The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1873-11-13
TIEE TEMPERANCE AND GRANGE
QUENTIONS.


QUENTIONS.
It is strange that Democratic papers will
not state our position fairly on both these
questions. We have given our opinion free
" about both and have used language so
plain that no one need misunderstood us
and no one ought to misrepresent us. For
the benefit os our friend Of the Ao1tt Team,
for whom We have high regard and re-
spect, .who regrets to see controversy
going on between the STATEaMAN and the
sigaet, . we will again express our opinion
and define our position on the temperance
question We are not opposed to temper
ance, as falsely stated by the Sig,aet and
some other papers We are not opposed
to organizations Of a proper character
to further the cause Of temperance.
But we are opposed to mixing up
this question with politics and Great
ing political temperance party. Does
the North Term favor onel Surely not, we
trust. Now why did we notice the Wealth
crford Signet9 Because its editor unequivo-
cally made war on the Democratic State
platform, and distinctly threatened, as the
organ of the temperance organization in
this State, that if the Democratic party
maintained its present position on this
question, it would bring its whole force to
bear against the party and its nominations.
Here was plain declaration, by the organ
of temperance, that they would enter the
political arena and get up political party
or join the present Radical party against the
Democracy. We were too good and true
Demociat not to denounce this promptly.
We strike quick and sometimes we strike
hard. We have strong aversion to
all humbugs and dcmagogues and char
latans, whether engaged in the cause of
temperance or any other cause. We hon
estly believe that temperance cannot be ad-
vanced by legal enactments, reaching even
to total prohibition, and we contend that
the position of the Democratic party of
Texas, as defined by the sixth section of its
platform, is right and proper. It is not
only in accordance with the spirit of our
Constitutions, State and National, but 1t is
in accordance with reason, justice and all
human experience The editor of the North
Ttraa may not agree with us in this-indeed,
we are almost sure he does not, and that he
entertains his own views honestly-but we
rvould refer him to paragraph from the
Galveston Ners, which we publish else
where, showing the working Of the prohib-
itory law in old, pions, moral Massachu-
sets. It is dead letter there, as every
where else there has been an attempt to en-
force it. ~hc whitcd sepulchrc is full of
rottenness and dead mems bones Do our
temperance people in Texas desire to follow
in the wake of these Northern progression
lists and pretended rcformersl
1t is against this that we are protesting,
not the honest noble cause of temperance,
which we desire to soc advanced and cen
tinue to flourish. After this distinct decla-
ration and explanation of our position, is
there Democratic paper in the State that
will go on misrepresenting US and the Dem
ocratic party rs lovers and defenders of in
temporancel
Again, as to the Oranges, inasmuch as
our worthy chairman Of the Democratic Ex-
ccutive State Committee has recommended
that this question be not discussed in the
Iprcsent canvass, we should like to avoid
saying anything further on this subject, but
We cannot allow ourselves to rest under the
grossest misrepresentation in relation to
it. It is said that we are opposed to
the interests OF the farmers. This is un-
true in every respect, as we have fre-
quently avowcd and explained. But We
are strongly opposed to a farmers
party as distinguished from and in opposi-
tion to the old Democratic party. We in
sist there is no necessity for such party in
Texas, and that the Democratic party is all
sufficient for the time and circumstances,
and that it will attend, as it always has, to
the best interests not alone of the farmers,
but Of all classes, as great and true party
should. We think the Oranges win run
into politics aud the formation Of farmers
party, hence we oppose them. It win be
seen that ourmain object is the preservation
Of the old Democratic party, and that We
oppose an movements and schemes calcu-
lated to interfere with it. It is good enough
for us, and We want no other to fight Radi.
calism with, aud We intend to stick to it
and defend it to tho last in spite Of any
amount Of misrepresentation coming from
any source, Radical or Democratic. We
stand square and firm on the platform Of cur
party, and We ars not to be driven from our
nos;tion.