The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1873-07-03
INTERNAL TMPROvR1EENTs--
RoADs---DEMOCRAT1C POLICY or

TEXAS.
The Democratic Party, IS irrational or
ganization, was never opposed to internal
improvements. Il is 6 great mistake Of
some Of our democratic friends that true
democracy requires them to oppose all pro
gress in this direction-that It should be
left entirely to individual exertions, and
that.it is wrong for the General and State
Governments to extend any aid for the in
ternaI improvement Of the country. 1t is
true that the democracy Of the early times,
being strict constructionists, opposed a
sweeping system Of internal improvements
on.the part Of the General Government, as
being stretch OF the powers, granted under
the Constitution, and liable to great abuse.
But no doubt existed as to the power
Of the General Government to make oppro-
priations for Improving our harbors, both
on the seas and the lakes, as well as the
more important navigabIe rivers BIr. Cal
houn, the very head Of strict construction
lists, in the first great commercial conven-
ton, held at Memphis, contended for the
power Of the General Government to inn
prove the Mississippi rivers, calling it a
''great inland sea-. Every democrat, in
those days, admitted the power of the
States over internal Improvements there
was no question of that-and many of the
States took up the matter warmly and ener-
geticalIy, and incurred heavy debts in the
construction of canals md other improve
ments. And the most of these States were
under the control of the democracy a greater
part ofthe time when these things were done.
Old democrats remember this well, and are
surprised, when some of our modern neWlight
democrats denounce all State aid to inter
nal improvements as undemocratic, and at
tempt to read the friends of railroads out
of the democratic party. Why, these men
are not well up in political history. They
had better become more conversant with
the doctrines and past doings of the party,
they profess to belong to, before they un-
dertake to ostracise men, to say the least,
as pure and patriotic as themselves. If
they did but know it, they themselves are
the heretics OF dissenters of their party. As
such, we would treat them with kindness,
and endeavor to bring them back to the
true old democratic faith of the fathers.
The democratic party of the Union would
never have remained in powerls long as it
did, had it been opposed to judicous sys-
tenn of internal improvements, and the
democratic party of Texas would be rent
into fragments and become an easy
prey to- the radicals, or some mon
grel, half breed concern. did it at
tempt to set itself up against all pro-
gress and ignore the vital interests of the
State. But it win do no such foolish thing.
1t will continue the policy inaugurated by
some of its wisest and best men. What has
that bcenl The granting of State aid in the
way of lands, reserving the alternate sec
tions. five can get the desired railroads
built by doing this, we shall be doing well.
It is idle to talk about squandering the
public lands and robbing the school fund
this is demagogism. The lands are worth
less, or nearly so, without railroads. Half
the lands, with the railroads, will be more
valuable than all the lands without them.
Instead of loss, it viii be an actual gain
to the State. Is this throwing away the
lands to the railroad companiesG Not so.
And is the school fund robbed by actually
increasing the available fund, as will be the
case when the railroads are built and
the State filed up with enterprising, in
dustrious immigrantsG Nonsense.
All parties and all interests viii be bene-
fitted by keeping up the policy, which has
heretofore marked the democratic party of
Texas. We want no new plank in the dem
oeratic platform, and we want no old plank
taken out to weaken and upset and over
throw it. As for money subsidies, they
are of radical invention. No sound demo-
crat goes for them. The Corsicana platform
denounces them-the democracy are a unit
against them. As for the money subsidy,
granted by the radical Legislature to the In
ternational Railroad, that is a matter for the
courts to decide. It should not go INTO the
Democratic Convention, and the subject
should have no place in the democratic plat
form. If the courts decide the Bonds, to
be issued under the charter, to be legal
debt against the State, they must be recog-
nized as such, and there must be no party
contest about them. The road, as already
built, is a good thing for the State, and its
completion through the Capital to San
Antonio and the Rio Grande win be a still
greater good, and the Company, who accom-
plish ali this, should be treated not only
with Justice but liberality. We think the
next Legislature will be able to compromise
and settle this matter to the satisfaction of
all parties.
LEErER RRoM HON. n. c. GHENT.