The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-10-18
What Democracy Has Done for
Texas.

AUSTIN, October Is, 1888.
To the Editor of the Statesman.
With satisfaction and edification bava
read the able and truthful address of N
Webb Finley, chairman of the state demo.
cratic executive committee, which should
be read, and carefully read, by every voter
in Texas. Our speakers should scatter
them at every public gathering and urge
the people to read them.
From the settlement of Texas nm TO the
close of the late war Texas was held un-
der democratic rule. Our state govern
ment was honestly and economically ad.
mlnlstered and our taxes run very light.
When Governor Thtockmorton was re-
moved from office after the war as an
I'm pediment to reconstruction" the state
was practically out of debt, and our taxes
were 10 cents on the 800, and it was
altogether sufficient to support demo-
cratic state government. From 1870 to
1914 which covered the period of repub-
lican rule, the state tax was 30 cents on the
SlVo' ana vita special taxes was run up to
su'h hgures that they amounted to rob-
berry and, Notwithstanding these enormous
taxes were levied and collected off our
people, when Governor Coke was elected
ana inaugurated the state debt had in
creased from almost nothing to over
S6,0O0,000; and, in about fourteen wears
under democratic administration this
debt is reduced practically to less than
$2,000,0p0, and our state taxes reduced
from 5Ucents on the 800 to 10 cents on
the 500; and when Governor Coke came
into office our state bonds were hawked
about the streets of Austin at 60 cents on
the 81, when the last we purchased under
the Roberts administration we're pur-
chased at $1,40 on the 81, and are now
worth more than that; and our railroad
fare reduced from to 3 cents per mile;
and instead of railway companies con-
trolling the legislature of the state the
legislature controls them, and our efficient
Encouragement in enforcin1tne law is
rapidly bringing them to their senses and,
with proper legislation, in two years more
he will have them operating "as straight
as an arrow" and yet be permitted TO make
charges that will pay them well for the
money invested in them. For state as
new as ours we have good system of free
schools, and expend more money ON
them than any state in the union, EXCEPT
New York; and while New York, with
population over twice as great as Texas,
pays out her $2,750,000 on her free
schools, Texas pays out $2,30O,OOO for
the same purpose.
There is no state in the union where the
families of the poor are SO well protected
by the exemption of property from forced
sale; the interest of the mechanic so well
secured by preference liens, or the wage
worker 80 well secured in his earnings,
which must be paid to him in person or
on his order, and cannot be stopped for
any debt.
No state in the union has ever laid the
foundation for such a magnificent free
school fund, or so amply provided for
higher education,or made such ample pro-
vision for the care and support of her
insane, deaf and dumb and blind
OF both races, And all this
has been done by the democracy.
The republic of Texas was established by
such democrats as Houston, Rusk, Albert
Sidney johnson and Burleson, and was
sustained up to annexation by such demo-
Gratis as Bureson, Hays, Tom Green, Ben
McCulloch, Matthew Caldwell and Sam
Walker, and the ship OF state since an
nexation has been piloted by such demo-
cratic governors as Henderson, Wood,
Bill, Lubbock, Coke, Hubbard, Roberts,
Ireland and Ross, not one of whom has
wavered from the true faith, and it ia to
these and such democrats as these that
Texas owes her prosperity to-day. The
men composing our present administra-
ton have been honest, faithful and eff :
Gent, and should be supported by every
prohibition democrat, Alliance democrat,
Knight of Labor democrat, wage worker
democrat and all other democrats in
preference to disappointed offics.seekers
and demagogues who seek their support;
and, for myself, If it is the last vote /
shall ever cast in the interest of my
country, shall consoientiously cast IL for
Cleveland, Ross and company.
Hwy. Il. MoCULLocH.