The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1890-11-20

| with meulding our American character and
giving it hardihood and vigor. But above
| all. here in the bracing and wholesome at
mosphere of accomplishing frugality and
ECONOMY, the mental and moral attributes
of our people have been firmly
knit and invigorated Never could
| it be said of any country so truly as of ours
| that the permanency of its institutions de-
ponds upon its homes. 1 have spoken of
| frugality and economy as important factors
| in American life. find no fault with &C
emulation of wealth, and am glad to see
energy and enterprise receive their fair re-
ward, but | believe our government, in its
natural integrity, is exactly suited TO a
| frugal and economical people, and believe
| it is safest in the hands of those who have
been made strong and self reliant
| in their citizenship by self denial, and by
the surroundings of an enforced economy.
Thrift and careful watchfulness of expend-
lures among a people tend to secure thrifty
Governments, and cheap and careful living
on the part of individuals ought to enforce
economy in the public expenditures.
| When, therefore, men in places OF trust,
charged with making and executing our
laws, not only condemn but hlppantly
deride cheapness and economy,
within the homes of our people, and when
the expenditures of the govrnment are
reckless and wasteiul 1--WE may be sure that
something is wrong with us and that con-
dition EXISTS which calls for the vigorous
| and resentful defense of Amerlcanlsm by
every man worthy to be called an Ameri-
can citizen. Thus when the question is
raised whether our people have the neces-
saries of life at cheaper rate we are
| not ashamed to confess ourselves in
full sympathy with demand
for cheaper coats, and we are not disturbed
by hint that this seems necessary to in
| yolve cheaper man or woman under the
coats" When the promoters of the party
measure which invades every home in the
| land with higher prices, declares that cheap
and nasty go together, and this whole sys-
tenn of cheap things is badge of poverty,
| for cheap merchandise means cheap men
and cheap men means cheap
country, we Indignantly repudiate such
| an Interpretation of American sentiment;
and when another one, high in the party
councils, who has become notorious as the
advocate of contrivance to perpetuate
partisan supremacy by outrageous interior
ence with suffrage, announces that the cry
| of cheapness is unAmeIican,' we scornfully
reply that his speech does not indicate the
| slightest conception of true Americanism.
| will not refer to other utter
ances of like import from similar
sources. | content myself with recalling
the most prompt and significant wonder
that these things are addressed by Amer
| leans to Americans 1t is hard to speak
PARTICULARLY of such things. Step by step
following blindly i'll the path of party
They had been filled with hate and sec
tional prejudices. They lad been cajoled
with Misrepresentation and false promises
They had been corrupted with money and
by appeals to their selfishness. All these
things led up to their final betrayal to sat
isfy the demands Of those who had supplied
La tl,a;p ,f.ti hn-
travail was palpable, and it was impossible
to deny or conceal the fact that the pre-
tended relief rendered to the people in full
fillment of the promise to tighten the
burdens of their life made by the party en-
trusted to government was but a scheme to
nav debts incurred by purchase of party
success, while 1t further increased the
impoverishment of the masses; The
people were at last aroused and
| demanded explanation they had been
taught for 100 years that in distribution OF
benefits their government should be ad-
ministered with equality and justice. They
| had learned that wealth was not lndlspen,
able to responsibility, and that it did moi
entite its possessors to especial govern,
mental favors, and these unsophlstocated
Americans, these vistims of their wrong
doings, demanded the redemption OF party
pledges, and clamored for cheapness IN
order that they might proVlde
the necessities and comforts of life
for themselves and their families
at the lowest possible cost. The leaders OF
the party which was caught in the act OF
robbery, and which was arraigned by the
people for violation of its trust, were
forced, by their sad predicament, to des'
perate expedieDt. To attempt to reverse
the current of true Americanism and dis
credit the most honorable sentiments be-
longing to American manhood, were the
disgraceful tactics of those who lnsulteo
our people by the announcement OF the
doctrines that the desire for cheapness
was to love nastiness and to practice econ
omy and frugality was unAmerlcan. Bu'
this is a time when thrift in our country
men should be fully re-established. Inc
: noise of the recent political revolution 4
heard throughout the land. The people
have lust demonstrated that there is poln
beyond which they cannot be led by bllnC
partisanship and that they are
quite competent to examine and decide pc
litical questions concerning their rights anC
their welfare; they also decreed that th'
decalogue has place in our politics, To-
they have enforced the command ''Thol
shalt not steal" and have rendered EN-
phatic their verdict against those who have
borne false witness. Nothing could so wei
accompany the honors we pay our dis
tinguished guest (Thurman) as the cele
bration on his birthday of thu
victory which has been achieved
in vindication OF American citizenship, TO
in him we honor man who has best IL
, Illustrated American manhood, Our reJolc
ing and his are combined as we also cele
| brate tonight the triumphs of the Demo
cratic principle for which he fought AM
r fell but two short years ago, and to com
plete our victory and his, we are permitted
to indulge in true Democratic enthusiasm
over the steadfastness and devotion to 1t
, creed exhibited by our party
{ which, knowing no encouragement, ha
. fought to victory in the people
v cause. Who can doubt our countrymen
e appreciation of the character of Allen
s Thurman, which has been shown through
h out his long career at all times and in q
: circumstances without regard to persona
IS consequences and to do things which h
g consciousness and judgment approved an
q which seemed to him to be in the interes
d of his country and in accordance with b
" Democratic faith, who carf now doubt th'
g conscience and courage point out the va
d to public duty2 If we entertain more so
emn thoughts on this occasion, let them
concerning the responsibility which avail
us as our fellow countrymen place in OF
+ keeping their hopes, and trust we shall ia
n in our obligation to them if we stlt1e co
science and duty by ignoble partisanshl
But we shall fulfill every patriotic expect
y ton if we accept the guidance of good ar
e. true and honest democracy, illumined
IL !, the light of genuine American cltizenshl