The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1873-09-18
PLATFORM OF THE DEMOCRATIC
PARTY or TEXAS.

We, the Democracy Of Texas, in CoDven-
ton assembled, relying on the virtue and
intelligence of the people, again declare our
principles and policy, and ask for them the
popular approval, And
! l. We declare our adhesion TO the time
honored principles of the Democratic party.
our devotion to popular liberty regulated
| by law; and to constitutional government
simple in machinery, and to be be admin
! istered with the strictest economy.
! H. We congratulate the people of Texas
on the repeal by the Thirteenth Legislature
/ of a number Of the oppressive, odious and
unconstitutional acts, passed by the Twelfth
Legislature, in pursuance of the Radical pol
1 icy to overthrow the government of the
people, and among which acts were:
/. The Militia Law, whereby the Cover
nor was authorized to suspend the writ OF
ha5eas corpus and establish martial law.
thereby depriving the citizens of all legal
and constitutional protection, and subject
ing their lives, liberty and property to the
unrestrained caprice and malignity Of
partisan Executive.
?. The Police Bill, designed and intended,
among other things, to create a system Of
secret espionage, by hired informers, upon
the people; at war with the principles of
CIVIL HDCIIys OulOuS 10 All rlfcCmcn, ana
heretofore tolerated only in, the ~ttespotiIsni
! OF the old world, and the execution of
! which act was for the most part entrusted to
a class of men of degraded and infamous
character.
,. The Enabling Act, under which the
Governor was authorized to appoint district
attorneys who were made elective by the
| Constitution; to appoint all municipal Off
GERS, and to fill all vacancies that might
occur in the offices of clerks and sheritIs,
thereby designedly bestowing on him great
! power and patronage, to enable him To con-
tinue Radical misrule over this people.
/ 4. The registration and election laws,
which were framed and intended for the
purpose of preventing free and fair cleo
tons; they openly encouraged the perpe-
tration of frauds to defeat the will Of the
people, and to perpetuate Radical misrule,
presenting to our people the extraordinary
and humiliating spectacle Of surrounding
the places of registration and voting with
an armed partisan police with which to in
timidate and overawe the citizens.
5. The act relating TO public free schools,
which, among many other bad features,
provided the means of enabling public Off
Gals to speculate in school books, in the
building and furniture of school houses, in
the salaries of teachers, and furnished high
salaries for a large and useless number of
officers, which gave the Radical party the
means to pay their political missionaries
who Travelled for radical purposes and frauds,
from one end of the State to the other
III And we further congratulate the peo-
pie OF Texas that the Democratic members
of the Thirteenth Legislature, so far as it
was possible to accomplish their object, In
presence of the captious vetoes of the Gov
ernor, and the opposition of his partisans in
the Senate. replaced the foregoing obnox-
ious, repealed measures, by just and whole
some laws bearing alike on all, and which
if honestly and faithfully executed, VIII re-
dound to the lasting good OF the country
and prosperity of the people.
" The Democratic party, when it
comes into the possession of the government
of the State, will administer it IN the inter
est and for the benefit Of the whole people,
and not of a party; and, however much We
may have been provoked to hostile and re-
taliatory legislation, by the outrages COM
mitted on US by the Radical Legislature
and State government, it viii be part Of
our great mission TO rise superior to our
Just resentments, and administer the roy
crnment in such manner that every citizen.
whatever his politics, religion, nationality
or color, shall feel that he is securely pro-
tected in his life, liberty ana property.
" The school fund, saeredly set apart
for the education OF the children Of the
State, has, under the operation of the mis-
iule of the party in power, been plundercd
by peculation, squandered and perverted
to political purposes The Democratic
party, through US, reaiiirms its past opin-
ion and the policy it has ever pursued. that
it is the boundcn duty OF The State to
maintain an efficient system OF free common
schools, and secure the means Of q COM
mon education TO every child in the State
and we advocate the gradual sale Of the
alternate sections Of land belonging to the
common school fund as also Of the asylum
and university lands, under such restric-
tons as viii secure the funds arising there
from to the purposes FOR which they were
intended, and giving in such sales proper
preferences to actual settlers ia coed faith
thereon.
VI. It was the Democratic party which
first inaugunted the wise and generous pol-
icy which has made the United States TIC
asylum Of al nations from oppressive gov
eminent and less favorable means 81 liVeii. /
hood and independence; and the Democrat
ic party Of Texas, true 70 tho carly feachiaps
and uniform practices Of the party. alvo-
Gates the most liberal and active policy H.
NhNrttt5S at't iitNd -ter ioiNi2t fluHii IflItoB
70 develop tie resources Of our fertile State.
as well - 10 perpefilatc the government.
through the intelligence and moral worth
Of her citizens. Aud that every adopted
citizen may enter into the piriE 81 perfect
freedom Of thought and action IN matters
Of conscience, tile Democracy Of Texas. ih
Convention assembled, declare tito g. our
frIa conviction that legal interference with
the merely social habits 81 any class Of cifi-
zcns. natives Or 81 foreign birth, S contrary
TO sound policy, 20 genuine Democracy. and
70 the enlightened spirit n the age.
VII. The Democratic party IS and has
ever been IN favor 81 throwing As few in,-
pediments as possible in tile way 81 Fnro-
peaus making the United States thcihrd 81
their adoption; and 10 enable forei 9rels -
enter into citizenship without needless tra
bic, delay o. expense, we declare s. - 81
our conviction that o foreigner who desires
Z should have the right 70 make his dceIara
tion - intention % become citizen befope
tho c.crk. ~ vacation o. m open couff. -
mag be 90 him most convenient ana ~ n.
Ygr the passage - law - that elect
VII We condemn 81 tie strongest
terms " corruption n public osiicials and
demand tlle sir;ciest honcsir and econonv
% tie administration ~ public ifua fror
the highest % tie lowest officer 81 ne nor
trnuieni
y. liial lile Ds1FrraefoI Tef.s 5hfr
% their pass policy ~ lIeft lolint fl.e mate
ri1i i-sonrces 81 tif State. ard ~ .rin.. Tie 4
best Interests q iat people - entIafa41.
tAc construction ~ f4iir0cds That ~ his
end. and ~ eleburael lIa ,nfe.inItni-.ff +