The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-06-26
Texas at Chicago.


She is great as much for the solidity
and unity of her grand democratic
majority as she is for her wonderful
extent and vast producing capacity.
She is indeed one of the character
states of the union, and in the politi-
cal aspects of the times, she is grandly
In the coming struggle
against the banded powers of mo-
nopoly her front to passing events
will well-nigh turn the tide in
favor of the policyof tariff reform; the
commencement of an era of cleanli-
ness, economy and simple efiicien-
cy in government. In view of the
probability of such contingency there
must be no mistake in the voice of the
delegation to Chicago. She must
come to the front with all her inter-
ests so massed and sized up that the
attitude assumed by her in the conven-
ton will not be a doubtful one on any
point. If there are conflicting views
as to policy, the majority must settle
it in caucus so that upon the floor and
really for business, the vote of the
empire state of the southwest will go
a solid shot, forceful influence for
advanced democratic policy. In the
work of the platform committee the
state will have a powerful and a pain
full interest. 1t is all important that
one of her leading and most intluen-
tial delegates be pushed for place on
that committee. The free trade tenets
of Texas must voice themselves there
and in no uncertain or half-hearted
way. Governor Hubbard, Hon. Lin
G. Alexander, or Mr.. Peter Smith
would. we think, properly place Texas
before the convention, the party and
the country, in an unmistakeable at
titude for free trade, or such revision
of the tariff schedules as would ap
proximate the disideratum as nearly
as possible. The republican platform
is skillfully constructed document
and it will have to be met by one of
equally skillful arrangement as to the
policy it will illustrate and urge, but
there must be no ambiguity, no cloudy
glittering generalities, no mere chance
business, no demagoguery and no dis.
honest mere vote-catching empty trick
cry. A plain, manly, frank declara.
ton of principles and solemn pledg-
ing of the strength of democracy to
their carrying out in good faith, is
what is needed, and it Is all that is
necessary.
Texas must have a hand in this,
play the part in this the first step in
the pathway of correct policy adop,
ton to which she is entitled by the
magnificent majority she throws
and by her rapidly opening and
unfolding greatness. We have
a really strong delegation. Ii
has been well and wisely chosen, and
while little chagrin was felt that
the brilliant Terrell was slaughtered
so needlessly by the petty spitefulness
of the administration forces, yet the
people have the most perfect conf.
dence in not only its steadiness tc
known and broadly accepted demo
cratic doctrines, but in its flexible anG
intelligent apprehension of any new
policy projected or urged upon the
convention. Texas will be satisfied
with general strong and fair re
statement of the cardinal doctrines Of
her political creed, but upon the sub
ject of tariff that will fall fal
below her reasonable and just
expectations. In this field Tex
as would place no half-heart
ed nerveless cleaners. She would see
only manly work done, direct cleanly
work, and work the perfect range
and meaning of which would not and
could not be mistaken in any particu.
lar. Every solitary interest of this
vast producing state is served best
by low tariff policy, with the excep.
tion of wool, and perhaps sugar. But
among the wool, as well as the sugar
producers, there IS large majority OF
true democrats, who value a correct
public policy more than they do one
which would simply serve their soil
tary production at the expence of all
other interests of the state.
The simple fact is the man who is
incaI able of making the sacrifice of
either his own private interests, preju-
diees or preferences in the cause OF
the public's good, is unfit in any and
all ways to represent or serve any
state in representative capacity, and
much more so state such as Texas
is. The faithful representative must
lift himself ZIP above petty and local
considerations. He must take COM
prehensive view of the whole situa-
ton and act in the best light possible
to throw upon it, and altogether
without reference to his own
feelings. If our delegation to
Chicago will but act on
this theory we may rest assured that
its work will be for good, and That he
full weight of the state will be thrown
for the measures now so imperatively
demanded by vast majority of the
people of all parties and of all shades
of political opinions.
These crude reflections are thrown
off now as timely, and they are the re-
suit of mature reflection, absolute con-
viction and of long experience in
observing the crystalization of poll
cies and their projection into the pub
lie economies.