The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1882-06-29
GALL OF REPUBLICAN STATE CONvEN
TION.

AUSTIN, Texas, June "a, 1882.
To the Republicans of Texas:
A convention OF the republicans of Texas is
hereby called to meet at Austin, Travis coun-
| ty, on Wednesday, the 23rd of August, 1882,
| at I2 O'Clock, m, then and there to consider
and decide the course to be pursued by repub-
licans in the general election, to be held in No
vember next.
The date is fixed, as an average of the
| recommendations of the members OF the COM
mittee, and the place Of meeting is the choice
of the most of the members, who have an
swered the inquiries sent them.
Subject to such modification as the conven-
ton may make, the basis Of representation
will be one delegate for every four hun
dred republican votes and frac-
ton of two undred or more as
given in the respective counties for
governor at the election of November, 1880,
and also one delegate for every eight hundred
| or fraction of four hundred, or more, of all
other votes than republican for that officer,
provided that every organized county shall be
| entitled to at least one delegate without regard
| to number of votes.
The chairman of the respective senatorial
| and county committees are requested to call
| conventions or meetings of the republicans at
the county seats of the several counties, to elect
delegates to this convention-the calls to be
duly published.
As this convention must consider and de-
fine the policy to be pursued by the republic
cans of Texas under the present circumstances
of our state, have thought proper to accom-
pany this call with brief review of our party
| affairs and situation.
When, after the late war the reconstruction
Al l. IL
state had commenced new formation of party
| lines, and the opposition to the secessionists
had to choose party affiliation, it was ques-
ton which caused some discussion whether
we should attach ourselves to the republican
party, or merely retain the designation of
l1nionists which had distinguished during the
war those adverse to secession. 1t was OBJ
jected that an alliance with the republicans
| would direct against US all the animosity which
| had grown up against the party that had car
| ried on the war and destroyed slavery. On
the other hand the difficulty of maintaining an
organization unallied with either of the great
parties of the country was apparent, and then
there was feeling of sympathy and, in the
main, of common political sentiment which
| attracted southern unionists to the republicans
this prevailed.
Some of the disadvantages we labor under
| now, the result of that determination-were
not then anticipated.
While the republicans of the south and
Texas have been, by their local neighbors,
| held responsible, as co-workers, for the man
| agement and policy of the national party,
| they really have had no control or direction
of its councils-the whole national govern
ment being as completely at a distance and
apart from u.s. as if we were another people.
/ Ic 70 xlo, of
progress Of the republican party towards
Matchmaking itself.
| Mr.. Lincoln took the government under
very discouraging circumstances, but his ad
mnistration was more national in its compo-
sition than any since. Gradually the party
has withdrawn itself north of Mason and
Dixon's line, and even the appointments to
our local federal Offices have been, too fire.
quently, made to suit the wishes of persons
living at distance from US.
| We should not try to disguise or conceal
these things from ourselves, in the hope that
they may be corrected in time. Under the
present organization of the republican party,
correction seems impossible. As each sue
ceeding administration looks more and more
for its support to the section where the
strength of that party lies, so it does and will
listen to the claims of those who represent
that section. 1t necessarily limits itself to
their views and demands, and thus perpetuates
that condition of affairs.
| Thus the national republican party has not
invited support he.e, but has Internationally
aided the secessionists or bourbons to main
tain their hold on the southern people and
keep the ''solid SOUTH in line. 1t has offered
no opportunity to our young men for distinc-
ton and preferment. Though it is the thought
full, intelligent and enterprising of that class
that it ought to look mainly for recruits. Ger
tain it is, whatever may be the course of i'm
migration to the south that the great majority
of the people will always be, not only Of
southern birth, but those who were here dur
ing the war, or their descendants, and the
descendants of new corners, or the most of
hem, may naturally be expected to take their
political coloring from their surroundings and
to sympathize with those among whom they
are raised.
Every man who loves the Union and be-
lieves its permanency to be the best guaranty
OF the peace, prosperity and liberty of the
millions inhabiting, and to inhabit, this CONT
nent, must feel anxious that the division of
north and south should be forgotten, and that
anything which tends to recall it las do the
present party lines) should be removed. The
first and essential thing to be done toward
this end is the release of these states from the
grasp of the party which tried to destroy the
union. The movement ought to commence
in Texas, because there was always less
reason or consistency in the adhesion of Texas
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