The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-08-25
aK PLATFORM.
mocrats of Texas, in state
assem- bled, renew our de-

First-We believe that equality De
fore the law is the foundation princl
pie of this government, and that al
citizens have equal rights and none
are entitled to special privileges. we
further believe the perpelutity OF oul
institutions depends upon the enjoy
ment by citizens of the largest meas
ure of individual liberty consistent
with good order and public safety.
SecOnd-We therefore oppose al
sumptuary laws which vex the citizen
and interfere with his individual lib
erty. We believe the world Is
governed too much and that
the least government which
may suffice for the protection OF
tn } citizen is the best government.
Government is instituted among free
men solely for the protection Of life,
liberty and property, and whenever
it attempts to interfere with the bust
ness of the country it is guilty Of usur-
patton and ought to be rebuked by a
free people. Such attempts have al
ways resulted in promoting a certain
class at the expense of all the other
classes and thereby fomenting injus-
tice and precipitating distress upon
the people. a wise and frugal gov
eminent which shall restrain men
from injuring one another and which
shall otherwise leave them free to reg
ulate their own pursuits of industry
and improvement and shall not take
from the mouth of labor bread 1T has
earned is the sum of good govern
ment. We are opposed to any and
all forms of lone man power" and
have an abiding faith in the capacity
of the people for governing them
selves. We believe in the light of
local self"government untrammelled
by dictation from any central author
ity We condemn all attempts to in
terfere with this right coming from
this source, and we favor the election
of all of those by the people them
selves. Especially do we demand the
right to elect our railroad commits
sioners in order that such agency
shall cease to be dominated for per-
sonal and political effect and
that it may impartially de-
termine controversies between
citizens and railroads in such manner
as may be prescribed by law. Rail-
road corporations and all other cor
porations, being creatures of law, are
subject TO state regulation end con-
troll, and we favor the continuance of
the present method of railway regu-
lation by means of commission,
clothed with such constitutional
powers as may be requisite for the
protection of the people against in
justice or extortion, but we are OPP
posed to the taking of private prop
erty for public use without just com
pensation.
Third-We condemn all forms of
communism and state socialism, and
view with alarm the existing war
upon the rights of property in this
state. Protection is guaranteed by
the constitution to every citizen, with
the enjoyment of the rights of person
and of property, and 1t is the duty OF
the state to extend their protection o
all forms of property, 10 matter
whether it may consist of farms or Of
railroads. The right to own property
carries with 1T necessarily a right to
its use and enjoyment, including
reasonable return by way of interest
on its actual value, and we are op.
posed to all laws or methods designed
TO deprive the owners of any property
of this right.
Fourth-We condemn all secre
oath bound political organizations as
I'M merican and un-Democratic, con-
trary to the genius of our institutions
and destructive of the liberties of the
people. Members of such organiza-
tions have no place in Democratic
household, and wa view with alarm
the recent effort on the part of the
present administration in our state to
utilize such associations in an attempt
TO dominate the will and expression
of the Democrats of Texas.
Fifth-Our sympathies are most
cordially extended to all laboring
people in their efforts 10 better the
condition of themselves and those de-
pendent upon them, and we will ad-
vocate and support all laws calculated
to protect them in their efforts to
better their condition. We deprecate
and will oppose all resorts to violence
or revolutionary methods on the part
of any class of our citizen.
ship. Believing that an appeal to the
law always furnishes the best prote
lion to the citizens in the enjoyment
of all rights, we especially condemn
the use in any emergency of foreign
armed mercenaries in this state, and
demand of the legislature the passage
of law forbidding such employment
under severe penalties.
Sixth-The necessities ofthe people
and the development of our industries
and means of transportation demand
that the introduction of money at a
low rate of interest In the state should
be fostered and encouraged We con-
denim all legislation calculated to
drive capital or immigration from US
and we extend a hearty welcome to
all honest people who chose to come
and make their homes " it'll us or to
invest their money here, and promise
them that their rights of person and
of property shall be guarded with the
same Jealous care as our own, under
the protection of equal laws justly adj
ministered.
Seventh-Our government, follow.
ing in the footsteps of the federal gov
eminent is fast filling the land with
public tax eaters. We demand the
abolition of all useless officers in the
interest of necessary retrenchment
and lowest rate of taxation compatible
with efficiency in government AMI