The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-03-03

ueSpoUlsLu Vi majority, is equally as
astrous and equally destructive. If we
would preserve our liberties in this
country we must begin to learn to un.
derstand what liberty means. We
must educate ourselves and our child
rem to realize that we can not too vigil
lantly guard its sacred fire. 1t is
surrounded by enemies on every
hand; snares and dangers encompass
it on every side; ignorance is its chief
est foe; and nations have persisted
from the face Of the earth because of
want of knowledge of that which was
essential to the preservation of their
liberties. We have the history of the
world to guide and direct us. So far
every experiment in popular govern
ment except ours, has failed, and if
we but keep up the tendency of the
times and forget the teachings of the
past which admonish us in letters of
living fire, this grand and imperial
Republic must share the fate Of all its
predecessors. Already we are on the
downward road with the brakes all
up, moving smoothly and with appar-
ent confidence and comfort to the
abys, which must soon engulf us.
LIE l1OUI fOR ACTION
is upon us if we would save our instit-
tutions. Step by step state socialism
has invaded our State and debauched
the minds of our people. Its coming
is most insidious, and ere we realize
the fact, ourselves and our children
will wake up to find that the Repub-
lie given us by Washington and
Madison and guarded and protected
by Jefferson and Jackson will be
numbered among those that were, and
in it's stead we will have the ideas OF
Bellamy prevailing in our midst do.
minating our government and de.
stroying our people. So far as 1 am
concerned, fellow citizens, my life is
more than half spent. Indeed / have
already turned the summit But sc
long as live and possess my faculties
unimpaired L shall resist with
all my might this alarming and
destructive tendency. Come as itmay
disguised as it too often is, trust
shall always be permitted by kin6
Providence, SO long as I cumber the
ground, to be able to detect with
proper accumen the insidious evils
which lie hidden under a speciou'
mask; and wherever and whenever
and under whatever circumstances
may detect these evils l shall figh
, them with the best of the ability will
!. which God has invested me.
And now q word as to myself per
sonally, which, perhaps, may be on
g of place, but the temptation to ga.
which l can not forego. 1T has beer
charged in certain of the publi
prints that was
POLITICAL TRICKsTER,
and not worthy of public confidence
There have been no specifications ad
ded to the charge so far as my Obser
+ walton extends, and not one Of my de
, famers has ever had the hardihood t.
t specify an instance in which tricket
} the public or any individual. If
/ nave ever deceived any man UI an.
l body of men in Texas l am not nov
I aware of it. If / have ever attempted
or succeeded in imposing upon then
} by trickery | can not now recall it
: Ny whole life, for more than twenty
five years in your state, has beer
/ open to the public gaze. L am so con
= stituted that am not able to concea
1 my opinions upon any subject. In
9 deed, I never saw q dog fight that
: did not take sides with one of tn
= dogs. And I tender to you and tn,
t peOpleo f Texas this record of lif
among you for more than quarter o
century, and ask my bitterest foe
whoever he may be, or wherever h
is, to point out one instance in tina
life in which 1 ought to be justl.
= charged with trickery. 1 have hell
. public positions in your state ant
l have discharged the duties of offic
devolved upon me with, at least
average honesty. The last public &C
. ever performed was in behalf @
> one of the great industries of you
J state in 1883. Because of imperfec
: laws and other reasons with whicl
= you are as familiar as L am, the cattle
. men of your borders had either beef
? driven or voluntarily walked into
!. state of desperation. Civil war wa
l almost threatened, and the state wa
. even making preparation to sem
!, armed men among her citizens be
|, cause of supposed defiance Of law. Il
this contingency l was called upo
professionally, to come and max
= peace between the state and some c
= her people, and the result ofmy effort
. wasyour present land law, which ha
poured millions into your Golfers 70
: the benefit of your children, an
! vouchsafed peace to an anxious indus
4 cry. 1 did not trick you then.
: Again in 1887 most aggravatin
= issue was forced upon us by the vote
of the people. 1t involved families
: and neigh borhoods and friends in Sc
J lious quarrel and discussion; it EN-
broiled the whole state in a fierce an
angry campaign, the bitterness
which has perhaps not yet left us, s
: far as some are concerned. In exel
y cising my right as a citizen to pas
: upon the grave question of constitu
+ tional amendment, 1 found it nece;
e sary to differ in judgment with man
= of my fellow citizens and friends, VIII
i before that time were dear to me, an
n whom since / have not ceased
n think we'll of. / did not conceal m
= sentiments or opinions, but avowe
o them boldly before all men and too
+ my share, perhaps, l might say wit
u truth, very much more than my share
e of the odium attempted to be cas-
n vyO,, thOca w hO wprn of NV npTglaslO