The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-08-21
DEMOCRATIC NOMINATING CON
VENTION IN THE TENTH DIS
TROT-sAYERs NOMINATED.
Speech of Senator Pfeuffer OH
tho Dangers of Centraliza-
ton in Republics.
Address of MIR. Dwyer and Eu-
logy of the Distinguished EX-
Lieutenant Governor.
Great Enthusiasm Over Joe
Sayers and His Election Con-
1fdently Predicted.
Special to The Statesman.

Senator Pfeuffer, chairman of the 10
congressional district at 1920 o'cloc
PFEUFFER's SPEECH.
1t is with no small degree of sati
faction and pleasure that L again b
hold an assemblage of the represent
tive democrats of the 10th congre
sional district heightened by the r,
collection of the success which attend
ed the action of former democrat
conventions OF this district.
There are many who will agree wit
me while they remember the outloo
or cast of the political sky of this di:
trict Immediately after the adjourn
anent of the last convention at Austir
that the same was anything but Sc
rene and bright, especially when tn
arch fiend of the democracy of Texa,
together with all the opposition united
stepped to the front to defeat the dem
ocratic nominee, the Hon. John Han
cock, of Travis; but gradually, as tn
campaign neared its close under tn
leadership of him whom that conven
ton had selected, who on former oc
cassion had broken the back of tn
radical power in this district as it wa
then composed-again the threaten
ing clouds receded and the 3D. da,
of November brought with it
greater victory than the most sangu
Inc observer in the district could hav,
anticipated.
You have to-day assembled again Il
nominate in behalf of the democrati,
party of the tenth district candi
date to represent said district in the
Of hn nj fa,1
and there are those already announced
as candidates for your approval, whose
records and ability will again secure
victory for democratic principles
and reflect credit in the halls of con
gress on the good judgment of the
delegates of the district. The respon-
Sibility of a convention in making its
selection is increased or lessened by
the condition of existing affairs OF
government, and the questions that
agitate the country IL the solution OF
which the rights and liberties as well
as the welfare and prosperity of It's
citizens are more or less affected, and
by the integrity of their choice to
those interests and the ability he
possesses, he may be potential in ac-
complishing the demands of his con-
stituents and practical recognition
of the principles declared in the plat
form of his party.
We are frequently told "that we are
living in an age of progress" and
while we admit this, we must not
forget that there are certain principles
upon which the entire structure of
our government is founded, and any
violation of these principles will
endanger the entire fabric and
may set it tottering to it's fall
Other republics have had their rise
and fall, and even in our government,
which has existed but little over a
century, the observing mind cannot
but see the handwriting on the wall
that its days are numbered unless a
halt is ordered TO the causes which, in
former republics, produced like effects
the Capitalization of power from
the masses in the hands of the few.
The time was when the chief execu-
tive of this government, after his
election, would wend his way to the
of its citizens, and by taking the oath
of Office, without any other ceremonies
of installation, became and was, the
prcSlucuI VI Iuo OniICu OOdGco VI
America.
A change, indeed, has come over the
spirit of our government when these
simple ceremonies were supplanted by
the glitter of military display and by
all the pomp and show attending the
browning of kings and emperors as
cending the throne of their subjects
and not that of servant of the peo-
pie in simply taking upon himself the
duties of his office.
The time was when it was recog-
niZed and the affairs of government
so conducted, that no greater burdens
were imposed upon the people
whether by revenue or otherwise
than the necessities of a government
economically administered, demanded,
but nowadays we behold system of
revenues on imports by which sums
are derived far greater than the most
reckless expenditures could absorb.
thereby accommodating hundreds of
millions in the treasury, wherewith
to tax the ingenuity of congress to
get rid of it.
The time was, when the choice of
the people, elected as their president
was duly seated.
Since then it has become a question
whether the party in power now, will
ever yield the executive chair to any
one else unless he IS of their own poll
teal persuasion.
The time was, when q strict con-
struction of the constitution was con-
s;dered the only safety of the republic
and the best evidence of honest states
manship.
Nowadays, the welfare clause in the
constitution is the great sophism by
which measures, not authorized I'M
der the constitution, are inaugurated
and enacted. Glass legislation OF all
kinds, creating monopolies, enriching
those who control the party machin-
cry, are the consequences of dishonest
craftsmanship and disregard of the
constitution.
Many other signs of the
times ought to be cited as
additional evidence of the danger
before us and the course in which we
have been drifting for the last twenty
years. And while grief may fill ouI
hearts of the things that have trans
pired and the prospect augur badly
for the maintenance of those princl
pies which actuated the founders o.
the government, and who, like Thoma!
Jefferson, the father of our democratic
faith, sought thereby to secure the
blessings of free government to al
generations to come. Yet, we canno
mistake the silver lining surround
ing the clouds that have darkened tn,
political horizon, nor the murmurinl
of the coming storm, aroused by thu
Indignation of an injured people a
this long misrule and corruption
which, at the next presidential cleo
ton will sweep the party, and thei
leader responsible for this condition o
things from power and consign then
to everlasting oblivion, only mention
ed thereafter as warning to others i
future generations of the punishment
that is sure to follow such acts of mis-
rule and corruption.
It is the peculiar task of the demo
cratic party to restore this govern
ment to its former simplicity an
purity. to reduce the burdens of Il
people to their minimum by q
icaladministration of its atfai
and the adjustment of its re venu
to that object, nnder revision of t
tariff. in spirit of fairness to all Il
terested.
To expose and punish fraud an
corruption in all places, and of a
men no matter In what place or pos
ton it may be found.
To the enactment of laws and re,
ulations favoring honest civil servii
reform, making capability and hone
ty the leading feature In obtainiI
ov,1 hcI6iru 0fffoo