The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-04-11
IndopeB deniisn.


liOHnulunlNhl'N'l
There Is nothing new about Independent
Ism In Texas politics, For In spite oftho d,
nuocations hurled ut Il by some Of our poll
tlcians, II has been tho rule rather than III,
exception. To prove this we have simply I,
turn 10 the history Of tho State, The latest
and perhaps most complete (which Ia no
aying much) history of Texas, tells Va TIM
political parties were not formed in thi
State until Poaso's administration, 1863
1866. Previous TO that time while Dome
cratic principles had generally prevailed
yet contests for Office were conducted on NJ
Independent basis. II was "go.As.you
plo0so" race, whilo tho people were loG
free M tho winds TO choose between men
Tho little band of heroes who constituted IN,
voting population of the Rel ublic, aud who
by one bold stroke had made Tcxas ,ndcpen,
dent of n great nation, were not tho mon
TO bow to tho party lash or yield conscience
and Judgment TO conventions packed with
scheming, wiro-pullng politicians Thecan.
didates Tor tho Presidency wero usually
prominent actors In the stirring scenes OF
the Republics early dayswho ran upon their
record, and not upon party platforms AT
the first election for the Presidency, under
the constitution, we find Houston, Aistinand
Smith the candidates AT the next election,
Lamar. Wilson, Collngsworth and Grayson
were the candidates, but tho latterco committed
suicide and Collingsworth was drowned be
fore the campaign was ended. In lSil
Houston and Burnet were the candidates.
In 1874 Arson Jones and Edward Burleson
were tho candidates. President Jones signed
the acts annexing Texas to tho Union, and
on the 10Th Of February, 1870, the Lone Star
took her place in tho grand constellation.
AT tho election previously held for Governor,
j. inckney Henderson and DR.. Miller werr
the candidates. In lS47, Wood, Miller and
and Darnell were the candidates, and Wood
was again \ candidate in 40 but was defeat.
cd by Bell, Mills also having been candi
date. In 1861 tho people of Texas seem IL
have been seized with n sort of gubernato.
rial mania, for there were no less than five
candidates in the field, namely, Bell, John
son, Greer, Epperson and Chambers; Bell
being triumphant. In 1858 the mania was
still raging and Pease, Ochlltree, Wood
Evans, Chambers and Dancy all entered the
contest for the coveted honor. Shortly after
TINS Acknowledgment burst upon the coun.
try and claimed brief resting place for ts
short and troubled existence in Texas as well
rs the rest of the Union. This was followed
by party organization and in 1866, '57 and
'59 the Democratic party had regularly
nominated candidates in tho field But il
1851 the race was again an independent one
with Governor Clark, tho present Stat,
Treasurer and Chambers in tho field
race was 30 close thai
Lubbock was elected by onl,
ia majority. In 1863 Murrah beat Cham
bers in free contest Thus it will be seer
that in fourteen general elections previous
to reconstruction, the Democrats had but
three regular party tickets in tho field. L
must also BIO noted that in two of these thre,
instances the Father of tho Republic, th,
most far seeing statesman and greatest maj
that Texas ever produced, opposed the reg
ular nominee. BY his independent capdidac,
in '67 and again in go the great Houston
taught the people of Texas that the domino.
ton of the Democratic party was not neces.
sary to the welfare of Texas, and by their
vote in go the people of the State proclaimed
that there are times when even the will OF
the Democratic party must yield to the
higher purpose and nobler resolve of free
ballot. 1t should also be noted that this man
elected on an Independent ticket stood amid
the falling shadows of war, and like a proph.
ct gifted with heavenly wisdom pointed
to n dread future and implored hi:
people not to take the fatal step.
1t should also be noted that at the first con
vention held for the nomination of State
officers only seventeen counties were repre
sented. In view of the small number of del.
egatos present it was not deemed adyisabl,
TO make nomination, and resolution wa,
adopted simply recommending the people Il
vote for Gov. Pease. Curously enough. thi,
gentleman, who first led the Democracy in ,
regular State contest, is just now suffering
severe denuneiatlon from the "most straites
sect OF the Democratic press.
Ihe rise OF partyism In Texas marks very
painful period in the history of tho South
is was at this time that the Whig party WA,
ever-thrown and the Democratic party oh
tanned complete ascendancy in nearly MI IN,
Southern States. Party spirit became NOR,
and more intense, and party leaders began Il
evinee an slmost fierce determination to ham
the will of the people to their wishes Yea,
after year they bound their cords tighter arr
tighter around their unsuspectinp victim. II
1860 lifetime of oblation seemed al hand. ant
hence with fatal shrewdness they purposeC
and perpetrated the dissolution Of the part,
at Charleston. This made national defeat in
evitable, and yet when this defeat came, the,
urged itas cause, reason and justification 70
taking another fatal step, and before tbei
doubling and trembling victim had time /,
lin the voice of protest, they D unged i int,
the awful gulf Of woe. 10 prove that
was patty leaders who blinde,
the people of the South and deceived an,
badgered them into secession, we have bu
10 refer to such witnesses as the great LIE
and the almost unanimous testimony of M
people themselves. An article which recent,
appeared in Democratic paper Of this CITY;
IN regard 70 the action Of the party leader
in South Carolina, is very conclusive on hi
subject W.
Since the war the party has again achieve,
andieputed ascepdancy In thu South m,