Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-05-07
HEART OF oAK PLANK
Ex.Senasot Msxey's Views Regarding
the Adoption Sf Such Q Plank by
he Democratic Party.
The Republican Uonvcntion Set an Exam
pie Regarding Prohibition which the
Democrats Might Follow

W d. SLOubi 6su.s L'hll6S, IeAaS.
DEAR SIR:-Your favor of yesterday Is
just received. From strictly Demo-
cratic standpoint, looking alone to the
unity and harmony Of the party, and Tie
maintainsnces OF its vital principles, it is
perfectly manifest that the injection Of
the question Of prohibition or anti pIohi-
bition into the Councils OF the partY would
be supreme folly. Il might help amDi
tions sspirents out the party is not spe-
cialiy concerned aoOut them.
NJ one Of ordinary Intelligence can fail
to observe that there is spirit OF unrest
among tue peo2e, brought about as be-
heys By msn who lock to their OWE
eggr La ament rather than to the good
OF ne country. Nevertheless, whatever
NAV De the csuse, the fact remains.
We ere Confronted with:
First, Gle N,:'onsl Prohibition psrty
and laose vino believe that prohibition is
tha p.r2n0unt question above all other
considerations will g, with that party.
Second, n Lsbor party.
In!ro, ne meeting called for some IN
disc ostd purpose TO meet in Waco,
Foa2th, the Il publican party.
l. ir4 recent sia!e convention, largely
steaded Dy It's best eleme2ts, tha R9pab-
liz psrly has proclaimed that while it
dc 4ot eZgoct 20 overcome Just NOW tie
gr - Dem Jcrauc mel 1rity, IL does be-
lisVa II practicable to cap ure one or Two
distt,.ts III Tcxts, and this evidently upon
WIZ Ii assumes TO be disconlent
of Iho wool growing Industry.
Il wisely elected DIR. Cochran,
the great leader OF the Anti Prohibition
lists IN the recent csryass, IS president
pro tenn, and Gen. Web. Flanagan, the
most Influential Prohibitionist in the Re-
publican party, IS permanent president Of
the convention.
They and Judge Rector warned the
party against raising the prohibition ques-
ton, as it would disrupt the party, and
the convention wisely followed their
advice.
Whatever we may think of the princi-
pies of that party, no one doubts its skill
in methods looking to success.
Some few Democrats seek to insert in
the next state platform what they style
the heaIt Of oak plank. Their arguments
are specious, plausible, and trans
parently selfish, but utterly unsound.
If the convention should fooiishly follow
them, it would deal the most fstsl blow
to Democracy ever struck in the house.
hol1 OF its friends cart thou in health
rib. We hsd best lei the old party move
as hereto ore under it's old isg and we'll
known principles.
Democrats equal in intelligence, in past
record snd fealty to any one who advo-
Gates this new tangled doctrine, do not
believe that mans opinion on thst
question, one way or the other, hiss any
thing to do with bis Democracy, and
these men have proven their party dsvo-
ton in the darkest hours of It's history.
They are not deceived as to the motive of
this new departure, nor DO they propose
to be brow beaten or oull-dozed.
ClaimiDg the right to think and act as
they please on all outside questions, they
concede the same right 20 others, and it
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 few self-con5tItuted lead
ers 20 the injury OF the party upon whose
success depends the perpetulty Of free
government upon the principles Of the
constitution.
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 100000 Of lis fellow Dem
ocrsts for d ffsrel ce of opinion on an out
side issue, who never failed when the long
roll was beaten. / have no fear that the
convention will do anything so foolish.
There is too much Intelligence and fair |
mi dedaess to tolerate such gross Unjust |
ice and palpable folly.
Men have notforgotten the Greedy folly, |
nor who, at the C)rsicana convention,
advocated that departure from Demo-
cratic principles and usages, nor who |
opposed IL, and urged the psrty to stick |
to its time-honored principles, inherited
from its CREST apostle, Thomas Jefferson,
and embodied in HE famous inaugural
address of March 4, 1901, nor have they !
forgotten inst that folly reduced the ma
jority In this state that year to 10000.
On the eve Of great Presidential cleo
ton this icebr&Gd, wiliully 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 man at his post, its |
old battle SCARED banner unfurled, with |
locked shields, and close column, leaving
Dehind al minor differences, t.eatiDg any |
man on either side OF the prohibition |
question who would attempt to inscrioe
thst issue on the banner, as incapable OF
comprehendiDg, or wiIfully blind to its
grand mission Ferguson crying |
"Deei," "oeef," amid the thunder of the
Revolution. I have too much faith IN the
intelligence, manhood and honesty OF the
party TO doubt the result; and believing
tnst lheIe no cause of discord, that the
party Will be united, that the policy OF
the psrty will be 10 "!et the dead past
bury its dead" confidently expect that
Texas will IN November next, cast the
heaviest Democratic msiority ever given
in q party contest, and will continue as
heretofore the banner Democratic state
OF The Union. Very truly,
S. B. MAxEY.
AE.6TYNE.