The Republican Reconstruction government remained in power
in Florida for eight stormy years. Handicapped by its dependence
upon the black vote, the state's poor economic condition, and the
hostility of the majority of white citizens, it finally went down
in defeat in the disputed election of 1876.

The leadership of the incoming Democrats lay with an oligarchy
composed of their county leaders, since the victorious guberna-
torial candidate, George F. Drew, was virtually a political un-
known before the campaign. The manner in which Drew and the
other Bourbon governors met the problems facing them moulded
the complex political patterns of present day Florida. That they
and the county leaders left few official and personal records was
in keeping with their utilitarian philosophy. All who work in Flor-
ida history owe a major debt of gratitude to the late Julien C.
Yonge of the University of Florida, not only for his collection of
newspapers and manuscripts, but for the knowledge that he was
always willing to share.

In telling the story of Bourbon politics I am obliged to Dr. James
Miller Leake of the University of Florida. Dr. Leake first encour-
aged me to examine the career of Senator Wilkinson Call. This
book is a continuation of a dissertation written under the kindly
and encouraging supervision of Dr. Roy F. Nichols of the Uni-
versity of Pennsylvania. Dr. W. E. Baringer of the University of
Florida generously evaluated the original manuscript. The grant-
in-aid and research professor programs of Auburn University made
possible the preparation of the final draft.

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