Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-05-11
HEART OF OAK PLANK
Ex-senator Maxsy's Views Regarding
the Adoption Of Such . Plank BY
the Democratic Party.
The Kepubliosn Oopvsntion Set an Exon.
PIE Regarding Prohibition which tho
DemoTsts Night Follow.

PIC heknx0ln8 Frontottf0n Wnton the
DemoTsts Might Fellow.
PARIS, TEXAS. April So :lsss.
W. B. Stout. Ksq.. Dallas, Texas. -.st.
DEAK SIR:-Your favor OF yesterday is
j ust received. From q strictly Demo-
cratic standpoint, looking alone to the
unity and harmony OF the party, and the
maintainanceI Of Its vital principles, II is
perfectly manifest that the injection Of
the que stion. of prohibition or anti pI obi
bition into the coupcils.of the party would
be supreme folly. II might help ambi-
tfons aspirants but the party 10 not spe-
cislly concerned about them.
No one of ordinary intelligence can fail
to observe that there Is spirit of unrest
among the people, brought about as be-
lieve BY men who look to their own
aggr Indictment rather than to the good
of the country. Nevertheless, whatever
msv be the cause, the fact remains.
We are confronted with:
First, the National Prohibition party
and those who believe that prohibition is
the paramount question above sn Other
considerations will go with that party.
Second, the Labor party.
Third, the meeting called for some un-
disclosed purpose to meet in Waco.
Fourth, the Republican party.
In Its recent state convention, largely
attended by its best eleme, is, the Repub-
licsn psrty has proclaimed that while it
does not expect to overcome just now tie
great Democratic maj orlty, Is does be-
lieve 1t practicable to Cap ure one or two
districts In Texas, and this evidently upon
what 1t assumes to be discomfort
of the wool growing industry.
It wisely elected DR.. Cochran,
the great leader of the Anti PROMOTION
lists In the recent Canvass, as president
pro TEN d, and Gen. Web Flanagan, the
most Influential Prohibitionist In the Re-
publican party, as permanent president of
the convention.
They and Judge Rsctor warned the
party agsinst raising the prohibition ques-
ZION, as it would disrupt the psrty, and
the convention wisely followed their
advice.
Whatever we may think Of the princi.
pies OF that psrty, no one doubts its skill
in methods looking to success.
Some few Democrats seek to iusert In
the next state platform what they Style
the heart of oak plank. Their arguments
are spec'ous, plausible, and trans
Hsrently selfish, Dus utterly uusonnd.
81 the convention should foolishly follow
;1lem, it would deal the most fstsl blow
70 Democracy ever struck in this house
tOld Of It's friends cart thou In heslth
by brotheI?" and stab under the itth
10. We had best let the old party m I'VE
u heretofore under ite old flag and we'll
khpYn Rrfnciples.
DsHnocrats equal in intelligence, in past
record and feaIty to any one who sdvo-
estes this new tangled doctrine, do not
believe that 8 mans opinion on that
question, one way or the other, has any
thing to do with his Democracy, and
these men have proven their party devo-
tiOn in the darkest hours Ct It's history.
They are not deceived as to the motive of
this new departure, nor do they propose
TO be brow beaten or bull dozed.
Cisimipg the right to think and act az
they please on all outside ques tons, they
copcede the same right to others, and 1t
will be found that the great body Of Dem
ocrats, whether pro or anti, take the same
view. They do not propose to follow the
leadership Of fe1 self-constItutedl lead
ers TO the injury OF the psrty upon whose
success depends the perpetui,y OF free
government upon the principles of the
The unfortunate split In the Charleston
convention In 1860 and other events that
might be named should teach sensible
men that coercion is dangerous weapon.
The Democratic party can not afford to
slap in the fsce loo, 900 of lis fellow Dem
ocrats for fsrel CT of opinion on en- out
side issue, VINO never failed when the Iona
roll was beaten. I have no fear that the
convention will do anything SO foolish.
There Ia too much intelligence and fair
mil dedness to tolerate such gross TRUST
ice and pslpsble folly.
Men have notforgotten the Greedy folly,
nor who, at the Corsicsna convention,
advocated that departure from Demo-
cratic principles and usages, nor who
opposed 1t, and urged the party to stick
to its time-honored principles, inherited
from its great apostle, Thomas Jefferson,
and embodied 10 his famous inaugural
address of March 4, 1901, nor have they
forgotten that that folly reduced the ma
jarity In this state that year to 10000.
On the eve OF 8 great Presidential cleo
ton this drebrsnd, wiliulIy thrown into
the ranks, would fall little short
of treason to the party. The Demo
cratic party In this contest Should move
forward with every mau at his post, its
old battle SCARED banner unfurled, with
locked shields, and close column, leaving
Renjad sill minor diff erences, tieatipg any
f1sn on either side Of the prohibition
question who would attempt to inscrioe
t1at issue on the banner, as incapable OF
or wilful!y blind to its
grand mission-a Ferguson crying
"oeef," "oeef," amid the thunder of the
Revolution. have too much faith in the
manhood and honesty OF the
party TO doubt the result; and believing
that there is no Cause Of discord, that the
party will be united, that the policy Of
tue psrty will be 10 ''let the dead past
bury it's dead" COZ d1ently expect that
T,xss will in November next, cast the
heaviest Democratic msjorit7 ever given,
in party contest, and will continue 81
heretofore the banner Democratic stat
Of the Union. Very truly, E