The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1882-01-11
THETEXAs DEMOCRACY.
What senator Coke Says About the Coming
Break-uy of the Parties.

A Washington special in the Cincinnati
Commercial of January >, says; 1t can
easily be seen that the Burbon Democrats
from the South are decidedly tickli'h ever
the prospects of the political future, and
some Of them are candid enough to asmit
that the Democracy has s.en staggered
somewhat by the Virginia blow. Your GER
respondent 20 day had an interview with
Senator Coke of Texas, wac was twice Gov
ernor of his State, and perhaps 10 better
Verscd in its politics than any man from
that region lie is intensely practical,
and always frank and earnest in his views.
ANY Greeubackism down there, Sena-
tor, TO disturb your calculations"
Not now We were little bothered
with it for time bat it's all dead now. II
it became u straight and square issue to-
day, | doubt whether the Greenbackers
proper could poll more than 10000 votes.
No; we've tucked that away i'll lite grave,
and had wake over it at the last election,
and don't believe it will ever appear
again in the flesh in Texas. Jones ia trying
to run for Governor on that basis. Jone, 10
good fellow, and perfectly honest, but he
is full of the widest sort OF theories"
The people of ysur State don't like
monomsniacs very long at tims|'
The Senator stroked his long beard for a
minute and then said: That's different
question. | suppose you mean TO ask
whether any influences not strictly Green
back are at work to break up the old party
organization"
That's exactly it,"
Then, can answer yes" remarked the
Senator. i've bees in political life q
great many years, but | can't remember
time when there was sush q spirit of in
dependence in our State as can be seen
there to-day and it seems to spread i'll all
directisnS For instance, We have about
900 Democratic papers ia Texas that kere-
tllnrc have been HAT and answering in
their support of the Democratic platform
and nominees; but gradually they have
been growing restless under the restraint
and shuntiug off on to various side-tr2cks
of one sort or another, till it can hardly be
said to-day that more than three or four of
them can be called reliably interchangeable
in their devotion TO the party under any
AMI all circumstances.
How do you account for this?' was
asked
well, in several ways. You see We
have an overwhelming majority in Texas.
For my second term 10 Governor, | got II
majority of over 10000. Now. you let rhis
-
time, and the pl2inest rules of political eY-
pericncc will bring about break. 1t may
come sooner or it may come later; all de-
ponds on the strength Ofprejudice inherited
and cultivated, but you can be sure ii will
come, A great many people 60 into politics
for livelihood, and when they find out
there a.e not loaves enough te 20 around
they will wander OF into fresh pastures to
find them, Talking about Nihoneism, in
the sense generally understood, ! don't
believe that its cardinal principles
have taken any root in Texas, but
it carries with it the idea ola breakup on
general principles that seem to strike the
fancy of the yOung men down our way
They are attracted by the promise oil com
ing to the front under the new deal and in
the absence of any live issues dividing par
ties, mean, anything that would keen
alive Whatever sectional prejudice there !.
remaining. These are likely to discard
their old iNherted notions to great extent,
and support the men and measures they
think will carry them into power. 81 was
speaking continued the Senator, "of the
fact that we have no real vital issues
and that this fact has done more than any
thing else to open the door for this new
Southern movement. On this subject
was struck the other day by the force
of a short coloQuy between
Mr.. Edmunds and the Senator from Geor.
gia. The Judge crossed over from the Re
publican side, after some remarks Mr..
Hill had mada, and asked the latter with d
sly twinkle in his eye, Hill, what do ",
Two believe in nowadays, anyhow We'll,
Hill very quickly replied, why, you beliey,
in the Ohio law, while we stick 10 the Con
stitution.' Edmunds seemed to enjoy il
hugely. You see it points q moral. Wher
two great political parties in Il people o
fifty millions have nothing more than that
to divide them, you can depend upon ittha
the lines Of demarcation are getting din
indeed. Yes, | look for hrcak-ups ant
divisions IN the South, to be followed b!
some disorganization in the North. ",
cant expect to hold two vast armies com
pactly together in opposition unless boil
have some vital principle to fight for
New orleans I'icayme.