The Waco daily examiner. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 187?-1888, 1885-09-18
T. r. JOKDAN'S.

ment 10 democratic, because the con-
stitutional convention of Texas, COM
posed OF democrats, provided for To-
cal option in the constitution, is con-
answered by the fact that
the members of that convention were
not elected to formulate democratic
principles, but for u different purpose.
Democratic principles are formulated
and promulgated by representatives
of the democratic people of the thirty
eight states of the union, sent to the
national convention for that purpose.
1t is only such convention that has
the right to speak for the national
democratic party, aud every one of
them has spoken on this subject, in
language which can not be misunder-
stood. Again, it will be remembered
by gentlemen who attended the dem
ocratic state convention, held at Gal
weston iu the spring of 1876, to NOM
mate candidates for governor and
other state offices under the present
constitution, then about being sub
mitted to the popular vote, that Colo
nei John ID. Elliott, one of the Travis
county delegates offered resolution
approving and indorsing the new con-
stitution, and II my memory serves
me correctly, Captain William Walsh,
the present commissioner of the gen.
eral land office, also delegate from
Travis county, moved to lay the re-
solution on tho table and the mover
under the table, and the motion to lay
on the table was carried without di-
vision. So the democracy of Texas
refused to endorse or approve
the present constitution. Again
the present constitution was ratified
at the polls early in the spring of 1876,
whereas the national democratic con-
vcntion which made the first declars-
ton against prohibition did not meet
until the 2Sth of June of the same
year. Until that time il had not been
deemed necessary to speak in national
convention on this subject, and
1t may have been that the
local-opiion clause in the con-
stitutIon of n democratic state like
Texas was one of the causes which led
to the declaration In the national
platform against prohibition. Wheth-
err il was or not, the fact exists that
tue declarations in the national dem.
ocratic platforms against prohibition
and the approval by the democracy
of Texas, of these platforms have all
occurred since the adoption of ouI
present constitution.
The force of this argument has beer
sought to be avoided by claiming tina
the term used in the democratic plat
form. sumptuary laws, does not in
clude prohibition in its Specification
and to establish this, old definitions {
sunptuary laws" taken from die
paraded before the public shown.
sumptuary laws" to signify law
restraining extravaganza in fur
Diture. apparel aud cost of living
etc, the same being in abridg
ment of liberty" 1t may be remark
ed that under the definitions referred
to prohibition is clearly sumptuary
because drink enters as 1ully int,
the cost of living as furniture an,
lished in a number ofPapefs iii 'foxas
advised against the passage ola loca
option law because, among other rcas
ons which he gives against such laws
he says they are "in many respects
sumptuary."
But outside of this the democrats
party, In framing its platforms, al
ways addresses itself to live issues. 1
the clause relating TO "sumptuar,
laws in the democratic platform i
Intended to mean "extravagance II
apparel, furniture and cost of living,
what more silly or ridiculous thin
could the party have put in its plat
form, for who ever heard of any sucl
| isana nnItftra
people Who ever heard such sub
ject discussed in this country? N
living man. The general popular ac
ceptation of the meaning of this planl
of the democratic platform everybod,
knows to be declaration against pro
hibition. Prohibition is the only is
sue it can possibly refer to, for other
wise IL would be all absurd and sense
less declaration. In order to clincl
the argument and estop prohibition
lists from denying it, let me reat
from the platform of the national pro
hibition party:
1.-THE fact that the democratic part,
has IN its national deliverance of Larly
policy arrayed itself on the side O
the drink-makers and sellers b,
declaring against the policy OF
prohibition of such traffic under the
false names of 'sumptuary laws and
when in power in some OF the states
refusing remedial legislation, and in
congress OF refusing to permit the
creation of a board by Inquiry TO in.
yestigate and report upon the effects
of this traffic, proves that the demo.
cratic party should not be Entrusted
with power and place"
This highest and most solemn Off.
cial utterance OF the national prohibi.
tioB party, made in national conveD.
ton, at Pittsburgh. on the oath day OF
July, 1884, denounces the democratic
party as unfit to be trusted with power
or place, because in ats deliverance of
national party policy" il has declared
against prohibition under the false
name OF "sumptuary laws" This
ends the argument on that point,
and closes the mouths of all who
have denied that the democratic parry
denounces and opposes prohibition in
Its platforms. The prohibition move.
ment Ia great political movement,
looked upon In the north. by the enc
Inies of tho democratic party as tho
wedge which Is, when driven home,
TO split that party asunder in the south.
Many quotations from prohibition and
other journals could be given to show
this Yet, in the face of this fact, aud
of the denunciation by the prohibition
platform of the democratic party as
unfit TO be intrusted with place or
power, democrats are asked TO stand
idly by and raise neither voice nor
hand In defense of their party.
l have been charged with inconsis.
iency, in that | advocated the adop. |
lion Of the present constitution,
local option clause, !
md rs governor signed the local on
ion law. The charge is gronndless
was governor of the state when the
constitution was made la convention.
The convention, alter concluding its