San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-05-12
ADDRESS
TO THE U. S. REPUBLICAN LEAGUE
OF TEXAS AND REPUBLICANS IN
GENERAL.
SAN ANTONIO, May 5, 1885,


GENTLENIEN-At the recent state
convention of the L. S. Republican
League, of Texas, that assembled at
the city of Houston, l was chosen
president of the organization for the
ensuing year. The honor thus con-
ferred, | can assure my fellow club
men, is highly appreciated, but the
responsibility attached to the high
position weighs upon upon me as
contemplate the work in store for
those of us who have assumed the
task of organizing the republicans of
Texas into live, active, effective po-
litical body.
Iregard the organization and build
ing up of the republican party in our
great and growing state as
A PATRIOTIC DUTY.
that should enlist the best effort, the
most unselfish motive of every man
who desires the welfare OF our country
and the perpetuity Of our insti-
tutions. Political parties holding to
we'll defined lines of public policy are
necessary to the health and vlgOr of
our free institutions. The nearer such
parties come to keeping each other in
check the greater the possibility OF
responsible, good government.
THE OvERGROWN DEMOCRACY.
Unfortunately for our State the
party in power has been allowed to
run to vine and branch until it has
Swallowed the commonwealth with
an overwhelming majority, so Omni-
potant and OVerOearing, so reckless
and irresponsible that it has checked
the growth of opposition outside its
own lines; and now presenting par
ty torn with internal strife, rent with
conflicting policies and rampant
demogogary incident to it's arrogance
and its Encouragement of the affairs
of the state If the democratic party
which has had unchecked sway over
the destinies of our state for the past
sixteen years would split upon the
ell-defined lines of policy which its
am biuOus politicians have marked out
in their scramble for party nomina-
tiOns, we might hope for reforming
parties upon different basis, but
such a prospect is not lminent; on the
contrary We may expect that no mat
ter how violent the divergence of
opinions held by its leaders, they will
sink every consideration, suppress
every rising objection to secure party
success, in order that they may pose
before the republic as the party of the
great majority in the great demo-
cratic state of Texas. SO that there
remains to us but one course to pur-
sue, and that is
TO ORGANIZE THE REPUBLICANS
in solid phalanx, on the well defined
issues of the day and call upon the
people to enlist under our banner; to
push the battle for better, more pro-
presslve, more patriotic government
of our state.
Happily in Texas, we are not con-
fronted with that terrible problem
growing out of a conflict of races,
which is weighing down the pros
perity, and destroying the political
integrity of other southern states.
We can rise above this incubus and
shake our banner to the breeze, conf
dent that it will enlist the support of
thousands of white men, who have
no fear of political ostraclsm, and who
will claim at the ballot box the right
of the American to cast his ballot and
to have it counted.
SIXTEEN YEARS OF REPUBLICAN, IN
ACTION.
The fact that for the past sixteen
years the republican party of Texas
has simply entered its protest against
democratic domination; has made no
struggle for the offices of the state;
have had no incentive for action, and
only rallying to the polls to cast
complimentary ballot in favor of the
national ticket, accounts for the fact
that a large percentage of the repub-
Iican hosts have been Indifferent to
asserting themselves. 1t Is believed
by organization that a powerful white
republican party, capable Of taking