Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-05-22

-OPNSA VIII NC faithfully 6NeCuLeu as
nave ability. 1t is matter of regret to
me that in question like this any one
should appeal to resentment, anger or
any ungentle passion of the citizen. 1 call
on you all to bear witness that make no
such appeal and shall make none such in
this canvass. 1 shall make no appeal 20
any passion in the breast of any Demo-
crat except his nobiest, his patriotism,
his love of justice, his love of Texas, his
love of the principles of our grand old
party, the triumph of which principles is
paramount. When railroads shall have
been superseded, possibly, by means Of
transportation as far superior to them as
they are to the methods of our grand
fathers, Democracy will live then if she
be true to herself. And right here fellow
Democrats let me beg you that when you
call your little councils at home, when
you invite the Democrats of your pre-
cinot and neighborhoods to come in
and consult and say what shall be
done, be sure that none but friends
are present with voice. It is
well known in every precinct who
is steadfast and who is not. The uncer-
tain, inconstant, tickle man who Is in
capable of nouishing more than one idea
at q time in his feeble brain; Democrat
when the nomination for constable suits
him, and a repudiator of all the nymi-
nees of the convention when 1t does not
suit him, should not have your trust and
confidence placed in him. Let the test
be is he Democrat. Let no man tell
you what he is going to do, but you Will
know what he did the last time he had
chance to testify to the faith that was in
him. His repentance may be genuine,
but if it is he will be meek, he will
not be blatant, and he will not
complain if you tell him when he
proclaims his repentance and desires to
return to the fold, that he can only enter
when he at least once shall have brought
forth
FRUIT MEET FOR REPENTANCE.
I would have Democracy the educator of
the people. If our numbers are reduced,
we can stand it. But any compromise Of
principle is fatal, not perhaps immedl-
stely, but it eventually leads to disap-
pointment, chsgrIn and final destruc-
ton. This will be the fate of Democracy
in Texas if 1t forgets its immortal mis-
sion and remembers only expediency.
There are other subjects, fellow citizens,
upon which 1 desire to be heard before
this canvass Is closed. My official du-
ties, however, neoessitate my presence
in Austin most of the time. 1 do not
feel at liberty to resign my Office, be-
cause 1 have been placed there by the
people, and must be faithful
to the trust till my successor
is duly elected, and In the meantime L
cannot neglect 1t. 1t is diff
cult, many times for weeks impossible,
for me to keep up with such matters in
the office as require my personal atten-
hereafter may occur to give some other
in Texas my views at large on
several other important subjects, among
them our penal system. There seems to
be an inclination on the part of some ad-
Yocates of economy to utilize the convict
labor of Texas as a source Of revenue
and profit to the state. This ID wrong in
principle. 1t is an Injustice to the labor
ing classes of the country and 10 the con-
Wet himself. Deprived of his liberty and
condemned to labor, which labor should
be profitable, and at least sufficient for
his own sustenance, but when the re-
suits of his labor are more than enough
to reimburse the state for the expense of
his keeping especially if he be man who
has a reasonable hope of being free
again before death, it will be better to
save this surplus for him or his family, if
be has one, who has been deprived of his
assistance at the demand of society. He
may not then be turned loose, utterly
penniless, after paying all the penalties
Of his crime. This, too, leaves one
small motive in life to console fellow
creature who, however unworthy, should
still be the object of human sympathy.
1 hope hereafter to be heard on the
subject of public schools, public roads,
and taxation for these purposes to which
would apply as far as possible the DEM
ooratio doctrine Of home rule and local
Ielf government.
AID FOR CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS.
Texas has to-day about five millions
IF acres of public lands in the extreme
western part Of the state. This land is
n large bodies in many places, in Ell
Paso county alone there being as much
Is 2 900 ZOO acres. This 1 am Judging
rom my observation as commissioner of
he land office for three years past
appears to be IN no demand for
settlement under the laws now
for the disposition of the public
domain. There is no call for it at all.
4 elected governor 1 shall recommend
hat 900 200 acres of this land, moro
IT less, be set apart for lease for q term
# years IN bodies to suit the lessee, the
'evenue derived therefrom to be donated
% the maintenance of INDECENT and dis
Ibled Confederate soldiers. 1t is safe to
ay that this land might be donated to
his use for twenty years without any
er1ous detriment to any other public
/ feel sure that were this done
hese worthy and helpless fellow citizens
will have friends enough among the
of Texas to see to it that the
oldiers land is not long without
tenant. This will give i'm
Mediate relief to these grand old heroes
Who should not suffer while waiting for
private generosity to furnish them with
he bare means Of subsistence. should
commend this because it is the duty of
Texas to do it or something else equiva-
emit. feel certain that large as this
Issembly is you will all concur with me
n this. feel certain that no protest
gaInst it will come from any citizen OF
he state. The frequency with which
he dread destroyer invedes the threshold
4 the home in Austin shows us that we
an indulge in this charity for only few
ears. These feeble old men are passing
way and let there be no delay in giving
hem the solid comforb and support they
eserve This land goes back TO the