The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1884-10-02
KAUFMAN.
A TELLING CAMPAIGN ADDRESS.
The Importance 10 the Citizen of u Proper
Understanding oftho system ofuoV-
ornment aud ~" Principles
Of Political PARTIES,

KAUFMAN N'Il, -t'ufFtNIonu-
once.l-Tho second meeting OF tho
Kaufman Democratic club was held NJ
tho courthouse last night. \ fair at
tendance, including several ladies, Dr.
W. A. Mulkey presided. The club
numbers We 100, and viii doubles
reach 300 before the election. A lOO-ioot
pole and Cleveland banner will be
raised on the public square next week.
General enthusiasm prevails, Hon. j.,
). Woods and IL. L. Tongue addressed
the club last night. Below We append q
portion OF the latter gentlenIsn's re-
marks;
THE ADDRESS,
GENTLEMEN: | understand that the
object of your Organization is TO adj
vance the best interests of the Democ-
racY, and particularly TO secure for the
party tho greatest possible vote at the
coming election. In these purposes /
heartily concur. With reference Ia tho
subject of politics, many well meaning
citizens, In my opinion, entertain erro-
nCous views. They appear to think
that the people nj large have but little
interest in political affairs. II appears
to me, however, that in II country like
ours, II is Of the highest Importance to
the citizen, so far as nis time and oppor-
tunitieS Will permit, that he aCquaiut
himself with the nature and character of
our government, and the public meas.
ures necessary for its proper admins
tration.
The vast country which We possess,
with its boundlcss resources and clpa-
bilitics for administering to the peoples
happiness, can be made conducive To
this desirable end alone, under and
by the influences of Il good and
wholesome government. The govern
ment under which We live is the work
of tho grandest sotOfmon who have ver
lived. History furnishes us no example
uf II similar structure. lt'is the perlec7
the fruitful Theme OF eu!ogy
statesmen who have lived since its
establishment. 1t has been pronounced
to he the most wonderful structure ever
erected with human hands, and its
blessings, undcr a proper administIa-
ton, are the most bountitul and bene-
iicent ever ~vouchsaled TO any people.
The great underlying principle in M
system of government, and which
should ever he kept in view, is that the
people are the source of all political
power. They are the rightful rulers, and
the public officers are their agents and
servants. So long as tie public servants
are competent and honest and prove
faithful 10 the important trusts reposed
in them, all will be well. But,
If through incompetency or II wan
of iidility to duty, they neglect
the peoples interest, and especially il
they become so recreant To their obliga-
tons as to use their official position TO
promote their own prive ends or public
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT; to that extent will the
Government fail to answer tie purposes
for which it was formed, and individual
Z 49, Ill a.. Y. man al 49, "a. l..r
been wisely said that the security of our
Government depends in Il great degree
upon the public virtue and intelligence
Of the people. For if the citizens have
sufficient intelligence to appreciate and
understand their rights, and the moral
courage TO maintain them, they will not
be likely to place unsafe men in Office,
nor allow such men to remain there long
to the detriment Of the public service.
One great danger, therefore which
threatens our Government and its free
institutions, is that the management OF
our public affairs is left too much in the
hands and control of the ot!ic" holders
and protested politicians. Ic thus hap
pens mat whilo the masses
Of tho people arc absorbed
IN their D.ivO pursuits, the class
of men above referred ~, take supreme
control OF the public business, and not
feeling or drcldiu~ their responsibility
to the peoplc, too often Wort for their
own private interest rather than the
welfare 81 those whose servants they
are.
1t appears TO me, therefore, that every
thoughtful citizen, upon due reflection,
must recognize his duty, t. aid in the
selection Of suitable officers 10 admins
ter the affairs Of Government, and thus
to secure to the people and their poster
ity the inestimaDle blessings oftreedom.
For what shall it profit Il man if he gain
the whole world and lose his WI lib
critics? For my, part, | would rather
leave to my children the priceless heri-
tage alone of free Republican govern
ment, established on an enduring basis,
than all the wealth OF the Indies sur
mounted upon the ruins of popular lib
ertv."
The speaker here proceeded to discuss
the political situation, presuming that
the paramount question before the
people is. whether the Repub-
iican or the Democratic party shall in
the future control the doctrines of the
country, and insisting that the DemOc-
racy offer the only reasonable assur-
ances of relief against the crying evils
which threaten and disgrace the Gov
eminent under the present rule.