The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1873-09-11

LII - COMPARE
The principles Of she Democratic and the
sO-calIed Republican parties are now before
us Let Us examine part of them at least,
and see the difference between the two in
their main features. One declares its de-
termination to keep alive the principles Of
Democracy, or in other words the rules for
governing ourselves, while the other lays
stress upon national or centralized organi-
zation, and the ''wise and just administra-
ton of President Grant.
One is in favor Of repeating obnoxious
and oppressive laws, and making whole
some ones, while the other is in favor of
perpetuating bad and oppressive laws. One
is in favor Of keeping the power in the
hands Of the people, while the other IS in
favor Of letting it remain in the hands Of
Grant, Davis and others of their character
The Democratic party promises that it
viii administer the government in the in
terest and for the benefit of the whole peo-
pie, and not of party and however
much we may have been provoked to hos
tile and retaliatory legislation, by the out
RACES committed on US by the Radical Lee
gislature and State government, it will be a
part of our great mission to rise superior to
our just resentments, and administer the
government in such manner that every citi-
zen, whatever hisI politics, religion, nation
atty or color, shall feel that he is securely
protected in his life, liberty and property"
And the so-ealIed Republicans promise
that they are opposed to the enactment
any public laws that may operate unequally
upon citizens, ON account of their race, ma
tivity or belief, and that we are in favor of
the largest amount of personal liberty con-
sistent with the security of our people in
the enjoyment of life and property"
While one is willing in the administra-
ton of laws to forget the great wrongs
committed against them because of politics
the other is determined to keep alive party
persecution and the innumerabe wrongs
which accumulate from it.
In regard to public schools the Democratic
party says:
That it IS the bounden duty of the State
to maintain an efficient system of free COM
mon schools, and secure the means of a
common 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 asy-
lum and university lands, under such re-
strictions as will secure the funds arising
therefrom to the purposes for which they
were intended, and giving in such sales
proper preferences to actual settlers in good
faith thereon.
While the so-called Republican party is
Sin favor of the re-establishment and con-
tinuanee of the system of public free
schools, such as is imperatively required by
article TX of our State Constitution, with
such improvements as experience has shown
to be desirable, and we strongly condemn
the practical abolition by the Thirteenth
Legislature of the system that was in ope
ration" or in other words the old Radical
organization for political purposes, and the
support of supernumeraries in the party,
which law was luckily done away with, and
replaced by another for the people, and sub
ject to their CONTROL by the Thirteenth Legs
islatnro.
While the so-called Republican party, the
hereditary enemy of foreigners, says In
brief terms, eve are in favor of judicious
State aid to immigration, such as is con-
templated by article XI of our State Con-
stitution,' the Democratic party, that
staunch old friend of our foreign born cit
liens, which stood up IN their defense dur
ing the terrible storm waged against them
by the Know Nothings, declares itself as
follows:
It was the Democratic party which
first inaugurated the wise and generous pol
icy which has madethe United States the
asylum of all nations from oppressive gov
t-efnment, and less favorable means of hveli-
hood and independence; and the Democrat
ic party of Texas, true to the early teachings
and uniform practices of the party, advo-
Gates the most liberal and active policy to
encourage and increase foreign immigration,
to develop the resources of our fertile State,
as we'll as to perpetuate the government,
through the intelligence and moral worth
of her citizens, And that every adopted
citizen may enter into the spirit of project
| freedom of thought and action in matters
of conscience, the Democracy of Texas, in
Convention assembled, declare it to be our
firm conviction that legal interference with
the merely social habits of any class Of citi-
zens, natives or of foreign birth, is contrary
to sound policy, to genuine Democracy, and
to the enlightened spirit of the age.
The Democratic party is and has ever
been in favor of throwing as few inn
pediments as possible in the way of Euro
peans making the United States the land OF
their adoption; and to enable foreigners to
enter into citizenship without needless trou-
BILE, delay or expense, we declare it to bC
our conviction that foreigner who disires
it should have the right to make his declare
ton of Intention to become q citizen before
the clerk, IN vacation or ia open court, IA
may be to him most convenient; and we IA
vor the passage of law to that effect.
We cannot wind up this criticism upon
the merits Of the two declarations without
calling special attention to the tone of each,
while the Democratic platform is filed with
the doctrine of the people and the State
governing themselves, the (so-calledD Re
publican platform is full of appeals to the
centralized power at Washington, showing
the tendency of this party Of deception
which under false name is trying to ere
ate one man despotism, the establishment
of Caesar with more power in his hands
than kings. and less justice than under tn,
most absolute despotisms.
s-.--
THE State Gazette is announcing sundry
''noble Democrats as agreeing with it il
the flight for principle" What sort o.
principle is it, that induces its editor 10 b,