The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-04-17
pending before the two houses of con-

pending before the two houses of con-
gress, and it is impossible to foretell
when they may come up for decision.
The welfare of the country and the
prosperity of all classes and occupa-
tons demand the speedy loosen
ing of the restrictions upon
production and trade, caused by
the present tariff laws aW hich
are palpably cofigestiug every branch
OF manufacture, prohibiting eX-
changes with other nations, cOnvulS
ing our home markets with alternate
excitement and depressions, and COM
pellIng the laboring classes to obtain
their daily bread not by readiness to
work steadily but by dependence up
on the condition of our home market
alone, and its capacity fitfully and
not regularly to afford them en-
ployment. This is the condition
of things, and the attitude
of the republican parry, under
whose policies and administration it
has been brought abont, is clearly
shown by the votes in congress and
the declarations of their party press,
and it must be seen that they are SO
enthralled by an o]igarchy Of protec-
tion for the favored few at the cost of
the many. that hope of reform or re-
lief can be expected only
from the ascendency of
the democratic party. The evils
of mal-administration are everywhere |
apparent. are confessed in many and |
proven to exist in nearly every de- |
partment of the executive branch. |
Respectable men in every party are |
compelled to hold their noses over
the developments of star route trials.
The falling out of rogueS IN Office
and out of Office, is exposing a
state of things so corrupt and
shocking that the only marvel is pub
lie business could be conducted at all |
through such agencies. The testimo-
ny of special counsel and agents of
the governments, and of members of
Presi lent Garfield's cabinet, and the
official reports of the department of
justice, are adding chapters in the his
tory Of mal-administration equal to
the worst days of the worst gov
ernmentS. Those evils are thus
proven by internal and external evil
1ence of facts themselves to be so
1eep-seated and widespread in every
structure and substance Of the repub-
llcan party that they cannot reform
them from within. and demonstrate
that they have grown by reiterated
use to be its customary and daily food
and its only means of obtaining and
prolonging its power, and cannot now
be abandoned unless it abandons also
all hope of continuing in power. Of
what material the republican conven-
ton, soon to assemble in your great
city is to be composed, and by which
is action will be chiefly DOM
mated, may be learned, by
IN examination of the COM
position of the Louisiana delegation,
headed by an individual now under
Indictment for bribery, and accompa- I
lied by band Of official mercenaries S
Ind political camp followers. Under q
iuch conditions, how idle it is to hope d
or civil service reform, or tariff re-
orm, or reform of any kind or d
nature. From party of such ante
,edents and such present composition,
md such inevitable administration in
he future Should it unhapiIy be per,
nitted to continue its misgovernment !
II the country, it were vain, indeed /
o hope for good.
am, yours truly and espectfully,
T. f. BAYARD.
The reading of the foregoing letters,
specially that of Tilden, was greeted
With frequent bursts of applause.