Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-05-26


and other Illegal voters.
3 1t debars all citizens except farmers,
and hence would be farmer5party.
Let there be equal rights to all men.
special privileges 10 none" The artist and
the artisan, the preacher and the plowman,
the doctor and the lawyer, the merchant
and the mechanic are equal citizens alike,
of this republic, and no party is democratic
that does not admit them all
Inc question then recurs to every voting
citizen, what IS my partyl l know not
other mems political principles, but rs for
me, l am a Democrat, and l am
am not Democrat because my father
was, nor am Democrat because believe
IN free trade. unlimited coinage of both
silver and gold and abolition of national
banks. / believe that because l am a Dem
ocrat, and | am Democrat because:
!: Its corner stone is individual liberty
and local self-government.
:. 1t maintains written constitutional
government, and believes in stern obedience
to the constitution strictly construed.
>. It's Will Is the viii of its mem berS, the
people, people of every section, every voca-
ton. every calling and condition of life.
Believing, this, we can't help believing
the others. These characteristics are at
tributes of every Democrat. We may differ
on some policies, but never on these fuuda-
mental principles. They constitute the
omnipotcnt bulwark OF republican institu-
lions. Wherever you find an honest,
truthful Democrat. whether a subject of
the tyrannical kingcrafts of European pot
entates, or an Independent sovereign of
free America; whether in the silver hills
OF Colorado, the vineyards OF California,
the mortgage belts of bleeding Kansas"
the commercial centers OF New York or the
manufactures of New England; whether in
blizzard-cursed Dakota, or the orange
ID frAn oil Of a
South, You will always find him battling
for these principles, and for them ever
ready 10 sacrifice upon the altar of his
country's liberty, his life, his fortune, his
sacred honor
These principles have characterized every
Democratic platform since the days of JET
ferson. No other party ever confessed
them. indeed, Chicago paper last year,
being Republican forty years, agreed to
accept the tariff issue of Democracy if it
would abandon its principles of local self
government, and adopt those of Federal
and strict construction. But, in the Ian
guage of Henry Watterson, we would re-
linquish the tariff issue first
Whether the leading issue is tariff or sill
yer coinage the party will be not divided on
the fundamental principles. The Demo
cratic platform of 81 began thus: THE
Democratic party recognizes that new is
sues are born p" and Old issues perish,
but the fundamental principles of the Dem
Ocracy Will ever remain the r
only security for the continuance of free
government
Among these are: 1.-THE preservation of
personal rights the reserved rights
OF the states, and the supremacy of the Fed
eral government within the limits of the
will ever form the true basis Of
our liberties" In that is embodied all.
When we speak of I Democratic party we
do not mean party that favors 4 truly
democratic form oil government, for the
scope of our country will only admit of that
popular form known as republic; we mean
a party controlled and managed by the
Democrats, the people. This is what we
mean by the third reason for being Demo-
crat.
hope to offer some arguments in the
near future in opposition to the sub-treGs-
ury, and to give my reasons in full, but for
lack OF space the following substitute for
its principles must suffice.
However, / admit under such crisis as
this it is the duty of every one to seek out
the cause and provide the relief; and in my
opposition to this measure, | assure You, |
have been guided BY such spirit. From
the fact that | believe the following princi-
pies, l could not consistently favor any part
Of the Sub-treasury. They have the model
Of political platform, covering every spe-
lCS VI L GuCA d ClIpONE III
the sum and substance OF republican gov
II is this declaration Of princi- |
pies of the Federal government,
FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES.
We hold these truths to be self-evident:
|. That in forming social compaCts for the |
government of men, the corner stone of |
is the equality of every citizen in |
lis person and in their management; |
wherein the sourceof all political power are |
he people who are endowed with certain |
natural rights which the government can |
neither take nor ALLEVIATE; that the rightful |
province OF government is 10 enforce our |
natural duties and defend our natural |
lights and to take none from US; that no /
nan has any natural right to trespaSs on |
he equal natural rights OF others from |
which alone should the law restrain him: |
hat every man is under the natural duty |
# contributing his share of support to the |
.ommou veal, economically administered, |
when legally required. This having been |
accomplished the laws have fulfilled their
JUNCTION, that all legislation should seek to
,eStow the greatest possible amount OF |
OmetimeS asserted), the majority, how
yer, always being the rightful Judge of
my measure for the good OF all.
He FEDERAL GovERSMEST-ITs NATURE |
AND CHARACTER.
9 That the United States is q Federal |
epublic with powers limited by the con-
titution, which is in the nature of COM
act between originally supreme states
s sovereign parties to it--a league of
states with authority to act
n individual citizens of the states sever
lily; that the United States derives its |
overs solely from the constitution, dele
ated to it by the states, reserving all |
lights and powers not therein stipulated
hat the grants of power therein ought to
c strictly construed by all the depart
tents aud agents of the government; that
ongresS cannot do indirectly that which |
cannot directly, and that to exercise
oubtful constitutional powers is mex
edient and dangerous; that the constitu- |
on does not authorize Federal inter-
,rence with the elective franchise OF the |
.ates, the donation of money to them for |
EDUCATIONAL or any other purposes, or the
sumption of state debts contracted for
'cal internal improv ements or other state
imposes; nor does it sanction appropria-
ons for any general system of internal
improvements except under the implied |
overs of commerce or war.
sUSDRY POLICIES.
We favor written constitutional govern |
ent with limited powers. Absolute and |
cry energetic forms are invariably Cypress
e; unfaltering obedience to the Federal |
institution. agreeable to the true spirit in |
hich it was adopted by the states; pre-
,rvation OF all powers to- the state, not
elded to the Union, as enunciated in the
lfginia and Kentucky resolutions OF 1888 |
i; the immediate repeal of all laws not ;
richly constitutional now in force: oppOSi- |