San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-05-15
MANIPULATING MARTIN.


land. How long, o Lord! how long!
MANIPULATING MARTIN.
The letter OF acceptance which Marion
Martin sent to the prohibition commit
tee last week has somewhat stirred up
the democratic mensgerie. While pro-
Tossing to see no danger in the situation
they are wonderfully exercised over the
simple acceptance Of nomination
which they regard as exceptionally
weak and consequential. The union
of the labor party and the prohibition
party and the greenback remnant Is no
doubt to be counted safe for Marion
Martin in so far as the votes Of these
factions will be cast outside Of the
bosom of the democracy. This, how
ever, does not seem to trouble the aver
age democrat 80 much as the late discov-
cry of the wall-eyed sons of the sapient
who have found out that Martin is lay
Ing his plans to catch the republican
nomination and so squeeze into power at
the head of q oonglomeration composed
Of republicans, greenbackers, united
laborists and prohibitionlsts. This is
combination never yet unearthed. The
nearest approach to it is to be
found in those northern states,
where the democratic party finding
themselves in hopeless minority
make common cause with all the fag
ends of mugwumpery, and ally them
selves with every remnant Of political
abortion for the purpose Of defeating
the republican party. In no democratic
state has the republican party descend
ed to such political abasement to carry
an election and 1t is safe to say that the
experiment is not likely to be initiated
in Texas. The Houston Post evidently
regards this as the Martin programme.
1t says:
she has been recommended by the
prohi bitionists, which leaves him open
to other engagements in the recon-
mending line. The union labor party
and the farmers party will meet soon,
and Mr.. Martin Ia farmer and labOrs
on the farm. Then the republican NOM
inating-indorsing .recommending com
mittee is to meet in August, and Mr..
Martin has been expressing some very
liberal, conservative views lately. But
seriously, is not this the game? Mr..
Martin is man of strong Characters
tics, and one of the most strongly
marked of these is an aptitude in shrewd
political maneuvering. If he succeeds
IN m a nd q
those opposed to the democracy, includ-
ing fair share of prohibition demo-
Gratis, he can. and will make good race.
That this is his purpose Is quite mani
fest"
This may be Martins programme, or
it may not. 1t will not be the pro-
gramme of the republican party unless
that party intends to commit political
suicide. The republicans of Texas have
more at stake than the mere defeat of q
democratic nominee for governor
and will not sell party con-
sistency for such miserable
mess OF pottage as Martin
election would be. The Hous-
ton Post need not seriously trouble it's
soul about this thing. Republican
birthrights are more sacredly consider
ed than this. The republican party
have before them the very necessary
work Of rescuring this state from the
domination of democratic ideas and gov
eminent. True, the task seems hopeless
one, but 1t not. Republican ideas of
free speech and free ballot and fair
count, and protection, and education,
and public improvements, and political
rights and the powers Of the national
government and all that makes the
political faith Of the grand old party OF
progress and the nation-these ideas
are gaining foothold in Texas. They
are sapping and undermining the very
foundations of democracy. The old
party Of reaction, and secession, and
national disintegration is losing its grip,
despite the tenacious hold 1t seems to
take on these resctionary ideas, and the
spasmodic hold it has today will loosen
1t Is like the clutch OF a maniac In the
last hours of his mortal agony, desperate
and dreadfully tenacious, but proving
that the end is near at hand and that
the strained muscles must soon relax
For this eternal relaxation the republi
can party works and waits and not fol
such q fool moment of change as Mar