The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1873-10-02

as, or are We 10 set 1T at nOugl
and be governed only by our own individu;
opinions as Democrats, and accept or T,
ject as we pIeasel When the platform wa
first promulgated, so far as we could lear
from our exchanges, the Galveston Gep
among the number, it was received Wit
universal appreciation. Not a spcck O
fault was discovered or spoken OF by an
Democratic newspaper. The Radicals, o
course, were loud in their denunciations, a
was to have been expected. The Democrat
platform is very clear and explicit. ondo
its provisions is asfollows:
s'XII. We favor the calling OF Consti
tutional Convention by our next Legisla
turen
There can be no misunderstanding abou
this. 1t Is very plain, and it is just as bind
ing on Democrats as any other portion o.
the platform. If we can disregard this, W,
can set aside the whole, and still claim tC
be Democrats. Can this be done2
As faithful sentinel on the Democratic
watch towers, we say most emphatically, no,
it cannot be done, without destroying all
party organization, and bringing about q
state of confusion, dangerous in the ex-
treme to party success. When the Austin
Journal, The leading organ Of. Radiealism in
this State, denounced Constitutional Con-
vention as revolutionary, and intimated that
the Galveston Nesss would be opposed to
sone, we gave no credit to its assertions. 1t
would now appear, however, that it spoke
by the book, and knew better what would
be the course Of the Nccs than we did
That paper of the twenty-fourth instant adj
mits, after its usual manner when about to
change face, a communication from Marlin,
full OF insidious assaults upon the Demo-
cratic party, under the guise of excessive
conservatism and moderation, and winding
upwith an open attack upon the platform as it
regards the calling of Constitutional Con-
vention by the next Legislature. But this
is not all. The Ne,os, in alldding to its cor
respondent, takes occasion to say, that,
while it ''does not fall in with all urged in
the communication, yet 1t contains enough
to set the people thinking" and, in conclu-
sion, aYows its agreement with the writer on
the point of a Constitutional Convention,
and says distinctly, that ''we do not favor
any effort to commit candidates to this sys-
ten of amendments or convention For
itself, it prefers to perfect the Constitution
by amendments rather than hold Consti-
tutional Convention. Now the late Demo
cratic Legislature proposed to the people of
Texas certain amendments to the present
which are now before them,
and the late Democratic Convention, in their
platform, distinctly recommend their
adoption as well as the calling of
a Constitutional Convention. Are we TO
all this Are our candidates to
be selected without reference to their opin-
ions on SO. important subject, and are they
to be allowed to set aside the determine
tions of the Democratic party and occupy
the Radical ground IN opposition to the
platform2 If we understand the Meas, that
is its view of the matter. 1t is not ours. We
hold ourself, as we hold every honest and
true Democrat, bound by the party plat
form, and we intend to stand not only by it
but on it, believing in every plank and nail
in it, and we expect to fight there until the
ral-AE4.-4 -aasa do. &c -l4 lAlaoses
Wepretend not to dictate its course. But
We feel bound to say that, in our judgment,
he position it has taken willbe an injury to
he Democratic party, is calculated to create
livision in its ranks by incouraging insub-
and individual action, and viii
,e hailed with delight by our common
enemies.