The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1877-10-20
THE LOST PARTY.

y
ruled the state of Texas. with an iron
rod 1t was the one potent political
power in Texas, from its decisions there
was no appeal, against It's usurpations
and drag oaery, there was no defense
A very Robsspierre was its head, aud he
also was the official head of the state
government Texas groaned and strug
gled in the folds cfthis ruthless tyranny,
but all 20 no purpose, anti returning
Texas, So soon as the state governs
Enent passed out Of their hands, and
there were no more spoiis TO be gather
ed in Texan fields, the struggle OF the
factions commenced over the aistribu-
tion Of the federal patronage in the
state. II was this struggle which des.
troyed the republican party in Texas
Davis and Tracy, Newcolnb and Quick,
ochiltree and Lem Evans, and host OF
other lesser. but fully as determined
men fought and growied like jackalls
over thefeast furnished them by federal
patronage. Indeed. il was the old
feline Eight, described in the following
lines, and the result as the poet des-
cribes it, was prophetic
" There once was two cats ia Kilkenny,
And each cat thought there was one cat too
many
81 they scratched and theg bit,
And they growiet snd they iit
Till, excepting the points 0: their nails,
Aud the taps OF their tails,
Of both cats there was'ns lett any
There is nothing left of Davis, moths
ing of Boul,ls Baker. Newcome, Frank
Britton, Morgan Hamilton, or Webb
Flannegan, but rank, unwholesome
memory, which viii stink in the nos
trils of the state for a century or 50 to
come. There are, however, other re.
publiesns Of whom no such bitter MEM
cry remains They were the honest
few who really believed in its doctrines,
and who cared nothing for its patron
age. II is only those whose object
was the spoils of war and the emolu-
ments Of office, of whom the mass Of
the people of Texas retsin feeling Of
resentment,
NO. she irritating cause OF
bad feeling was re..~A.saa tb..
the feeling itself promptly gave up the
ghost Itself, When Grant refused to
furnish United States troops to defend
Dasis in office after his s.Ice sssor was
duly elected and qualified, the deatI,
knell of republican power sounded
through the beautiful vales Of what has
since become peaceful Texas. when
Mr.. Hayes was inaueurated and an,
nounced his southern policy, the
funeral was eonsamnated. because
without a bitter paftiAan policy of
the national administration, republi.
can theories must soon die out. and re-
publican eamp.followers desert so soon
as their supplies are cut off or begin to
How into other channels
Is not the history of republieanisnl in
Texas valuable lesson for the demoe-
raey If we would perpetuate its be.
msn reign. SO auspiciously begun, our
objects must not be like that of the re,
pubiieans, mere gain aud the prestige
OF official position, but the honest
purpose Of faithful support of lis doc.
trines, and the best good of the state,
and all lis people, parts and interests.
Ii has been said, and not inaptly,
that the democracy is hungry for office
while this, perhaps, is true Of few
inveterates, let the party not forget that
so far as this state at least il concerned,
it was this greed for Office, and the
riyslries, enmities and jealousies which
procured for the republican party its
eternal death. The lesson is an impress
sive one, and there are many young as
pirants now who are elamorous for posi-
ton, who. if these things are brought to
bear on them. will cease their impor-
tunities rather than invoke the des-
truetion of the party by the same pro-
eess as that which destroyed so eifec-
tualiy the republican>party in Texas.