The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-05-18
LET THE PRIMARIES SPEAK.

The STATESMAN is down on
"cliques and combinations" but it is
solidly in favor.of the great Demo-
cratic party of Texas acting in con-
veution. 1t wants a sound and lib
eral platform, and then it wants
men whose histories show that they |
are disposed to subscribe to its |
principles and purposes. Hon.
George Washington Jones refers to |
his independent candidacy as one /
free from "cliques and combina-
lions, and this insinuatiOn is direct
ed against decisions in Democratic
conventions. The Democrats of
Texas, in convention, may be COM
posed OF cliques ana combinations,
working for the nomination OF
favoriIcs, but the tittest only sur
vive under the twO-thirds rule,
the nominees. representing a great
popular organization, adhering to
tried aud true doctrines, and when
the full Gedged convention candi-
dates are presented they have been
Invested OF all personalism or clique
ism, and hencciorth they appear as
the proposed executive agents OF
these great popular doctrines. Let
| tic people act in the primaries !;
let the masses respond TO these
calls. not leaving the manipula-
ton of county conventions to
designing politicians, ready to
serve God at one time and the
devil next. and the Democratic
party OF Texas will name men IN
whom public trusts will be safe.
The record of the state government
| during the Roberts administration
Is "a pledge for what is here asserted.
Jliques aud combinations caused
seven days struggle in the Austin
| convention, but under this rule of
the Democratic party, established
to purge that which is spurious or
dangerous, the strongest original
candidate before that body, crea-
ton OF cliques and combinations,
was cschowed, aud the integrity of
the Democratic party has been
maintained. But to think of
Hon. George Washington
Jones, attempt to cast sur upon Il
great popular party by speaking of
its acts us the work OF cliques aud
combinations, when his present posi-
ton is nothing but a concentration
of personahsm aud cliqueism aud
combinations. He named himself,
and then wrctched cliques, one in
Galveston for prejudicial reasons,
another in Washington county for
gambling considerations as well rs
personal reasons, combined with
| Ex-Governor Davis to defeat the
Democratic nominee, who was pre-
scented on tried aud sound Issues. Mr.
Jones was supported on anything
else but principle, for those who
lifted him into congress were in
lluenced, some by personal consid-
erations, others by prejudice, and a
large number by money staked in
Washington county, while the great
body of his support vas supplied by
Mr.. Davis on the ground of political
hatred, his black cohorts acting at
the polls without reason or intelli-
gence, simply obeyiug the behests
of the master working Tor spoils.
Certainly the Democratic party can,
with impunity, pass by the inn
putations of Mr.. Jones, sat-
isiled with its own integrity,
/ because it is born Of the masses, and
because it lives aud thrives on the
support OF the intelligent body OF
the people. The Democratic record
is open TO inspection, and being a
full grown great political being, it
is able TO stand for itself, and it will
stand, while men nominated at the
coming convention Will be elected,
because they will be backed by a
responsibility which Texans have
tested aud find not wanting.