Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-06-08

reHliy suthorits'lve ana unrevoked twelfth
plank OF the Galveston platform. Well,
this is very far from the "hesrs of o.k'
plank.
2 But whist about that "hn.lity p"
Does 1t not at least settle "stale prohipi-
ton forever"
| mot unless you want 10 put most sb-
surd and 1ndem0crGtic construction on
the word. TIE term Everlasting" even
In the Bible, Is sometimes applied to lin
ited duration, whenever the nature snd
sxistence OF the object so described is
necessarily limited.
In the Gaze in question, "fnality" csn
not extend beyond two years. After two
years another convention fresh from the
people passes the resolutions.
The bones OF Jefferson would rattle In
their coffin II any one convention should
try TO bild the Democratic conscience
| for all future time.
Hear him on such absurd frelisies:
mo society can make perpetual copsti-
tu,lon, or even perpetual law" Letter
70 James Madison, page LOG, Jeferson's
Works.
8. But it is authoritative and binding
even for two Yesrs?
Certainly, upon no man except the IN
! dividusls who voted for it. From the
simple fact that the Fort Worth conven-
ton had no more jurisdiction over the
/ question than the man in the moon
They ad no authority 10 touch prohibi-
ton IN any form except IN It's national
snd federal relssions. They might have
lawfully and With propriety discussed
| prohibition ia the territories, or in the
District OF COLUMBIA, or in relation to the
army snd navy, and interstate COM
merce, and instructed their delegates to
! ne hatlonsl convention &C
cordingiy. But state prohibi-
ton, never. From dict.tion in
the national conventions Of political
parties concerning purely state police
matters 1t Is short and easy step TO
nstlonel 6ic.ation in the federal Congress
TO free and SOW reign ststes about their
own peculiar sffsirs. In word, the de-
cisions Of nstionsl political convention
are paramount On all federal mstters or
policies, bu: upon state shairs the state
convention IL the supreme authority.
The man who does not accept this as
true states rights Democracy is already,
at heart, disciple oiAlexander Hamilton
When the Dallas convention meets, It's
uttefsnces will be binding upon all
Democrats in Texas for two
years, unless they do like some
spti prohibitionists last summer, snap
their argers St tee platform snd de-
nounce 1t.
{. But since they would resolve upon
this question, what IN your Judgment
should have been uttered?
1t is idle and immsterisl to say now.
0afn
speak without treason, who has loved the
party long and served it well in the ranks,
with no possible hope or desire for pro-
motion, would say this:
At Fort Worth, absolute silence or
state prohibition.
At D,llsa, 20 test OF fellowship or
in Democracy, vlted for Democracy and
political parties Whsteycr.
8. But Leaving out questions Of con-
s,ruction and authority, Whist in your
ia emept will be the practical effects OF
the Fort Worth plstform7
As to this l hope l am mistaken, but
my judgment is that 1t will hurt prohibit
ton in ell is forms far more than the heart
of-osS plank could have done. Against
would have revolted. Against this ninth
plank, which have considered In its
most creditsble form sid according to
most charitable construction, there is
practically DO defense. 1t confuses men
It. has no clesrDess. I. is OF doubtful
Interpretation. 1t means everything or
nothing according to TIE standpoint Of
observation. So much for Its theory.
But in its practical besring, tendencies
snd result 1t surrenders the field to whisky
from shore to shore, SO f,r as Democracy
| is concerned.
Because the men who voted for It are
the crest lesders in Democracy, they, at
least, are bound by T., they In all probs
bllity will constitute the Dallas conTen-
| tor, and es great part Of them are as
! pirsnts for { fice, having once taken the
initial step-"Facilis descensus averni."
| If any man Of that convention feels sg
| grieved by this lsst statement, l ask bis
| pardon ioyfuily-bsing joyful thss /. sp-
plies noG to him. Ihave only given my
honest Judgment as Democrat upon 8
grave matter--one that is Of vital interest
| to NE and sll humanity.
6. But Whist are you going to do about
! il?
aOOuI tUdG DlDlu plhuky uOL1lnR. ABOUT
| prohibition, advocate 1t In all its forms
and vote for 1t when opportunity se1vep,
as q matter OF conscience. 1. is true,
however, as to state prohibition, that no
man OF common sense, even IL encour-
aged by his party, would seek resub-
mission Of the defeated amendment to 9
vote OF the people soon. 1t would not
be right for the legislature to listen to
such a petition until there is evidence Of
great charge in public sentiment.
7. But wins. if thev read you and your
sort out of the party7
II, presumiDg UPON that usual 10000
ms jority, the machine Cesar does so out
law the Democratic Prohibitionist who
for conscience sake will not surrender
his convictions to unjust dictstion, then
they will not only leave worse material
inside the party, but make provision for
the time when this Shakspearean para.
graph will once more be good reading:
Once upon raw and gusty day.
The tr ubled Tiber ,hshng with her shores,
Or sar said to me, Dar'st thou, Cassus, now
Leap in with me into this angry food.
Accouter'd as was, plunged In,
And babe him follow. So, indeed. he did.
The torrent roar'd, and we did bufetit
With lusty sinews; throwing It aside
And stemmipg 1t with hearts of controversy.
But ere we could arrive the point prop7s'd,
Caesar cried, Help me, Cassius, or sink.