The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-07-31
The NatlonaI Independents.

The very full report of the confer
ance of the Independents in New York |
published by the STATESMAN yester-
lay is both revelation and PROM
Use. Few people in this country had
any just conception of the extent and
character of the move, among eastern
to be emancipted from the
yoke Of the corrupt and ruthless
combination at whose head stand
James G. Blaine and John A. Logan.
The proudest and purest names in the
republican party appear on the roster
of the meeting, among its speakers
and in its platform committee.
Their utterances are firm and
solid. They give promise of
permanency, earnestness and a full
determination to battle until reforma-
lion is forced upon their own party or
until it is destroyed with all of its won
derful inadaptability to the necessi-
ties and opportunities of the present.
Such men as T. w. Higginson, George
VIM. Curtis, Carl Schurz are not mere
soreheads in the political acceptation
of the term. They are rather sore
hearted. They are the Clearly patriots
who battled for the destruction of
slavery and who now see that the
mere instrument by which that was
accomplished is far more unworthy
than ever the slave-holding oligharcy
was irto their day. The slave
holders were proud, imperious and
prejudiced, but they were Clearly
and honest with their wrong-headed-
| ness. The saviours of the nation y
have turned out the greedy, eager en-.
richers of themselves at the public
expense. This these manly single.
hearted men can no further brook
They must rebel. The rebellion is nc
mere cloudy sentiment. 1t is bust.
ness move and "means business. ,
The Immediate business they have il
hand Is the defeat of the republican
party. That can be best done by
joining the democracy for this cam
paign. One of their speakers strucl
the keynote when he declared tina
the two platforms were nearly identi
cal, and thus the choice of /;
party becomes one merely between
the men at the head, mel
in the lead. He briefly but tersel,
and clearly pointed out Blaine's I'm
fitness on the score of want of cleanli
ness, and Cleveland's traits as fear
less and uncompromisingly homes
officer who dared to do right at tn
hazard of his standing with his party
From this earnest pledge we ma
expect at least four northern state
not in the habit of casting democrati
majorities, especially in national con
tests, and after Cleveland is electe
we may confidently rely upon this re
spectacle body of American gentle
men to stand by his measures of re
form, his efforts to restore tn
old-time purity, simplicity an,
dignity to the govern
ment of the country. There i
promise, rich promise in this lordl
break from the republican party. S
long as we maintain at the head o
the demo cratic party such men a
Cleveland, and surround him witt
such advisers and counsellors as Bay
ard, Mcdonald, Coke, Villas. Bragg
and that order of men, so long vii
we meet the views Of the glorious indie
pendents whose manly action we re
corded yesterday. Their Temporal
accession to the ranks of the democ
racy will become permanent, and the,
will be in the future what they hav
been to republicanism in the past,
sure and steadfast support, while W
deserve it, but an avenger of force
and irresistible power to crush, whel
corruption and unfaithfulness hav
driven them to act with our foes.
fatal to that party. 1t speaks tn
doom of sham and in language a
clear and as unmistakeable as eve
human voices uttered. 1t is an earn
est to us of more than the simple DIES
truction of republicanism. 1t forces
the elevation of the democracy. L
insures it. Aside from all tn,
unreasonable superiority of thu
democracy over the republicans
on the score of mere de
cency, this circumstance will
put US on our good behavior and oul
best men and influences will so con
duct affairs as that this valuable &C
cession will be retained-fastened tc
US ''as by hooks of steel" 1t not only
gives us the victory now but it as
sures its future permanency by max.
ing us entirely worthy of it.
To the thoughtful and patriotic
man this latter reflection is of far
more value than simple victory with
out the promise of future worthiness
perInanency and the ultimate triumph
of the wise tenets of the democratic
faith. We glory in the thought that
afterawhile the people will begin to
think and speak of democracy as they
did in the days of Jackson, of Polk
and of Pierce. Then perfect confidence
in the intelligence, patriotism, courage
and integrity of the party was the
rule. among friends and foes as we'll.
Why not? Why may we not restore
the old days? Why may men not be
as pure and as unselfish to-day. as
they were then? Victory in Novem-
Der with Cleveland and Hendricks
will insure this broad result. And
now let every man who would value
it, work for it with tireless energy un-
til it is secured.