The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1882-07-21
The Old honor ed Principles of De-
moe acy.

moc,acy.
Erie Press July 2ot':l
The new democratic platform as built at
Galveston, begins with the following oft re-
peated time-honored phrase:
1--WE again confirm our faith to the time
honored' principles Of the democracy and op-
pose all class legislation with all our heart;
we oppose all Nptra1ization in any form as
tending or leadi6eto despotsm."
A good roar from the "Lion," but we
know the key to the tune, it dates back to the
''time-honored" far past and is repeated every
year with barely noticeable variations.
Never hasa party invented greater lie in or
der to retain and keep the people in ignorance
than this averement, that he party has ever
held to any principles, may they be old or
young. 1t was always nothing but time
serving bag. winding itself with serpent like
tortuosity into all conditions, no matter how
obnoxious they presented themselves.
Let US review their "olden-iime honored
principle" When we landed at Indianola in
1851, we saw on the top of the coach at the
hotel negro in shackles and chains. Upon
our inquiry what the man had ,ne, we were
told that he attempted to run away to Mexico
he wanted to be a free man in the land of So
called freedom. for this he was shackled
whipped and gagged. We pledged ourselves
at that time to do all in our power for the sup
preston of slavery in Texas, and sacredly we
have kept our pledge. At that time it was the
democracy that did not alone sustained sa
very but attempted to extend it throughout the
whole union 1t was at that time self under
stood that this combat against the party would
be conflict of life time. We are unable to
hou tk
man education and German views, can
tension of human slavery as one of its
first fundamental principles In their
wanton pride and naughty arrogance they con-
jured up the rebellion by which they enabled
a revenging Nemesis 10 wipe out a wrong OF
two centuries. Democracy was in a pitiful
plight; while the southern democrats rebelled.
those north Joined the Union army; democrat
fought against democrat until the south was
conquered and freedom gained the day, and
10 and behold the two disagreeing brethren
held love feast and wept tears of emotion
and regret The first, the Oldest and most sac
red fundamental maxim of the democracy.
the extension Of slavery at any price had to
be given up, it was humilia,ing, but it had to
be done. In the first national democratic plat
form abrogation of slavery was acknowledged
as an accomplished fact, yet speculations were
ripe as regarded indemnity for slave property.
-Four years later they had come down so far
as to acknowledge the old abolitionist. Horace
Greeley, as their candidate, the man upon
whom they had heaped all the oprobriums
and insults possible Where were then the
*tme- honored" principles?
When the colored people got their fran
chise the democracy once more with all their
might tried to regain control of the Union:
they ogled with all parties, they favored rag
money, declared for free trade, while they had
advocated protective tariff before the war,
and they were near getting the reins of gov,
they had the majority in congress, and what
use have they made Of it? Have they revised the
revenue laws? Have they done anything in
in. the reform of civil service? They feel
themselves how miserably they have admin
istered their trust. At the convention in Gin
cinnati in 1880 they again had to throw large
quantity of time-honored principles overheard,
acknowledged the franchise Of the negro as
just and right, came from free trade to tariff
for revenue only, and discarded the rag baby.
What wonderful evolutions have they per
formed her: in Tex,s; opposition against
schools has almost died out, the once
condemned school tax is to be again restored
to life, and even something is heard about poll
and occupation tax.
II the democracy would really stick to their
time honored principles" then they would
have to write slavery, REBELLION. SUPPRESSION OF
free schools. occupation tax, countenanCing OF
ltrg. landed interests, free trade, etc., etc ,"
on their banners.