The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-02-28
AusTIs OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.
An outline OF the Character Of Men
the Democratic Party should
Have as their standard
nenrnrs pNraOnnI.

N cnBfOHslne lho attention ol inc pOlltphnA
ol the State, Us discussed nj tho capital, Is
the importance Of purity organization. OF
course do not mean by politicians, M used
In this connection, IN manipuatOB aud
those who are busy preparing states on which
shall be Inscribed tho names of pets and
lhyoIlles, nor those who are combining
for tho purpose Of eecting certain men to
office, but | do mean those who work for
success because success means tho assertion
Of principle without regard n candidates,
and In opposition 10 all questions Of mrrG
erpedloncy, OF states mud combinations we
may write In the future; for the present
we deal only with this one fact, that II W.
should attain success we must first deserve II,
and then organize and work for It's achieve
ment II matters not who may be the mon
selected for our standard bearers in this com
ing contest, nor whether they como from
north or south, east or west, for with truth
II may be asserted TINT material IN the State
IL not wanting, ana there need be no lacl, of
competent and true men to I'LL the various
official stations TO which they arc 10 be
elected. We arc the last to deny the neces-
sity for enlightened craftsmanship in the FIX
ecutiye chair, and the halls Of legislation,
but We had rather II thousand fold have an
honest man, one who will always net right,
than the most forward child OF genius, whose
stability and integrity nre in ,he slightest de-
gree questionable, Principles, not men,
should BIO the inspiration Of the hour and
Jellorsonan Democracy, and only that, the
purpose Of tho campaign. But how Is this
organization TO be effected How will you
wrcst from TIE bands of machine politicians
this management of party affairs, and VINO is
to dot? We answer by first sending from
the primaries TO County, District and State
conventions, representative men, and this
done the rest follows as an inevitable SO.
Qucrcc. Men who should take part In the
selection of delegates have Of late years been
too prone TO leave il TO Others, and
yet are the first to cry out against the action
of conventions and bolt party nominations.
Indillerenceor cowardice laziness or timidity
have rendered them silent, when they should
have been outspoken, and the consequence
has too often been that by the action, or
rather the want of it, on the part of those
upon whom this duty has developed, figure
heads or d,mugOgues have been carried into
place or elected to power. We would urge
upon the people everywhere to do ms seems
to be their intention, 10 take for once these
matters in their own hands and deal with
them rs they would any other Of the vital
issues which affect society and concern the
public veal. III is no less true of govern
mental affairs than private concerns, that the
measure, and the only measure of success,
is the vigilance and attention which attend
their administration. And certainly the
only way to insure this is for good men to
come to the front, and taking the matter in
hand, say to "precinct politicians we have
had enough of misrule, and for the future we
propose to do our part and see to it, that none
but those who can be trusted shall be in
vested with the power of naming those for
whom we are to vote, and who in turn are to
enter the public service.
But important rs is the selection of good
men, that is not all which requires the ear.
nest consideration of the thoughtful and pm
triotic, The platform--the cnunciaton of
principle should be sound and have the
ring of the true metal. Wcwsnt no piebald
animal trotted out which any supple,
political gymnast may straddlc and on
which he may perform the feats of the eques-
trian acrobat, nor should there be demanded
anything but soundness in the platform
road enough for all truc-tried and trusty
one to stand upon it who does not come up
to the full measure of orthodox Democracy.
We want no generalites which may mean
anything and embrace everybody, ard espe-
cally do we reprobate any iason with the
independent" falsely so-called, whose pur-
pose is the attainment of votes, and whose
only object is the securing of office. Let our
principles DO clear, ceancut and incisive, SO
that she who runs may read, and tho "way-
faring man, though n fool, need not err
therein" SO frequently of lato has the
grand old party departed from the ira,
ditions Of the fathers, and
disregarded the standards of authority
that now we have almost lost sight of the
fundamental principles which in the past
have commanded for it the enthusiasm OF its
friends and the respect of its toes. Let lis
stop, take new bearings and follow the line
which has been so clearly marked out by the
gifted, the patriotic, and the great under
whose lead in the days that are gone we have
been carried to victory.
This duty in view Of the growing interest
Of our great State seems imperative. For
we believe that there never was SO important
y crisis in the political affairs of our
State MS that which is approaching and which
will eliminate in the ensuing election.
Mighty issues are ut stake "big with fate
for Cato and for Rome" Let us then go to
work and see that our best men are put for
ward MS candidates in the next election. We
want men honest in private life, whose public
records are untainted whose Judgements are
sound whose attachments are adequate to
fulfil their high missions, who zeaously re-
gard the credit Of the State abroad us we'll as
Mt home, who will insist upon giving to the
last Mrthing all that the constitution says
shall be given to the maintenance of free
schools, who will encourage immigration,
who will check the wholesale sacrifice of the
public domain--in a word men who have
the intelligence 10 understand the right and
the spirit to maintain it.
These views Of your correspondent are
candidly Civ II, not simply us his own, but
as those of the leading men of State, from
whom, he has been able to obtain them.
In special to the HERALD few days
since allusion was made to the ar
rival of Captain Peake from
his recent expeditions against the Indians in
the northwest. The Captains adventures
are romance in themselves, as well as reflect
great credit on him for his sagacity as n
leader, and his men for their endurance and
gallantry. The fact is the frontier battalion
ms an organization Is second in dicipline and
efficiency to none of like character in the
country Itcould not be otherwise with such
an officer at the head OF military affairs as
Adiutant- General John II. ZONES. This