San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1880-09-11
COS. HAYS co.. TEXAS, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER IL, 1885,

face the general hostility and scoru
which the smallnes of their numbers
and frequent potency OF their action
naturally provoke, Senator Conkling
styles them "Jayhawkers, "Guerillas
aud 'Trumps.' They are Sometimes
calledtDeputy Demoorats, .mal con-
tents, aud 'impracticables' who vote in
tho air, but they often prove TO be the
true conservative force in politics and
the real leayen Of reform. ''l y
Undoubtedly they are liable to make
mistakes. Their lac k lot organization
is certainly attended with serious dis
advantages. y Their usefulness was
greatly compromised BY their leaders
In the Spring of 1876 in their famous
New York conierepse, in which they
laid down the precise capditions on
which. they declared they would CO.
operate with the other parties and then
made haste to join one of them after
those conditions had been openly
spurned.. They betrayed vascillation and
weakness ut the critical moment which
called for straightwardhess and courage;
but their power in our politics is uu-
questionable, and their persistent de-
termination to exercise it is2 one OF
the signs Of the times. Independent
voters defeated Clay In 1874 and Gen.
Cass ia a1S49. They destroyed the
old Wing party, and formed a. new or
ganization, composed Of, Aboliti6hists,
conscience Whigs,' and boiling Dem.
Gratis. The Republican party itself
was bolt. 1t was principallyAlcoml
posed of ,jayhawkers' and 'tramps,
who broke away from their Democratic
and Wing keepers, rand made com nmonl
cause, with ,the old Free-Soilers, Jin
withstanding the further exactions OF
slavery aud the existence of the great
historic party would have been impos,
sible if the old Wings who formed the
great body Of it had been as fatally
smitten with party, devil.worship as
are the REPUBLICANS to-day. lndepen.
dent voters ia 1860 rent the Demo-
cratic party in twain, and made Abra
ham Lincoln President. In 1872 the
Republicans carried the state of New
York by majority of 10000 votes /;
but In 1874 the Democrats triumphed
by the same majority, thus showing
that the State was not divided intotwO
parties, but three, ,inasmuch as the
potency Of the party battle.cry was de-
pendent upon outside help. SO in tho
party divisions Of to day, there is a
third element not under the drill OF
either, which holds the balance OF
power, and illustrates the note worthy
tact that IN free goyernmenis MINOR
tiles often rule. The Independent
voters held the balance OF power IN
the Nation, and welded it four years
ago. as they probably will ipathe can
vass of this year. AS the make weight in
party divisions they are frequently able
to create the majority they desire, and
this invests theiraction with command
ing Importance. They played their part
in the late Chicago Convention in de-
feating the third term conspiracy,
and preserving. the great upwritten ia W
of the, Republic. from violation, The
fear extensive bolting in strong
Republican states should Grant be
nominated, was in the airand doubtless
many delegates who would
else have fallen into the Grant column
under the whip and spur of Conklibg,'
Cameron, and Logan .Youalf remem
Der how the Nation held its. breath
while the fearful issue hung in doubt 7
and when at last the question was set
tied, and the lightning flashed the
glad tidihgst oyer .-the continent and
kindled in millions of hearts an an
swering thrill Of gratitude to God for
the deliverance Of the Nation from d
great peril, rejoicel that, for eight
years, by tongue and pen, 1 had con
tributed my small quota toward the
grand work, and that its final triumph
was largely due to the ''guerillas" with
whom l had CO. operated. ~ =
THE ISSUES OF THE CANVASS. ..f
But let us consider the issues of the
What are they? The plat
forms OF the two parties give us little
help in answering this question, They
are as nearly identical as those OF
IUuT years ago. IL LucTc was any par
ty issue then it related to the question
Of finance; but both parties declared
in favor of specie payments, as they
do now, and while the Democrats de-
the repeal of the sumption
act. the Republicans voted down
resolution in favor of carrying it into
execution. In the last Congress Re-
publicans and Democrats united in the
effort to repeal it, aud they we're joint
ly entitled to the honor of defeating
that effort. The financial question
has since been complicated by the sill
YER bill agitation; but the silver biz
the Overwhelming support oi
both parties. while the Republicans
now totally ignore the question, and
its vital connection With the contiD-
uance. of our paper currency at par.
As 10 the constantly bo3sted achieve
ment Of resumption, The simple truth
i that il has not come through legis-
laiion. but as the natural result OF IA
voriBz conditions just as the crafty
ing reduction OF our National indebt-
edness has been made easy and almost
inevitable b. our marvellous resources.
1 an glad 20 see 10 the platforms .
veil defined iSsue respecting our tsrlfi
policy for sooner or later o1r sinpid
snd vicious tarif laws must be thor
ourhly overhsuled and reformed but