The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1884-08-24
A SPLENDID SPEECH
BY W. |. CRAWFORD AT HOUSTON
A Brilliant, Pointed and Business-L Like
Talk About State Politics and Poll
cies under Governor Ireland's
Administration, Etc.

TOliOMluS 10 Lut duuTeSS OI OOl. w IL,
Crawford nominating Governor Ireland
for reelection, delivered in the Houston
convention August 20, 1884:
Mr.. President and Gentleman of the
Convention: We are not here to advo-
cate the cause of n friend nor to speak
the praises of man. Our conception of
the duty of a delegate direct from the
people, i'll an assemblage like this, rises
superior to such considerations. But
humble citizens ourselves, engaged in
the various pursuits of private life, dis
embarrassed by the jealous fears and
nervous aspirations that besct the office
holder, we have been charged by free
constituency to promulgate platform
ofptinciples and to outline a policy for
the Democratic party of Texas, so Just,
so liberal, and progressive in its terms
that it shall receive the APP
proval and support, not only
of the Democratic hosts OF Texas,
without the loss of a single man, but
that every sturdy citizen, interested in
the preservation of free institutions and
the maintenance of honest government,
shall enlist with us, and, under the ban
ner of Democracy, march to glorious
victory. Conservative craftsmanship
and exalted patriotism have completed
the platform. We have adopted it, and
with pride and confidence we submit to
the Democratic voters and the free and
independent suflragans of every party
in Texas, for their approval and sup
port.
With us the people rule. The princi-
pies of this platform and the policy here
outlined are TO take the shape of laws at
the hands of Representatives and Sena-
tors, to be elected by the same constitu-
ency that sent us here, and charged us
when we had formed the platform to
nominate in their name some worthy
citizen TO execute these laws
and be governor of the State of
Texas. This is high and deli
cate duty, scarcely less responsible
than the formation of platform of
principles. Texas has more than 100000
Democratic sons from whom we may Sc
leet. Whose name shall we cali? Into
whose hands shall we contide this high
trust? Upon whose shoulders shall we
impose this burden, this great public re-
sponsibility? The Democratic party
speaks to her sons now as in the past,
saying in paternal tones; "If you love
me keep my commandments" Two
years ago the, Democratic party in con.
vention announced: ave declare that
liberal provision should be made &c
endow with the public lands set apart
for the payment of the public debt, OF
the proceeds of the sales Of the same, the
State university and its branches" 81 ,
"We further declare that the debts
due the university and com.
mon school funds of Texas
denominated as of doubtful valid.
ity, should be recognized and paid
with the interest due thereon. Within
two years these commandments have
been kept, by appropriating l,000,00O OF
acres of land to the university and its
branches, without invading the common
school fund or the land set apart u that
purpose, and 100000 appropriated TO the
payments Of debts of doubtful validity,
ana ueulca.ed perpotually to the sacred
cause of free education in Texas. In the
same platform the Democratic party de-
clared. 1--WE favor the fullest education
OF the masses, white and colored, in sep.
arate common schools, and the advanc.
ed education of the youths of the coun.
try in our higher schools and State uni
versity. We favor the maintenance OF
normal schools for the instruction o
teachers For the fidelity i'm which thi,
commandment has been kept, w,
appeal to the record. The whit,
and colored scholastics combined
for the year ending August 81, lSS
amounted TO 26l ,473 souls-a marked in
crease over the previous year; the scho
lastic age of this year was from eight {,
fourteen, and the public schools wer
maintained for - months. For tn,
year ending August 81, 1884, the total o
scholastics amounted to 81 200, approx
mately distributed as follows: Whites
207,0 900; colored, 100000. For the year I,
end August 81, 1885, we have enrolled
4O6,6i2 scholastics, white and cOlored, iii
"a no ia Of al a..
and comprising about one-ffth of tn
100000 of happy people in Texas. Tn
scholastic age has been increased from
eight TO sixteen years and the terms @
school eNtenGe 10 six months
The sam Houston Normal in
stitute has been maintained
ut an annual cost of $4,000 n year
The capacity of its classic halls IA
measured the number OF its student,
Annually 1t has sent forth about seventy
five graduates TO become teachers i
the common school of the State. Thes
graduates, the reneXes of the intelle,
tual accomplishments and mora
stamina of that splendid corps of pre-
fessors and teachers, so creditable to tn
institution, must be in the future, a
they have been in the past, of incalcu
Fable value to the cause of FREQ educf
TO begin September next, the State wi
support at this institution five student
from each Senatorial district, and fou
from the State at large. Prairie Vie
Normal institute, for the separate edit
cation of colored teachers, has bee
maintained with the same fidelity. II
operations have been signally success
full. The Agricultural and Mechanic,
college is In splendid condition now, &C
yancing continually its Justly merito
and high reputation. The young me
who have gone from its walls into III
varied and hon0red pursuits of bus
life, are forging their way TO the from
while they point with a high and jui
pride TO tho college at Bryan. Even I'll
University OF Texas, the dream of III
pioneer of civilization i'm the Republi,
provided for In every constitution, "a
long delayed In its establishment,
now, fortunately for the State,an accom-
plished fact. Its first session closed Sci
tember, 1884, with about 200 student
It's corps of professors are worthy
seats In Yale or Harvard. The DEM
cratic party gave TO IL its existence, an
VIII nurse 1t 70 Its full development.
shall DO the seat of advanced learning
and the home of PHILOSOPHY for all ii
people OF Texas. ave favor the sui
ooiuii w tuo pcoplt VI n CONSTITUTIONS
amendment authorizing the levy an
collection of special school tax ,separa
from the general revenues, to the on
that an efficient system of public fro
schools may be main aimed and Il @ Sta
taxes may be reduced
the actual necessities of Il
State government" Thus spoil
the Democratic party in convent,
assembled. The amendment was pr
amendment the taxes In gross for ge
eral revenue and tho support of fr
schools had been 30 cents ON the 81
divided rs follows; ~ cents to fr
schools and by cents for support
government. After the adoption of Il
amendment TO the constitution and a
preparation legislation under Il, d
taxes In gross continued TO be 30 cen
on tho 500, but divided ms follows: Il
- fsat.f raa r.