The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1873-11-20


FelloO- Citisns-It would seem 70 be al
most useless to discuss political questions
before a club. organized as this is-to pro-
mote the cause 81 Democracy IN the pend
ing campaign. Certain It is that no argu-
mcnt Is needed to pursuade and convince
those whom ] address. But it Is charged
upon as by our advcrsaries that we are IN
ert, inactive, and taking no interest in the
campaign, while they boast that they are
alert, active and enthusiastic IN behalf Of
their candidates, and that their whole party
is ct work. This charge against US IS too
true. We are not taking the active interest
in the campaign that our nominees have a
right to expect Of us. We are not perform
ing our whole duty, and we will be held
responsible for IT, When our Methodist
friends desire 10 get up revival they always
begin among themselves. They hold their
prayer meetings, their class meetings, and
their love feasts, to which the wicked are
scarcely invited, and the first thing you
know they commence camp meeting, a
great revival breaks out, and the whole
country is converted. We must get
up a political enthusiasm in tine
same way. When we get enthused, and
begin to take q lively interest in our local
organizations, we may expect the fire to
spread and the whole party to become
warmed, aroused and active in the work Of
the campaign. In this way We can induce
oil our people to register, and on the day Of
election to come out and vote.
The issues presented are momentous
The present ana future happiness and pros
perity Of the people Of this State are in
volved. All our interests rs people are at
stake. Texas, in common with her sister
states, has been subjected to the same ordeal
Of reconstruction Wehavc had our military
commander, our military governors, and
have passed through the forms of an cleo
ton where bayonets and not ballots decided
the result. BY this means, E. }, Davis was
made our Governor and the notorious
Twelfth Legislature brought into existence.
Upon two occasions since bis inauguration,
the people have had an opportunity Of ex-
pressing their views at the ballot box. In
1871, in the election of members of Con-
gress, and in 1872, in the election Of Sena-
tors and Representatives in the Legislature.
And notwithstanding theinfamous registra-
ticn and election laws, and the fact that the
polls were surrounded by armed policemen,
commissioned and charged to work for the
Radical party, yet under all these disadyan-
tage, the people triumphed and condemned
the administration of Governor Davis the
acts OF himself ard his party, by majorities
the meaning Of which could net be mis-
taken.
He is now candidate for reelection. He
was nominated by the Radical Convention at
Dallas, which declared and promulgated a
platform OF principles. To this platform
propose TO address myself briefly. 1t is
composed Of few glittering generalitiesY
but every declaration, like the Delphie
oracles, is susceptible of double cOnstruc-
ton. They nowhere indorse the admins
tration Of Governor Davis, but by renomi-
mating him, they have Endorsed him and
indorsing him they indorse all his official
acts. They can not escape this. They can
not separate the man from his administra-
ton. There is an old adage which says,
'Love me, love my dog" Indorse me, in
dorse my acts. Indorse Governor Davis by
again placing him before the people aud
they indorse his every official act, and they
are forced to carry his administration
through the campaign. And what are the
distinguishing features Of his administra-
tion2 ] will mention few of them, for
their name is legion. First, will mention
his militia and police bills, framed by him
self and enacted by Legislature composed
almost exclusively Of his own partisans and
who were always ready to do his bidding.
These acts conferred upon him extraordin-
airy power, and we find him ever ready to
exercise this power, not for the benefit Of
the country but TO its. detrlment and ruin.
The blood Of hundreds of innocent men
murdered by his police is upon his hands.
He selected, with few honorable excep-
tions, the very worst men in his party and
II. =. !. -, n IL 20
sponsible for all their murders, assassina-
lions and robberies. He is responsible for
martial law in Walker, Hill and Limestone
counties, and for the robbing of the people
of those counties. He is responsible for
sending to Limestone county an army of
negroes, under command of men like Hall,
the Radical candidate for sheriff of Harris
county, and that little non-descript, Stanley
Welch, Of the State journal, who seized
the horses, mules, and other private prop
orty of the people, sold it for the military
tax. and bought it in themselves for
trifie. he is responsible for the $40, 600 of
which that people were plundered, and he
and his party must answer for It before the
bar Of an outraged people. He is response
bic for the registration and election laws
passed by his Twelfth Legislature, and for
all tho villainies enacted Hereunder.
he has ruined the public credit of the
State, and when he goes out of of
fee he leaves the State bankrupt in
money and in credit lie found in the
treasury about 500, 600 Of general revenue
when he came into Office. This had accum-
mulated from tax of fifteen cents on the
one hundred dollars worth Of property.
He raised the tax to fifty cents and yet the
treasury is empty and the warrants of the
State hawked upon your streets at fifty
cents on the dollar. He found the State
out Of debt, and he hes created bonded
debt Of several millions, and would make 1t
much greater If capitalists would invest.
But so low has he sunk the credit of the
State that he was laughed ut on Wall street
when he attempted 70 negotiate a loan upon
her bonds. Is Il mismanagement, want Of
financial ability, or is il a reckless disregard
of the welfare Of the State the result Of
profigacy in public expenditures, pecula
ton and fraudl We care not 10 what
II may be attributed. The fact itself is suf-
ficient 10 show his utter disqualification and
uniitness for the high public trust to which
he again aspires.
He Is responsible for the peculatious Of
his appoinloes. BE is responsible for all
the bribery, thieving and corruption in Office
that has been going on for the last four
years. His party has Endorsed him. and
they must indorse his acts. His organ,
published Just across the street, condemns
the acts Of the thirteenth Legislature, and
saws the Radical party, II triumphant, viii
return % the policy Of the Twelfth Legisla-
ture. That means militia and police bills;
Il means the repeal'of the present election
and registration laws; Il means such judges
upon the bench as Olive, Nancy and Bor-
Zen. It means continuation 81 csrpet-bag
rula. 81 election frauds, Of lost credit, end,
finally. bankruptcy aud financial ruin. Il Is
time we were aroused and alive 70 the lm-
portancc 70 the country 81 the issues Pre-
scntca. Il Davis ie elected, these things
viii CONTINUES. III Coke IS elected. we viii
have government Of the people and from
the people, government which all can
endorse aad 81 which we viii be justly
proud,
During this canvass Governor Davis and
His press has constantly charged that the