The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-11-02
LAGRANGE. Oct. 28. 1852

GENTLEMEN-1Ou favor OF the 18th
instant is received and cheerfully com
ply with your request TO give my views
at length concerning the Texas indepen.
dent movement, and especially its effect
upon the congressional contest in your
district. The Hancock and Davis contest
very forcibly illustrates the true charic.
teristies of this Independent movement
and justly attracts the deepest interest
and sOicitude of the people of the whole
state.
In order to determine and test clearly
and satisfactorily the merits and ability
of party movements, it is eXpedient to
analyZe the principles involved, and the
political measures to be secuI ed, abstract.
ly and detached from the mere question
Of party success. The important view,
that party organizations, with all their
necessary mechanism to secure concert
of action and success, are odly the means
of enforcing certain principles and
measures in the conduct of the
affairs of the body polite, Is but too
often overlooked This generates
san spirit, and a blind zeal for party
names and the success of candidates
nominated for office is apt to take the
place of individual thinking and of the
earnest devotion of the people to their
governmental affairs. THUS demagOgues
and political tricksters are encouraged to
assume charge of the party machinery, to
divert il from its proper functions and
use 1t as power to subserve the gratif-
cation of cupidity and personal ambition.
Apathy on the part of the people, and
their distrust of the convention system
and of politicians generally, are the nat
ural result.
Important political issues, distinctly
formulated, and kept prominent before
the people in all political contests, are
requisite to secure healthy party activity
and vitality.
Two great factors are always present
and necessarily at work in our political
LIE, manifesting themselves in ever vary
ing forms and disguises: On the one
hand the grasping power of the favored
few, with the natural tendency to GEN.
tralized personal government; and, on the
other hand, the struggle OF the masses OF
the people for their protection under the
constitution, with like tendency
to local self government. From these
opposing forces the issues which should
divide the people into political parties
are to be evolved INTO such formulas as
the exigencies of the political and indus
trial life of the people may obviously
present.
Unsettled questions and new issues are
constantly arising, the people feel but
cannot crystalize them, and their leaders
often lack the tact of leading, but continue
engaged in busily dressing up their old,
wOrn-out rallylng points, timidly shrink
ing from new ideas, which appear to
them to present a world of uncertainties.
These periods Of transition are invari-
ably times of restless disquietude and
discomfort, threatening disintegratiOn of
parties ,and fay yoring sporadic independent
movements, which make the quack politi-
clan shake in his boots and fear that the
worlu will come to an end
We are, Just now i'll such a period of
transition and the perplexities cannot De
escaped, but must be cOurageOusly faced
and dealt with
Secession, slavery, the war and Its re-
suits, these great historical events, con-
vulsIng our republic from Maine 10 the
Gulf of MexicJ }, and lashing the passions
of the people into blind fury, have engen-
dered many rapidly succeeding issues OF
a rather abnormal and exceptional char
acter. By the force of circumstances the
Republican party was called into vigor-
Gus life and has ever enjoyed temporary
glory and long continued political AS
tendency. The defeated Democratic
party, by its persisten opposi-
tion to a resistless current of events,
and its unsatisfactory only negative pol
Icy, has enabled the leaders and bosses OF
the Republican party to live on the ex-
citements growing out Of the civil war
much too long for the good of the country.
But finally all those questions are settled,
and they will stay settled--everybody
thinks sO--they are obsolete, dead, very
dead issues. At last the inexorable ques-
tion confrOnts us: Now, what next?
During all these stormy times an
unprecedented industrial prosper
ity and aggregate wealth were
developed, not by the politicians or the
wrangling political parties, but in spite
of them, by rapidly increasing and
energetic population, with the aid of the
almost inexhaustible resources of the
country. The gigantic railroad system.
not following, but In advance of and car
rying with it civilization, is extended
over the entire continent, SO that the
wilderness of yesterday is to- day success
fully competing with the industrial and
commercial activity OF the oldest states OF
the Union. This marvellous progress OF
civilization and gigantic and daring en-
terprise are effected principally by pri-
vate corporations, combining vast capital
with adequate personal forces.
While the American citizen may well
contemplate this unrivaled grandeur with
exultation and pride, he cannot fail to
perceive with disquietude and alarm the
encroachments of these powerful monop-
olieS and their corrupting capital upon
the prosperity and liberty of the masses
of the people
The two great factors, the grasp.
ing power of the favored lew
and the struggling, resisting mass
es, are necessarily at work What
new issues do they evolve? The grand
industrial progress and wealth producing
enterprise, the pride Of the American
people and the admiration of the world
cannot and should not be arrested. Hu.
man happiness, American liberty, and
recognized individual manhood and dig
nifty, however, should not be suffered tC
perishl Where is the remedy? Can these
modern barons of industry and the sturdy
and independent laborers struggle on side
bv side in peace and mutual justice The
struggle is q desperate and an unequa
one-organized capital has the govern
ment in its hands and seems omnipotent
the masses of the people are powerful bu
unorganiZed; they need help and guild
ance This is the issue, the irrepressiblt
conflict, involving glorious triumph, Ol
disaster and defeat of the noblest aspira-
tions of mankind. Where is the party
ready TO espouse the cause of the people
Will the Republicans, the Democrats Of
the Independents do IL?
This is a practical question inviting tn,
sober and dIspassionate reflection o
every anu lndu. III
ballot is the mighty weapon in the hands
of the people, and each little vote cast in
wolves the solotion of the greatest prob
iems of statesmanship and human hap
piness and liberty Capital possesses in
herenJ and legitimate advantages, but i
graspingly seeks legal aid, protection an(
privileges that are unjust and oppressive
1t corrupts government and wields It
power. The Republican party is-identi
| fed with all the legalized abuses and tn,
encroachments of monopolies. The pro
| tective tariff outrages are under its fos
tering care; this party perpetuates thu
| subsidies to the national banking mono
poly, and the railroad magnates find thei
most powerful ally in the Republican par
ty. A complicated party machinery I
constructed, held together by the cohe
sive power of plunder and an army o
federal Office holders, all under the rigi'
control and direction of unscrupulou
party bosses. 1t has become a party o
Corruption This is no exaggerzte,
representation. every unbiased and can
| did mind must admit 1t, though with re
luctance and feelings Of modification ar
| shame.
In the north the best elements are rapid
ly seyerfng their connection with thi
party. Its bosses realize with consterns
| tfon that their power Is rapidly waning
| They appreciate the inevitability of ar
proaching disastrous defeats, unless the
can gain IN the south what they are fas
/ losing in the north. Great efforts ar
| being made for this purpose, and despel
| aro n. oanorr