Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-08-28
THE DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.
Platform Adopted by the Democracy Of
Texas Upon Which Gov. Hosg
was Elected

| I. That we, the Democracy of Texas. in
| convention assembled, pledge anew our de
| yotlon to the time-honored principles of
| democracy. and reaffirm the principles an
| nounced in the last national and state plat
| forIuS.
=. That the government of the United
| States has only the powers expressly given
| it in the constitution of the United States
| and the amendments thereto, and we be-
| AeVe that the perpetuitY of the Union
! created by said constitution and amend
ments. constitutioually and consistently
with popular liberty, and the blessing of
local self-government, can be secured only
| by the Jealous confinement of the Federal
| government in all its departments TO the
legitimate and economic exercise of the
powers so expressly conferred upon it.
.. mat on this principle we oppose any
tariff or duty TOR other purpose than reve-
| nue. only. We oppose the collection and
distribution by the Federal government of
any money in aid OF the educational sys-
tens of the Southern states, or any6f them
or IN the way OF advancement ON loan to
any citizens or class upon any sort of Sc
curlty, whether government or commercial
bonds, farms or other products. We oppose
the election law recently passed by the Re
publican house of representatives, and con-
denim all the recent encrOachmentS by the
Federal Judiciary upon the power of the
states.
4 That in free representative govern
ment there Is no room for any life tenure of
any office, and of such tenure is born arbi-
trary and irresponsible power. Therefore,
we favor an amendment to the Federal CON
Stitution, limiting the tenure of Federal
offices TO Il reasonable term of years.
D. That we are opposed to the continuance
of the national banking system and demand
the adjustment thereof as soon as by law
the same can be done. We demand the pas
sage of all necessary laws preventing the
creation of trusts and providing for the dis
solution OF those now in existence That
we are in favor of the free and unlimited
coinage of silver and indorse the action of
our senators and representatives. There
fore, we are opposed to paternaIism in all
. its forms, and acting upon this principle we
oppose the ownership by the government Of
the railways and telegraph lines of the state
as destructive to the rights and liberties of
the people and tending to the establishment
Of a despotic government.
u. We believe thatit is the right ard duty
Of the state TO regulate and control the
public highways within their limits and
that effective regulation is impracticable
without the agency of railway commits
sion. Therefore we favor the amendment
to article 10, section of the present con-
stitution relating to railroads submitted to
vote of the people by the last legislature,
and we demand and pledge the enactment
of law creating commission clothed with
any power necessary TO prevent abuses and
discrimination, and 10 make, establish and
maintain reasonable rates of charges for
The transportation of passengers and freight
having origin and destination within the
limits of this state.
I. We demand that the constitutional
provision that prohibits monopoIies, con-
trary to the genius of free government.
De respected and obeyed in all particulars,
and especially by the enactment of a law
that will prohibit the further operation of
land corporations and requiring those now
holding possession or title of lands 10 dis
pose of the same within such reasonable
time as will not impair invested rights, and
that the policy of selling the public lands
10 actual settlers may be strictly enforced
s. We demand that, as general diffusion
of knowledge is essential to the promotion
of the liberties and rights of the people.
the constitutional provision requiring the
public free schools to be maintained and
supported for period of not less than six
months of each year shall be fully and
faithfully carried out, and that the univer-
sity, it branches and the other public edu-
cational institutions be properly endowed
and maintained.
0. We demand that suitable provision be
made by the state for home for the dis
abled Confederate soldiers where their
reasonable wants may be supplied and their
miseries alleviated without humiliation. to
them as objects of charity.
10. We favor separate coaches for white
and black passengers on the railways of
this state, and demand that our legislature
pass law which shall compel railways TO
furnish the same