Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-12-31
GIBBS ON DEMOCRACY.
he Writesto Allen q. Thurman and
Others, Expressing Regret al MOI
Being Able to Meet Them.
A Reduction OK Taxation and a circum
sor,hing Of Power Of Fedora,
Courts Necessity.
spoclal Do ana an,altn.

Special to the Gazesta
DALLAS, Tx Dec, so The following
is the letter OF Lieut. Gov. Gibbs in reply
TO the invitation to be present Al ,he
meeting Of the jackson clubof Columbus.
Ohio, January ST.
DALLAS, TEX, Dec 81, isse.--To the
Hons. A. G. Thurman, James A. Miles.
Frank Wilson and others, committee az
tho Jackson Club, Columbus, Ohio,
GRNTLRMEN--Your highly appreciated
invitation Of the 2Gth Of December, A, Il.
1856, WAS forwarded to me from Austin,
anu would have been replied TO sooner
out have been 10 hopes OF so arranging
matters as TO be present at your annual
meeting, and for this reason have post.
poned replying. As our legislature Will
soon DC 10 session shall have 70 DENY
myself the pleasure OF attending. hone
you Will have full meeting and that tho
result will BIO favorable 10 Democratic
interests and future successes, and to
more specific declaration Of principlee
The Democracy Of the South are anxious
for reduction OF taxation and
expenses, and they feel assured that this
could be done without lmpairing the oiilo-
lency OF the government or the ohliga-
ton Of contracts. We are also much
troubl' q over the encroachments OF the
federal judiciary. We have Ia Texas over
2O00 miles Of railways In the hands OF re-
celvers, operated by federal Judge IN
New Orleans and our people deprived Of
the right OF suing such railway compan-
les in their own local courts aud put TO
much unusual aud unnecessary expense
and Inconvenience. This condiu n OF
tnings has existed for several years and
there is no limit to II In time, except the
discretion of the judge. Ii is my opinion
that the Democratic masses OF Texas win
not be satisfied with anything. less than a
specific and unequivocal declaration OF
principles on these points by the national
Democratic party. Our people feel that
! we now have an aristocratic government
| operated in very eXtravagant manner OF
Democratic money, and that the
federal courts have TO too great an extern
become the machine of Corporate powel
and have absorbed too much Jurisdiction
To q large majority In this sec
ton the war and the Issues Jus
subsequent are mere matters o
history, and our political opinions anC
affiliations are, and will be, the result o
our convictions on current lssues a
majority of Texas Democrats would pre-
fer TO see the national party in the minor
| ity as the result OF strlct ad
herence to the constitution and hon
est and earnest efforts in the In
terest of an economical administrator
OF the government than to see IL ma
jnrity party, as the result Of temporlzips
| policies. 1t is only comparative few
who look 10 official position as meani
| OF livelihood, and large majority desr,
only to see the patronage Of the govern
! ment so distributed that the people will
| get the most efficient service posslb foi
the least money. You will ind Texas
Democrats enthusiastic In the support o
the political party Of their choice
only so long as they are thor
oughly convinced that it's making a sin
cere effort to have the government ad
ministered according to the constitution
equally in the interests of all classes anC
on an economical and honest basis. Tn
voters each election show less DISPOSE
ton to form political convictions from
mere sentiment, and are looking more
and more TO practi al Legislative results
and efforts, rather than to the declRra
i tions and promises of leaders or party
platforms. While there is nothing TO indi
cate any intention on their part to trans
fer their support TO the Republican part
yet 1t Is very ehdent tina
they intend TO hold the Democratic
party to more strict accounta
bility on live issues, and that nothlnI
short Of proper performance Of admin
istrstive and Legislative duties by th
Democratic party will retain iheir allegi
ance.
Wishing you successful meeting am
believing that have given you the exac
status Of political sentiment in Texas,
remain, respectfully,
BARNETT GIBBS,
Lieutenant-G Governor.