The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-09-08

dissatisfaction. A spirit of unrest
seems to have taken possession of
the people; quackery in states
manship has come to the front
and its patent nostrums are
swallowed with eagerness by the
multitude as fast as they are propos-
ed. We have passed from thai wise
anu frugal government recommended
by Jefferson to one which seeks to
arrogate to itself unlimited authority.
IL ooiuly intermediates with the pri-
eale business OF the country, and de-
nnantiy proclaims it's right and duty to
oullu up one class, if it sees fit, at the
expense and to the detriment of all
oIner classes. 1t is sedulously edu-
catlng the public mind into the idea
1nae government is everything and
INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY IS NOTHING:
that government is the fountain
source from which shall pour bless
lngs upon the heads of the people:
that government is constituted for the
purpose of bringing wealth and enioy-
ment to the individual. Under these
changed principles which are wholly
at war with the principles of Democ-
racy, collosal fortunes have been built
up by privileged few under the favor
ltlsm OF class legislation, while the
masses are struggling under burdens
they are unable to bear. Labor is I'M
employed in many instances and
crushed by adverse conditions brought
about by these laws, has passed be-
yond the period of unrest and has al
ready entered upon actual revolt
against existing conditions, involving
riot and bloodshed. The scenes at
Homestead and Coal Creek and Buff
falo admonishes us in letters of living
fire that something is wrong with our
government and with our political
system; and the depression of agri
culture, the handmade of commerce
and the foundation of prosperity for
the land, appeals with peculiar force
for change of conditions and re-
turn to principles which we know
from actual experience will eventu-
ally work out the salvation of society
in America. Even in this Democratic
state of ours, we have un- Democratic
methods and policies pursued to the
point where further endurance has
ceased to be virtue. We have seen
the exhibition of
ARROGANT ONE MAN POWER
domineering over the rights of the
people and destroying their prosper
ity. Seemingly drunk with author
ity, servants of the people have not
hesitated to defy the popular will,
and have even taken occasion to sur.
round the assembly of the people,
called with the express purpose OF
passing upon the acts of these serv-
ants, with Gordon of armed men nee
essarily for the purpose of sitting the
popular voice and Of denyingexpres-
sion to the representatives of the De-
mocracy. The principles of govern
ment of the people, by the people and
for the people, when asserted in tones
even of supplication has been met with |
derision, and their right to select their
agents and servants for the admins
tration of their own affairs has been |
defiantly denied them. Expostula-
ton has proved fruitless, discussion
has proved unavailing, remonstrance
has been without effect. Surely un-
der these circumstances patriot can
not be called upon to explain why he
should cease to tolerate such methods
in government and has determined to
sever his political relation from those
who would advocate and encourage
such practices, and betake himself to
the association of those freemen who
bow at the same shrine of liberty with
and idolize the same princi-
Piles of government which were taught
by jefferson. If there could ever be
a time in human affairs when it be-
came necessary for free men to assert
themselves and their own independ-
ence and to withdraw from an alli-
ance so unholy, so disreputabe, 30
destructive, that time was upon the
Democrats of Texas at Houston, and
the men and the emergency happened
to meet in that historic city. When
free men are called upon either to re-
sist tyranny or to submit their heads
to the yoke as slaves there can be no
hesitancy in their action and the path
of duty lies most plainly before them.
1t is immaterial now to inquire as to
the occasion for the separation. al
though abundant provocation was
given, and we had as we'll impute the
late war to the decision of the federal
to re-supply Fort Sumpter
itS w say ludU UHIS IullDS VI IudV Iul'
ing at Houston broke up
the Democratic party of Texas.
Division of sentiment had existed TOO
long. Embittered hostility had been
so thoroughly engendered, differences
Of opinion had become so radical, that
the convention had scarcely been call
ed to order before il was apparent that
separation was inevitable. And so
we are confronted in Texas today with
Two platforms claiming to be Demo
cratic, with two tickets, both CAIN
ing also to be Democratic, and the is
sue of battle has been joined and APP
pealed to the people OF Texas to de-
termine at the ballot box what ideas
and what principles should hereafter
prevail and control in Texas. Stand
ing here tonight as the representative
Of one of those tickets and of one of
those platforms, L congratulate my
self upon the distinguished but unde-
served honor 1 enjoy of Representing
before this people the living trut
and principles of
A GENUINE DEMOCRACY
IS taught by Thomas Jefferson.
also the people OF Texas