The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-10-12
A Difficult Task.

Judge Hancock, in his San Anto-
MO speech, claimed that the Demo-
cratic party stands upon the j fer
sonian doctrine of opposition to a
high protective tariff, chartered
companies, ETC., in lieu of a titled
nobility and landed aristocracy."
Whatever may be the general drift
ofDemocratic sentiment throughout
the country, it may be assumed as in
fallibly true that the most difficult
task before Judge Hancock and the
Democratic leaders representing
genuine principles of Democracy in
various southern districts, is to con-
vince Democrats allied to protected
interests of the necessity of adopting
the true JeffersOnian doctrine. The
opposition, whether Republican, In
dependent or coalition, is alive TO the
probable detection III the Demo-
cratic party from the effect of self-in-
terest upon the part of this element,
and consequently in such districts
as that in whicheJ Judge Hancock is
making a canvass the tariff question
and the beauties of protection are
matters forced upon the Democratic
speakers. 1t is well that in the
tenth district fearless advocate OF
principles is found ready to combat
the heresies of protection, for it is
evident that the Democratic party
needs to purge itself of representa-
ton in the next congress prepared to
temporize further with the tariff
question. 1t is necessarily one of
the great issues before the American
people, if not between the parties,
and from the distribution of capital
through the south and west in pro-
tected enterprises, the cultivation of
sentiment favorable to protection
in that way and by appeals to the
sugar and wooi-producing interests,
and the collation. of protective sta
tistics and data by the tariff COM
mission, it would appear that the
Republican party is preparing to
make the most of this question as a
means of creating dissentlons in the
Democracy. The action of congress
at it's next session upon the tariff
question will largely depend upon
whether the Democratic leaders will
hold their party true to Its faith and
traditions, and unless that is done,
no issue upon the tariff question can
be made with the Republican party
with any degree of consistency. IN
cidentally and without celebrating
his views upon it, Judge Hancock
touched matter that may be des-
tined to be of more concern ulti-
mately to parties and the country
than the tariff question. lie as
sumed that chartered companies
were depended upon to take the
place of aristocratic institutions
or landed monopolies. America has
encouraged, without any notable
opposition from the Democracy, the
growth of chartered companies with
apparently no appreciation OF the
tendencies or final results OF the pol
icy. To chartered companies, the
chief ally of protection and monOp-
oily, has been opened the whole field
in trade, commerce and manuiac-
lures, and almost without protest
from Democrats. Within the legis-
lation of this Democratic state is
found the greatest encouragement
to every class of speculative enter
prise, fraudulent or legitimate, to
protect itself under the general laws.
1t Is subject that ought to attract
a greater degree of attention than it
does, and until some well defined
opposition to the unrestricted incor-
poration of companies shall be de-
veloped in the Democratic party, it
fails of the highest duty that Judge
Hancock assigns it.