San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-08-29
TEXAS REPUBLICAN PLATFoI

IEAAS
Adopted at the convention held at Dallas,
| april 18th, 1897.
TO the Republicans of the state: We pre-
sent for your serious consideration and de-
libjrative Judgment the following statements
in st ificat.On of the course we nave marked
Que ana the new departure we have TAX, in
a convention called together as repre-
sentative body of the white republicans OF
of Texas, and we appeal to you 10 give us your
aid in an attempt to rescue the republican
party in our state from It's present degraded
and hopeless condition.
Assembled as we are, free from all hope
of political reward with only apatriotic de-
cree to furtherrthe advancement OF our state
and the success Of republican principles, we
believe that IN order 10 secure hebiessings Oh
free and honest government, the contention
of well balanced political parties IS necessary,
ana TN at this may be attained in our state by
placing the republican party on an equal
footing with its national opponent, the demo-
cratic party. After years OF trial and defeat
of humiliation and despair III attempting to
keep the republican party organized by the
methods left us 1s u legacy of reconstruction
times, we have witnessed the party gradually
but surely failing under the management and
control of few men whose only object seems
to lie 10 advance their own ambition aud
gain in the securemeDt of federal Offices and
the distribution OF federal patti onage, until
the party conventions amount TO nothing but
the assemble Ui federal officials and their
personal followers, and after each such con-
pentiou the party otssolvinp into an unor-
gdnized and unreliable mass, who have neither
further existence. commanding neither
strength nor respect.
In proof of this statement we have only to
point to the scenes enacted at the late con-
vention at the ciIy of Austin. where every
semblance of shame was thrown aside and
the boosted civil service regulations of the
government were trampled under foot in the
unseemy scramble of federal appointees 10
secure their own prominence and represent
atives of the party at the national conven-
ton.
We feel justified in assuming that the re-
publican party of Texas has no organization,
such as is recognized as requisite to consti-
tute a political iarty; that il has degenerated
into an unorgsnized mob, where b1-annual
gatherings have wrought disgrace and des-
pair 10 our patriotic people who hold to the
tenets of the republican party. Therefore
the necessity has arisen for the organization
of the republican party of Texas, independent
of its past history and upon the further re.
cOgnition of the fact that only upon the in-
telligence and manhood of the white Ameri.
can citizens can any party in this country
hope for growth and success.
We call upon the white republicans of the
state and those in sympathy with the princi.
piles and pehcies of the republican party to
come to o If aid and give us their assistance
in buidir z up republicanism in Texas. Year
alter year for the psst tweDt' years we have
witness I'd the republican party standing still
or gradually falling off in strength and this
in face of tie fact Of the great growth of our
state in population from republican states.
and Notwithstanding the further fact that
the material and business interests of our
great state demands the aid or the republican
party in their development. This condition
OF things can only be attributed 10 one cause:
The republican, party has fallen below par as
a political organization in Texas. commanding
neither he Feel ect nor he cOntiOelce of the
intelligent masses of the people. 1t is to
rescue our party from this condition and to
build il up ON a basis of intelligence and
respectability that this new departure is
taken. We call upon the white republicans of
the state to organize and come to the support
o. our standard bearer in the coming state
election.
Resolved, That we declare our adherence to
the principles of the republican party and
commend the national administration in
carrying out with success that great Ameri-
can principle of protection to American la or
and American products, the fostering of
home industries and the provision by fair IN
ternatIonPl r1ciprocity of market for our
farm produces we believe to be the true
American doctrine.
Resolved, That we condemn the federal
election bill as an unne cessary and impoltic
measure and express the hope that the ma
tiOual republican party will make no further
insistance upon its adoption.
Resolved, That in the future organiza-
lion of the republican party in Texas
and till another state convention is held, the |
state executive committee shall have
charge of all matters touching representa-
chairman; James Z. Newcomb, A. Norton,
G. W. Gillespie A. Metzler, A. ]. Houston,
A. Dornail. O. G. White, II. p. Shields. e. |
NJ. Martin. Johr A. Harris, John b. Schultz, |
Tt omas Brien, H. f. McGregor.