The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-08-03
THE PEOPLE EMPLOY TRUSTY
SERVANTS.

THE PEOPLE EMPLOY TRUsTY
SERVANTS.
A day or two ago we presented
our readers with "platform and
policy" promulgated by the Repub-
licans of Travis county in conven-
ton, so called, assembled. OF course
Ex-Governor DAVIS had been the
leading spirit for days before the
body met, and with much fore
thought he had shaped everything
the convention was TO do. He had
carefully cut the resolutions, and
dried them, and distributed them TO
the faithful, and he had penned the
platform and policy" Mr.. Davis,
though history has proven him as
well all unwise as perpetual parti-
san, has been the head and front of
his party in Texas, his personal pro-
clivities leading him persistently to
brook no opposition, and to destroy
by any sort of means any personal
ism asserting itself i'll his party, not
conceding to him the mastery. In
tensely radical among a conserva-
tive people, he has, of course, failed
to add strength to his party, and he
has even failed to hold the untutored
element of which it is mostly COM
posed in any positive course as to the
accomplishment of his personal ends
After being governor for four years,
and in that time having every OPP
portunity to popularize himself
among the better classes of Texans,
he left the executive chair, in Obedi-
ence to a majority of over one hun
dred thousand voters, only after he
had made vain attempt, with his
armed minions, to hold the govern
ment, from which he had been in
vited to retire through the constitu-
tional forms of an election by such
unparalleled popular expression
against his reelection. Being a
usurper, having been made gov
ernor through the agency of dis
reimbursement and by the count and
declaration of Republican satrap-
this was natural, for he held to the
theory that the military law should
remain triumphant in state where,
as executive, he had had suspended,
ad libitum, all civil processes,
substituting therefor the diction OF
vengeful and corrupt military agents.
AS we have said, Mr.. Davis had it in
his power, by conservative admin
istration-one in which constitution
al rights were respected-tO build
up creditable support for himself
in Texas. His better impulses gave
way to a desire to please that power
at Washington which dispenses
favor, and in his zeal TO conform to
the politics of Herod he went even
beyond, and thus lost as we'll the
regard of the exacting tyrant as the
respect of the people over whom he
had been placed as ruler. The peo-
pie of Texas naturally have an ar
dent desire to follow after Mr.. Davis,
to adopt his platform and policy;
but, IN truth, let us see what this
amounts to. The platform
and policy" is presented
as an instrument for
adoption by the Republican state
convention, which assemblies in Aus
tin on the twenty-third day of this
month. Declaration one of this
"platform and policy" reads:
To invite all liberal men to join
with us, regardless of party, in the
establishment of a state government
pledged to the enforcement of the
laws and the protection and secur-
ity of the ballot.
1t has been shown that no "liberal"
man dare entrust himself in a polit-
ical cause with Mr.. Davis, and as to
a pledge from a Republican quarter,
that laws shall be respected or rights
enforced, this is not in the line with
Republican practices and tactics.
The reference to the ballot finds an
echo alone in the institution in the
south of stuffed ballot boxes and
fraudulent election returns, in def
ance of all election laws, under Mr..
Davis and all the other Republican
governors, who not long ago de-
graded the ballot throughout the
southern states; the disembodied
spirits of "visiting statesmen" at
testing, the fond memory of Da-
wilson being ever present.
Declaration number two reads:
To organize an efficient public
school system in Texas that will
secure to all of the children in the
state, within the scholastic age. good
public schools for at least ten months
in each year.
And now let us call back the be.
loved forms of thousands of "school
marms," who were invited to Texas
to conduct a splendid system OF
public free schools under Mr.. Davis
Tattered and worn, they became
mendicants, while q glittering Off
cial band reveled in all that contrib
utes to mans personal pleasures and
it was left to Democratic admins.
tration to sell the bonds of the state
to redeem the pledges of the state
given for engagements in the
public schools. The school money
was diverted from the teachers, and
the system became a farce, shame
to the state. Under Democratic
administration the school system
has been brought out of chaos, and
now in those counties and
communities where economy is
prscticed, tree schools are con-
Quoted for ten months each year.
The public free schools in Comal and
several other counties are conducted
for ten months, teachers vouchers
being never left unpaid day in any
county. Preserve us, as from the
evil one, against the reestablisbment
of free school system after the