San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1884-08-28
The Platform.
Austin statsmap.

Ausun bhtemsps
The democratic platform, adopted
nj Houstan, the full text Of which ap-
pears in another column, reads
pretty well, and, il state officers and
Legislators live up to its doctrines
ami enforce it propositions, Texas
will do well. One OF the first duties
of democrats is to give earnest ad-
hesion to the federal nominees. The
vote of Texas will, beyond all doubt,
be given TO Cleveland and Hendricks,
but the moral power OF that vote
should be felt in huge proportions.
Texas is rapidly going to the front
in federal affairs, and when its weight
is thrown into the scale it should be
felt in all its huge proportions
Therefore, it was wise for platform
to be shaped with declaration in its
first section expressing devotion to the
principles and nominations lately set
forth and presented at Chicago. Sec
ton two Of the platform is somewhat
after adcaptandum style, and yet it
presents the fundamental principle
underlying the structure OF true demo-
cracy. Often it is, that we find even
democrats in Office violating the fixed
principles of their party, and it is az
ter all eminently proper, under cir
cumstances existing in Texas, to thus
call attention to the fact that govern
ment is creation for the people, not
a machine for the personal agrandise-
ment of men. The section, relating
to free ballot and fair count.
might as we'll have been left out.
Such declarations were never known
in platforms until the republican
party placed lie in its Illuminated
principles to gloss over the truth of
history. Of course the democracy OF
Texas is in favor of free schools, and
liberal free education. The world
knows this without the declaration
in section four of the platform. Here
we have been since the organization
of the republic of Texas fostering
free education. No state in the
union, no country on the face of the
globe has made SO bounteous provis-
ion for free education as Texas, and
protection of educational funds will
soon place the state in condition to
establish and maintain system of
public education second to none
among civilized peoples. Section five
touches upon most serious ques-
ton; a necessary sequence to all the
wise provisions made in the past for
maintaining an educational system.
Unless the lands be utilized 80 as to
derive from them the fullest returns
for hepurposes contemplated govern
ment ceases to be competent dis
regard in gone OF the most sacred of
all public rights. The democracy
must come squarely up to the issue I;
the children of the state must have
the benefit of that which has been
provided for them; it must not be
given to favored classes. Free grass
and free timber and free water are
against the spirit of bounteous be-
quests. In the disposal Of all lands
preference should be given to actual
settlers, and no man should be denied
the opportunity of obtain home in
Texas. Opposition to herd law is
correct, unless the declaration mean
that the state will not protect the
lands of individuals, as well as those
of the state. All individuals have
acquired title to lands from the state,
and the government should warrant
and defend all rights acquired by the
purchasers. A better law for the
protection of labor may be necessary,
but in the section referring to such
protection there is the least tinge of
claptrap. Legislation in behalf of
restricting the rights of corporations
in acquiring real estate is a wise
suggestion, and law should be
passed for the accomplishment of
such end. Section ten treads
upon dangerous ground. The
objection to laws of the sort referred
to is that abuses grow up under its
operation, and the growth of the
state demands for a time liberal
treatment of carriers. Evils ought
to be corrected, but the wisest dis
elimination should be exercised in
doing SO, for in any wild attempt to
correct them, great damage may be
done the state. The last section
(eleven) of the platform is nothing
more than the customary political
doxology, sung on all such occasions,
but it is an excellent ode to sing and