Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-04-17

| WIZ even SUI
power should rest with the convention
! We are BOT third party men, and He Esk n
fsvors SO Proh'hitionists, per az, hut we d
ask thst our veiws md T. elings touching
matter of purely police regulations be re
spected by our political brethren.
Let rs suppose tn.t m>joritV CT tn
memteis of the Nominating safe CON
vention be prohibitionists, (.nG It il b.
no mesps violent suppositIOl) and they
should by sheer fUrGs declare tnat prof.
| billion Ia one of the cErdin.! principles o
the Democratic party In Texas. WOuiC
THESE letter writers and their c0sdjutorl
accept IL as good Democratic dCctriuei
Their action in cencuncing the TWELFTH
plspk in the plstf )rm Of 1886 is sufn
cient answer. Neither can they expect &c
find our conscience or silence our convlC'
ton by contrary declaration. We have
been Democrats, we are now Democrats,
and We propose to remain Democrats,
but We do not Epropose 10 ssc.
rihce our convictions on this sub
ject at the will and pleasure Of any man
or set Of men. Tens of thousands of as
inherited our Democracy. an we are de-
termined to maintain that Inheritance in
the forum of our own party.
We were defeated on this question last
year, not by Democrats alone, but by the
aid OF q political enemy against whom we
have commended for many years. While
we accept the arbi;rament as determined
at the bsllot-box, we say thst il is vain
glorious and unnecessary boast for men
to iaunt in our faces the declaration that
they propose TO "petrify the result Of
last August"by inserting a"heart Of oak"
plank in the next platform. Instead of
petrifying,, 1t will purify and become q
stencil in the no3lrils of the conservative
Democracy OF Texas.
1t might be well for these letter writer's
to read sgsin the LAST letter of Senator
Coke upon this subject before resorting
to extreme measures. He, too, is letter
writer of no mean distinction, whose
counsels may we'll be needed in this in
stance. Indications are that political as
piraDts Will find plenty Of game among
Inc Republicans upon which to expend
their surplus ammunition, without using
it upon men within cur own party lines
In the late prohibition csmpsign these
letter writer's stood shoulder to shoulder
with Dr.. Cochran, Melvin Wade, and
host OF other Republicans who led the
now shown In the Republican ranks in
Texas is evidence that these Republican
allies will not be present to give them aid
and comfort in the Democratic state con-
ventions. The prohibition Democrats
should see to 1t that the late Republican
allies Of the ants do not participate in
the primaries.
Neutrality on this question was en-
grated in the platform of 1886. The
authority Of the convention heretofore
regarded IS the fountain OF political
utSerance) has been denied and disre-
gsrded by these Litter writer's. They
refused to abide the solemn action If
a state convention. Neither csn they
bind US by solemn declaration sgsinst
prohibition. TIE proper spirit OF con-
and due regard to the con-
victions of others would have let the
matter rest. The question OF prohibition
addresses itself TO g mans conscience,
aud no political party has the right TO
attempt to control a mans conscience
upon such q subject. II is out Of and
beyond the DOMAIN of common politics.
Men Of sill parties differ upon 1t.
Tame, indeed, must be that man
who yields his lifelong convic-
tiCns upon this subject at
the behest or dictation Of any man. The
extremists mSy get control of the conven-
ton and they mSy insert the "heart OF
oak" plank in the platform, and they may,
by the help Of prohibition Democrats,
msrch to victory, but the fact still re-
mains that when the fight against the
liquor trsffi; shsll come on again, il it
ever does, the prohibition Democrats will
it, inst SO these letter writers
rejected the neutrality plank of 1885.
Let it De remembered that we have
been challenged 10 make this fight for
representation in the coming conventions.
We are not the sggressors. The WIRE
pullers dre quietly at work all through
the state to secure snti delegates to the
stste and congressional conventions. The
primary meetings will soon be held, and
the county conventions to elect delegates
will follow coon thereafter. II anti
PROHIBITION counties they will DO Oily
demand and elect sll the delegates. Ia
prohibition C0uniies the extremists will
plead for harmony and division OF dele
gates. Under the circumstances it will be
suicidal for us 10 compromise where We
have the M )rity. TuiJ contest for su-
plCuaCJ WILL IGe DSIIy Ousub W HhVS
been avoided. | is not OF our choosing,
but is forced upon US By the extreme men
Of the opposition, snd we must protect
ourselves. We have not yougAt to
trsmmel their views. We are wiling to
assist In nominating competent men for
office, without regard to their views on
and then to elect them, but
we are unwilling to lie. few
political sspirAnts dominate the
party by engssttiog an odious unneces-
sary plank in it's platform Of political
principles. They will disrupt the psrty
If they can. We will prevent it il posi-
bic. We are willing to send raen 20 St.
Louis who will nominate Cleveland for
President, and TO Dallas who will nomi- |
nate Ross for Governor, and elect men to
the Legislature VINO Will vote for Coke
tOr Urited States Senator, ell Of whom
sse pronounced i-prohibitionists. Will
.hesa Latter writer's openly declare IS
nuchs 7. r. BONNER.