Toomer melted away like dew before
a hot July sun.
| In the turpentine bill at one time
pending before congress, under its pro-
visions a double inspection was re-
Quired when the shipments were inter
state. That meant a great deal foE
Jacksonville, because it would prevent
the Florida shipments from going to
Savannah, but as Pensa cola got the
most of her shipments from Alabama
it meant the building up of Mobile ct
the expense of Pensacola. The citi
zens of Pensa cola were very much
worked up on the subject, and en-
ployed Mr.. Blount to proceed at once
to Washington and use his efforts n
having the bill modified. He did So
and was so successful in his mission
that the people of Pensacola felt very
grateful to him for it.
So he swept away the charges made
against him in the Swayne case. He
was summoned as a witness in the i'm
parchment proceedings. On one count
his testimony was favorable; on the
other it was very dana ging. Mr.. De
Almond, in his speech in the case, was
uncomplimsntary to him, but the
speeches of some of the other members
of the committee (the names of whom
for the moment escape us) We're most
hattering.
| Mr.. Blount spoke for fully an hour
and half, and engaged the profound
attention OF his audience, a number Of
whom were ladies.
Mr.. Blount closed with a beautiful
1preoration. He said that if the people
OF Florida committed this great trust
to, his keeping that he would return ii
to them unsoiled and -unsullied.
| This paper has faith enough in Mr.
Blount to say that if he is elected to
this high Office that he will be as loyal
to the fruits reposed in him. as true
and as faithful to the institutions and
traditions of the south, and the tradi-
!. lions of the fathers. as were the vestal
virgins in keeping alive the sacred
fires.