The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-08-21
THE CAMPAIGN.
THE CANVASS OPENED WITH A
ROUSING MEETING AT THE
COURT HOUSE.


Z The meeting vas called to order by
, G. B. Millet, Esq, president OF the
club, who stated that the principa
object of the assemblage was
to ratity the nomination OF
: the Hon. Joseph D. Savers
: statesman and soldier emiuently
! worthy to be our standard bearer as
? candidate for congress in this district
On motion of Mr.. Nat Jackson, the
regular order of business of the club
was postponed.
, Mr.. Randolph moved that the gen.
tleman be now invited to address the
assembly, and on further motion of
Mr.. Galloway, a committee was ap-
: pointed to conduct the speaker 10 the
platform. The introduction OF Major
Sayers was greeted with applause.
Maj. SayeIs commenced by stating
that it was needless for him to S ay,
that he greatly appreciated this EVIL
; dence of consideration on the part OF
the club and of his fellow-citiZens of
Travis county. He fully felt the
great responsibility of his position III
having been so fatteringly honored
by the convention at New Braunfels
with the nomination as the demo-
cratic candidate for congress from
this district, and would endeavor to
meet the responsibility to the best Of
his ability,
He then proceeded to discuss
what he considered the i'm
portant issues of the can
vass, involving good government,
Good government was based on good
laws and the proper Interpretation
and execution of them. No party
that has had control of the govern
ment and failed as has the republican
party for so many years should be sus-
tanned, but should rather be held to a
strict accountability for its acts before
receiving our sutfrages. He showed
how, by aggressive policies, the repub-
licanS had secured control of ali de-
parUmentS of administration, the eX-
ecutiVe, the legislative and finally by
changes in the supreme court, of the
judicial power. From March 1861, to
this hour, the republicans should be
held responsible for the present
unsatisfactory state of affairs
in the country. According as they
have failed they should be held to
accountability. Take the platforms
of that party as enumerated at Fort
Worth and Chicago by the representa-
tive men of the professed virtue and
intelligence of the party, were the
principles such, he asked, as will re-
dound to the general prosperity of
the country? If not, it is your duty
to overthrow it and succeed it in
power with the party you believe to
be honest and most deeply attached
to the general welfare.
Referring to Mr.. Blaine's recently
published book which, however, he
had not read, he said he had been in
formed that it admitted that
while the American govern
ment had for 40 years previous
to the war been under the control and
| administration Of the statesmen of
| the south the treasury had been
guarded by the democratic party
against corruption and fraud with a
fidelity such as had not been ex-
perienced before or since in the history
of any government. If that be so,
when we take into consideration the
speculationS and frauds in govern
mental affairs perpetrated since 1861
| by the republicans, is it not your duty
to restore to power the democratic
party. which has received such high
commendation Should not the dem
ocratic paaty be again trusted with
the protection and guardianship of
| the treasury?
The speaker spoke at some length
| in powerful inVective against the
| corruption and abuses of the domi-
nant party, its appropriations of $685.
100000 in bonds to corporations which
| had not paid even the interest for so
many years that it now amounted to
| $25, 100000 more, of which the govern
ment had been robbed in violation of
the constitution, to the Credit Mo-
| bilier corruption, in which so many
| members of congress were concerned,
without even having lost the support
of the republican party. He chal
aenged that party to point to a single
word of condemnation of these things
in their platforms. In all the resolu-
lions and platforms adopted in their
| conventions in this state, will you
find a single denunciation of this
Credit MoDilier business? Not
single Texas republican has dared
| to raise his voice in con-
demnation of such things.
They are sileEt and dumb as sheep
from mountain to mountain and
from ocean to ocean. Emboldened by
the success of the credit mobilier
scheme, they have proceeded with
their work, till they have caused the
moral people of the party to bow
their heads in shame. Where will
you find any denunciation in republi-
can platforms of their whiskey frauds
| at st. Louis or the Star route Scand-
ais headed by Dorsey in 1876, the pro-
| ceeds of which were used by him as
| the dispenser of campaign funds to
carry Indiana, while Dorsey continues
in favor and holds high position in
the immaculate conceptions of repub-
lican virtue (applause).
Maj. Savers concluded with a scath-
| ing allusion to republican rule in
Texas during the Davis administra-
ton, attributed the financial distress
in the country generally to the policy
| of the republicans in shaping legiSla-
| ton in the interest of capitalists to the
prejudice of the producing classes, and
in this connection ably and elaborate
" discussed tho tariff and free trade
| theories. In answer to Judge Rector
who he presumed would be his repub-
lican opponent for congress he had he
said most emphatically assured that
gentleman as he wished his constitu-
ents to understand everywhere in the
district, that ii he had been in con-
gress he would emphatically have
supported the Morrison bill. AS to
the tariff law, do you know he asked,
that it was the work of half dozen
creatures of manufacturing monopo-
lists of the country, who had met in
convention against the laboring
classes, the convention going so far as
to guaranty a st. Louis concern,
which it seems was independent
enough to keep out of the
pool 100000 per annum to come
into the combination and discharge
their employers. The republicans
he contended had continually deceived
the people with promised reductions
of the tariff, and, instead of % per
cent. reduction as promised, had re-
duced it but III per cent and that
upon articles OF but little advantage
to the laDoring classes. They know
that they cannot restore the tariff of
1867; that public sentiment will not
permit the imposition of higher tar
Tiff than exists under the act of 1883.
: \ ct they invite wool men to join
them, under delusive promises which
cannot be fulfilled, and while contend
ing they are sorry for it. continue to
rob the people under the tariff of 1888.
! AS for himself, his policy was to tax
| Injuries, not the necessities of life
l luxuries first and necessities last aud
: least. if at all. 1t was the labOTing