The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-06-13
non. w W. LANG
His speech AT Craddoek's opera
House Last Night, Wherein he
Defines HIS Position,

As per announcement last night Mt Grad
dock g Opera-house the Hon. w. w. Lang
Of Marlin, candidate for Governor, subject I,
the nomination Of the Democratic party, nd
dressed good sized audience OF
the leading political issues o
the day. The speaker was introduced
by Hon, james B. Simpson, and was received
with round Of applause. Throughout hi
speech he licited applause time ant
again, and his hearers were all attention list
ening to him with marked interest
After an eloquent introduction, explauS-
toy Of his position as politician, i'll contra
distinction to his position rs q granger, the
speaker, in well-rounded periods, discussed
the tariff question, showing its expressions
and unjust determinations, and also the nav
igation laws, founded upon the Republican
principle of monopoly, as specimens of class
legislation, declaring that all species of class
legislation were antsgonistic TO the
principles of the Democratic party and in Vi
olNtion fthe spirit of our government and
contrary TO the great doctrine Of equal and
exact justice 20 ALL and special privileges to
none. Turning from national legislation TO
State affairs, he diated upon the occupation
tax rs species Of class legislation, and, like
the tariff and navigation laws, had its preju-
dical and deleterious influences that he be
lieved that occupation taxes under the con-
stitution were only intended in cases of
emergency, as they are not mandatory in the
constitution, while an ad valorem tax is ;
that he believed the increase Of the occupa-
ton tax is an effort to evade plain provis-
ion of the Democratic party; that tho rate
of taxation should not be increased; that
these discriminating taxes were SO contrary
to the sense of the people, that many justified
themselves in resorting to questionable means
to evsde the nd valorem taxes upon
their property. The point WAS made
that the fess Of office had been so outrage
ously increased that charter of Builders
association of the poor mechanics of Dallas,
cost S25, and a railroad charter, occupying
less than three hours work Of common
clerk, the sum of 500 was collected. The
State in its eagerntss to tax the citizens, thus
becomes a cruel ext >rtioner, demanding ua-
predented prices for little labor. Can the
citizen love and venerate government that
thus cruelty treats him. Here he dilated
upon the evil effects of these laws upon the
moral sentiment of the people and said that
there tendency ia 10 ALLEVIATE the citizen from
the government.
Referring to the Sunday law, he stated
that no one could advocate, in our govern
ment where church and State are so COM
pletely divorced, the adoption of Sunday
law in Difference to religious sentiment, yet
ia all governments experience teaches the
necessity Of a day of rest to preserve the
health and strength of the citizens and
domestic animals. There may be
some restrictions and limitations
in the present Sunday law contrary to
the taste of our people; that in the passage of
such laws it is but good craftsmanship TO
recognize the prevailing sentiment Of the
people in declaring the day Of rest; that no
law, however, can be enforced which tres
passes upon the private rights, privileges and
necessities of the people. The Sunday law
m y be too much contrary 10 the genius OF
our people in its practical operation.
The speaker read extracts from Governor
Roberts message showing that il was not
possible by any practical retrenchment of
expenses and by any increase of the subject
of taxation, without an increase of taxation
over fifty cents sd valorem to pay the...in-
terest on the public debt, to meet the def
ciencies in the revenue, making point that
he now boasts of having large cash balance
in the treasury, after saying what was I'M
practical to do. Another evidence of hi.
want to comprehend the true receipts of the
government was that he had vetoed the pub
lie school appropriation, because he said
there was not sufficient revenue, and vet
asked the extra session of the Legislature.
which cost $50 1000, to make additional sppro-
priations of several hundred thousand dollars
without any increase Of revenue. Further,
that the extra session actually increased ex-
penses more than $4,000 in xcess of the diff
ference bet ween one-fourth and one-sixth of
the general revenue for school purposes that
throughout his messages he often referred TO
it as though II might be necessary to increase
the ad vslorem rate of taxation, notwith-
standing that he boosted of having paid all
deficiencies, maintained bis pay-as you-go
policy, paid off 100000 OF the
bonded debt, and, it is reported, that
he has $3.50, 900 in the Treasury. If this be
true the addition of taxation under his sd-
ministration was an unnecessary burden on
the people. And if his occupation tax and
tax upon the public enterprises of the
country was intended to reach that class that
paid less than their proportion ofthe support
of the government, then the rate of sd va.
loren tax should have been reduced
In relation to public free schools he held
that the organic law of the State made pub.
lie free schools feature Of government, and
1t requires the same care and attention of the
the Legislative department, with
other. features of government. The
Democratic party has made their support
a part and parcel of their creed and faith, and
the whole people of the State demand an etfi-
Gent system of free schools. No public otli.
cial.is therefore justiaable in his opposition
to them. He believed the full amount
dedicated in the constitution slould
be appropriated whenever the revenues would
admit of it, and the very boasts of Governor
Roberts and his friends of large surplus in
the treasury proves tina. the veto OF the pub
lie free school appropriation was totally
and the denial to the taxpayer
Of that amount which was promised him by
law would be returned to him in the educa-
ton of his children. The moral
sentiment of all civilized gov
ernments i, in favor of public |
free schools and the State of Texas is but
kicking against the pricks to place herself in
opposition TO the spirit under the leadership
OF Governor Roberts Public education in |
the State of Texas is more of a
necessity than in any other State in the
Union as we have the poorest inhabitants. |
While.he would educate every child, he would |