The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-05-19

ocratic party in the Southern states.
| will only consolidate its efforts for
success upon a platform that must
commend itself to the confidence of
the people of the Northern states
and to the entire country.
"What the North and South both
need just now is that the real con-
dition of society, the feelings, neces-
stiles and intentions of the people,
should be clearly perceived on both
sides; that misconceptions and sus-
picions should enc, and that misrep-
resentations mutually should be dis
couraged and discredited. The
| ider tity and Inevitable unity oftheir
interests is too plain to need demon
stration, and the wide and extensive
investment of northern capital in
trunk lines of railway communica-
ton with the Southern states which,
binding the people of Georgia with
those, of Kentucky and Ohio. and
Mobile and Pensacola with the peO-
pie of New York and. Pennsylvania,
of Texas and Massachusetts, consti-
tute strong proofs of the confidence
and amicable relations which exist
III the hearts of the people and seem
to be so little understood or desired
by Republican partisans. The mar
yellous capacities of the Mississippi
river for transportation of the grain
crops of the great Northwestern
states at such nominal cost are prov
ing more and more the indivisibility
aud necessity of our Union. So
ciety contains many forces, and
clamor and acrid and malicious rep
resentation for party purposes will
find themselves confronted and over
thrown by benefaction and human
confidence, which, though less moi
sy, will prove to be the ultimate
conquerors. | think nine out of ten
respectable men of the Republican
party in the North would readily
admit the superiority IL eloquence
and influence of the ten words and
one line OF Col. Thomas A Scott, as
contained in his check for $50, 900 to
the Washington and Lee University
to aid higher education in the South,
over the vindictive and elaborate
assault SO wantonly made by Mr..
Frye of Maine, the other day in the
Senate. .- ..
II do not think l can be mistaken
in the benefit that will accrue to the
South and to the whole country
from this insulting and corrupt as
sault upon the voters of Virginia by
the Republican managers in the
Senate. 1t has been universally re
sented by all good men, of the
South everywhere, and l do not
think its wholesome stimulus in
bringing them more actively to the
support of public honor. and finan-
cial wisdom is 'overrated by me. 1t
is the one object of my public life to
see this Union before | die a Union
of equal and aInicable states. / do
not wish to see the power of the
South assume control of the Union
until it is upon principles thoroughly
consistent with the safety and well
fare of the whole. Ishall never adj
| wise OF, contribute to recognition
| of sectional power as a legitimate
method OF conducting the govern
ment of this country, but L long to
| see the spirit of mutual confidence
spreading throughout the land, ig-
noring the lines of states and still
more of sectional boundaries.
"As constitutional Democrats we
should never forget that Mr.. Gar
field is President of the United
States, and that to his effice are at
tached functions and responsibilities,
duties and 'prerogatives that we are
bound to see are protected from in
! vasion or embarrassment. so far as
our sense of public duty shall die
tate.n am not disposed TO permit
the Chief Magistracy of the nation
to be kicked and buffeted out of a
fair and reasonable exercise of its
just prerogatives. No American
should be willing to see this done.
It,is the admitted Democratic rule
that the powers delegated to the
several departments of the govern
ment should be by them mutually
respected, and that one and all
should be executed in a spirit OF
comfy, which is just as essential TO
good government as the let
ter of the Constitution itself.
The Democrats of the Senate COM
prehend perfectly their party rela-
tions to Mr.. Garfield, and they pro-
pose to ask no more party favor
from him than they did from his pre-
decessor. They propose to maintain
the same attitude towards Mr.. Gar
field as they did towards MFR. HAYES,
which L think will now be admitted
by candid men everywhere to have
been in all respects dignified and
worthy, although l cannot help say
| ing that fact never seemed to be APP
preciatea by Mr.. Hayes, and was
Enthusiastically ignored by the Re-
publican press. For the first two
years of his term Mr.. Hayes was
bound hand and foot by q
cabal of his own party in the
Senate, and was utterly un-
able to remove any official, how
ever obnoxious or incompetent, un-
less the leaders of his party assented,
and not untila Democratic majority
came in the Senate in March, 1879,
was he able to effect any reforma-
ton in his officim corps, although I
admit his. efforts in that direction
were but feeble. The aid of the
Democratic majority in the Senate
was given to Mr.. Hayes generously
and thoroughly, and no whisper
was ever heard of the slightest at
tempt to make any bargain or i'm
pose conditions upon his 'nominat-
ing power, save only that the nomi-
nee should be competent and wor-
thy. This course of action ought to
be, and Ibelieve win be, continued
towards Mr.. Garfield and the Demo
tcratic half of Sthe Senate viii act
upon his nominations with a self
respecting judgment, confirming
such asthey believe to be good and
rejecting those they believe to
be unworthy, and at the same
time steadily refusing to aid in any
attempts to deprive the executive
of his just powers and prerogatives,
or to degrade him or his Office in
the eyes of the, American people.
This is not only right in itself, but
believe it will prove highly expedi-
emit. I believe It win gain for those
who follow it and for their party