The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1879-10-09
SENATOR MAxEY,s SPEECH.
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On Friday evening, in accordance
with invitation, Senator Mszey ad-
dressed the public e. 5lillett's Opera
House, in this city. There vas a large
crowd, including many ladies', and the
most intelligent audience VIC have seen
assemble az any p1iisieal gathering in
Austin.
The speaker fret called attention to
the
MATERIAL INTERESTS OF TEXAS,
60 tar as they are matters concerning
Federal supervision. He spoke OF the
great need and imperative improve
ments in the postal service Of Texas.
Our vast increase in population, our
great extent OF territory, orr growing
Commerce and business necessities rem
der this a subject Of great interest to
the people OF this State. as chairman
OF the Postal Committee OF the Senate,
the Senator has had unusual facilities
for aiding progress in this direction,
and he called notice TO the numerous
and valuable improvements IN the pos-
tai service in Texas since his accession
to Office. Ne1tin Importance was mem
toned the subject of frontier defense,
a subject Of vital consequence to the
lives, property aud security Of our vast
western country bordering the Rio
Grande. The troubles so prominent in
that section short time ago have been
quelled; new posts have been estab-
lshed and troops sent there IN larger
numbers than ever before. These
things required work; aud Senator
Maxey expressed himself IN accord
with every movement tending to pro-
tect the frontier, and as a member of
the military committee Of the senate
he has exerted his whole energies to
that end. Austin came in for a share
of attention in connection with our
now Federal court and postoflice build
ing and the proposed renovation OF the
old barracks.
Passing from these objects OF local
importance the speaker enlarged upon
the great struggle pending between
the democratic and republican parties.
1t has been asked, said he, why in this
tsoh year" in politics, the political
leaders are caRvassing the whole coun-
try and sgitating the questions upon
Union are divided. IL Is because the
great battle of 1880 has already opened,
and this is but the skirmish fire pre-
monitory of the coming roar of srtiI-'
lery IN what is destincd.to be the most
momentous conflict in the history of
the government. In that conflict the
two contending armies are represented
under the old banners of Democratic
and Republican doctrines. On the one
side the Democrats insist upon the re-
served rights of the States; that the
States are older than the Union and
framed this government of federated
States, granting to the government at
Washington certain powers and reserv-
ing to the States respectively, or to the
people, all power not granted to
the Federal head nor prohibited to the
States; that in this Federal Union of
co-equal States, there ID dual power,
partly national and partly federal, ma
tional as to certain things, federal as
70 Others, and that as far as the Gov
eminent is national, the Federal Gov
eminent must retain and be entrusted
fully with all lts functions, duties and
powers; that as far as it is Federal the
States must be left sovereign and Sc
cure from interruption in the exercise
and enjoyment of their reserved rights.
This is the Democratic theory, and to
this they add the demand for a free
ballot, absence of military supervision
at the polls and the right of suffrage
untrammeled by any restriction or
control, save by the States from whom
the right to vote is alone derived, and
to whom alone belongs, under our sys-
TEN of government, its proper conduct
and control. This doctrine has re-
ceived the repeated sanction of the
Supreme Court of the United States,
as late as 1874, and II is in accord with
the true theory of the Constitution. In
these latter DAYS we are asked to &C
cept the strange and dangerous heresy
that "the sSo0rd iegjS}gtes,n that the
Constitution was .abrOgaled by the
war, and that the force of arms has
overturned the landmarks of that
great instrument. 4. more dangerous
doctrine was never promulgated. SO
far from being true, every change and
revolution accomplished by the late
WIZ was accomplished by the due pro-
cess of constitutional methods. The
abolition of slavery, the comforting of
the right 10 vote and of civil rights,
have all been consummsted by amend
ments to the Constitution, sanctioned
by three-fourths of the States and in
corporated according 10 the terms of
that instrument itself. The Supreme
Court of the United States, in noted
case (Milhgan co pdrte, from Ind.),
has held that the CONSTITUTION is the
Constitution in times Of war IS well as
in times:of peace;" and upon that de-
cision, with all the consequences flow
ing therefrom, the Democratic party
plants itself and proposes to make =
5 last fight against the dangerous innova-
tons Of Republican leaders. On all
these great questions the Republican
party occupies she position it has al
ways occupied, and must necessarily
occupy from the very nature of its dis
tinctive doctrines. It assumes that the
Union is older than the States, para
mount to she States, and they propose
to make it a consolidated government,
"a strong government, stronger
than the States and stronger than
the people. They are afraid OF the
people, and they contend for
centralized, nationahzed government,
whose efficacy shall consist not in the
enduring love aud condolences OF the
people, but in the force Of arms; in
the strength Of desposic unity. These
are the two opposing factors now con-
shutting the political equation, and
in 1850 the people will be called upon
to choose between them. Brought
face to face with this issue joined, the
Republicans, fearing the result of an
open fight upon such statement of
the case, are trying to lead eif the
public mind upon questions of Sec
tionsl strife. In the North and East
and West they are trying to reanimate
the prejudices of the war aud to stir
up the old contest between the sec
tons. With this contest the South
cannot afford 20 have anything to do.
It is contest Of passion, hate, preju-
dice and unresson, ana one in which
physical force and the strength OF
numbers must inevitably win. The
South must DO beaten in such strug-
gle, and It is the part not only Of good
will and fraternal feeling to let war
memories shoulder lnto oblivion, but
It Is also the part Of prudence, wise
policy and craftsmanship for our
people to refuse any participation
IN : war of hate snd prejudlce.
THR s'FTA1'r' pocrRINE.
Having thus reviewed the Two lead
ING parties Of the country. tho sneaker