The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1882-06-15
BASTARD DEMOCRACY.

If any of the democratic war horses of the
purer days of the Republic were to drop
down here on tour Of inquiry con-
corning the old democratic principles
there would be a lively absence of those
delights with which tourists are COM
monty entertained. Imagine great old Silas
Wright, the stalwart champion of uncondi-
tional free trade, introduced to the national
variety show of democrats.
Governor, allow US to introduce you to U.
S. Senator So-and-so who is revenue tariff
democrat. "Revenue tariff Democrat" Uncle
Silas would exclaim, "If democrat wants
revenue he gets it by direct taxation. There
can be no such thing as a revenue tariff demo-
craft
But Uncle Silas, you must be mistaken be-
cause we have them, and other varieties that
may surprise you more. What do you say to
protective tariff democrat? "Sir, say that
revenue tariff democrats, and protective
tariff democrats and tariff democrats of all
kinds are frauds. A democrat can be
none of these things. A man who is, is some
thing else. Free trade is principle, and
principles are everlasting and never deviate into
expedients." And Uncle Silas would probably
leave the planet in disgust.
Or if "Old Bullion was to take it into his
head to look down on US, after thirty years in
the undiscovered country, and stumbled upon
the scene of his previous thirty years, and
found the hybrid democracy voting on both
sides of the national banks question, the MN
tor of "Old Hickory would hurry away to
tell the old lion General" there must have
| been big funeral in our country since we left.
for the grand old democratic party is dead
and buried" And the probability is the gen.
eral would reply, "By the Eternal, I expected
it."
The so-called national democracy are pie
bald herd without principles, and without
anything in common but some conventional
things; and are merely the old fable of the ass
and the lions hide with new illustrations.
No TRUER thought has found expression for
many years in the English language than that
contained in the following gem uttered recent
ly by Senator Edmunds, of Vermont:
''There is, perhaps, no one thing SO valu-
able to the right progress of civilized society as
the courage of sincere individual opinion; and,
as regards public affairs, the man who tries
honestly to form an accurate conclusion and
bravely to maintain and advance it, without
counting the number of his adversaries, will
fulfill the best mission of citizen, and will
be, whether in public or private station, the
true politician, often the real statesman, the
best teacher and noblest leader"
He would find himself ninety mine times out
of a possible hundred, on the weakest side;
and sometimes absolutely alone. But it is
not the rabble that shouts the loudest, that are
inspired by the greatest regard for truth and
right. The prerogative given most executives
under constitutional forms of government to
annul, by the veto, the hasty enactments of
the legislative rabble bears positive and solid
testimony to the the truth of Mr.. Edmunds'
declaration.
Truth requires no party machinery, no COM
bination of numbers, to propagate principles.
These are the adjuncts of sophistry, fraud and
usurpation. As innocence and purity are the
shields Of womanhood, so are they of Truth
which rare virtue has often been most beuti-
fully and appropriately symbolized by its
chiselled form and classic grace of woman.
". X.
THE Fort Worth Worth evening Club, an
independent paper, remarks that the demo-
Gratis can see much good to come out of an in
dependent movementin Pennsylvania, a repub-
ican state; but when it comes to Texas they
shudder.-Brenham Banner.
The shuddering from the prospect of being
left in the cold-in Pennsylvania-and the
prospect of getting in out OF the wet warns up
the democracy. Some human nature about
the dems. after all.
WASH JONES believes he can serve the
people of Texas more effectually as governor
than in congress. In this view of the case
every right thinking man will coincide. Jones
has done more for Texas in Congress than all
the balance of the delegation put together, but
as governor, he would eradicate bourbonism,
and that would be service to the state that
cannot be measured in its beni6cent conse-
quences. ......... i
WASH JONES will perhaps run for governor,
but so far Gen. Jerome B. Robertson is hav-
ing the race all to himself. Among the demo-
Gratis it seems hard to find a candidate. All
the prominent men want to 90 IN congress-