Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-06-08
COL. LAAHAM'S ADDRESS.
HAS BEEN A coon FRIEND OF THE
CITY.
He Urges the Importance OF state
Questions, Declares for the Rail-
road Commission and Free
silver and sweet Harmony.


The address was remarkable for the
range Of subject embraced, the distinct
ness of its utterances, loyal express
sions in behalf of the national admin
lstratlon, with whom the speaker an
nounced himself to be at variance on
important questions, as a Democrat
and notable for a lofty flight OF elo-
quence oil the subject of harmony In
the party, which caught the ear OF the
sympathetic audience, who responde"
with enthusiastic applause.
The speaker was introduced by Mr.
@. p. Meade, chairman of the city
Democratic committee, with a friendly
alluslon TO the fact that he was from
nelghboring county, with which the
people of Fort Worth and vicinity had
many interests in common. Amont
those who occupied seats on the plat
form were Judge w. b. Tucker, Col
Andrews, Capt. Amos Quayle and
Mossrs. o. S. Kennedy and NJ. a.
spoonts.
Col, Lanham opened with courteous
Alutlhh 10 lllt hAiAtllNt lpA NAAN iANNAN"N
which they had shown by their pres
ence In the contest for the highest office
within the gift OF the people Of Texas,
Abiding to his distinguished competi-
tors, he said he had not since begin
ming his campaign INDUCED in adverse
criticism Of any of them, and had never
found occasion 70 say aught Of them
except that they were all honorable
. Ia 10 Il
intimate acquaintance with the people
Of Fort Worth. among whom he could
claim many warm friends. He said h,
had now resided in neighborlng city
FOR q quarter Of a century and had
never let an opportunity pass In which
he could do or say u word for the
people Of Fort Worth He referred to
the congressional record to show that
he had been alive to the interests Of
this city, mentioning his efforts to se-
cure the establishment here OF head
quarters for the railway mail service
among other matters in which he had
been able to render assistance to the
city OF Fort Worth. In view OF these
close and friendly relations he said he
felt that he was privileged to address
the people here in a peculiar sense as
fellow citizens.
lie then passed TO an analysis of the
word citizen explained briefly the
history and derivation Of the word and
quoted the definition OF Aristotle to the
eject that citizen Is one who partlci-
natcs in the legislation OF the state
Here he pitched the tone of his dis
course on the theme Of the high duties
and obligations of citizenship Of which
the state was but the aggregate. He
said that the great interests OF the
state should command his principal at
tcntlon m the course OF his campaign.
The state he seid, embraced all the
power Of the people which they had
not expressly delegated TO the general
government. In evidence Of HIS thor
ough appreciation ~ just and pa
trlotic state government he said
when any one could show how
even one great reform could
be- accomplished In It's bel II nc would
have done something worthy 10 be re-
membered. II mad occurred to him
early In the campaign that he had n
federal record of ten years which was
opon and above board and could be
read by any one who desired to know
his position on national questions. But
he added that While his chief concern
was IN regard TO the interests OF the
state, he was always ready to declare
what he had done In the past and could
not say in looking back AZ his past Of
ncial record that he would change any
vote Of his which had been recorded,
for whatever he had done had been IN
the conscientious discharge of duty and
II seemed TO him that If he had the
same things 20 do over again there was
nothing which he would have changed.
In view Of these facts he had not pro-
posed to give much time to the dis
cussion Of federal questions and would
not DO 80 were It not for the disposition
OF Some gentlemen TO whom state issues
We're a ''pent up Utica to which they
could not coriine their powers. After
inoulging In a little sarcasm at, The
expense Of small politicians who know
more than they understand. he then
defined his position briefly on national
issues In answer TO what he consid-
cred pertinent questions In View OF tho
fact that as a candidate for governor
citizens had a right to know tIst how
he stood on all public issues. He pre-
mised his remarks on this subject with
the statement that tito distinguishing
characteristics Of the Democrat was his
individuality which often led him to
break away from party discipline in
manner which was arrange To Re-
tubhcans. This disposition. while often
interfering with party SUCCESS, evinced
the spirit OF individual liberty which
dominated members of the party and
was an indication OF the strength Of
their convictions and their patriotism,
which enabled the party TO survive
under the most trying ordeal.
He alluded In passing to the tyranni-
cal manner In which Boss Reed had
ruled the last congress, somethins
which II would be utterly impoasibls
for Democratic leader TO do. 10 The
restoration OF Southern men TO cit-
isenslhp after the war, and the repeal
of the force bill by the present con.
Bress. II was at this point that he
eulogized the patriotism OF Prasident
Cleveland. who had signed the bin ana
also made a complimentary allusion 10
Judge Reagan, who as Senator ~
declared that he would have given Ma
come law. Se
On National Questions,
Referring to the Wilson bill. he snld
that It was not the best IN his opInlon
that could have been adopted but aaia
it would serve to stay the hand ~
monopoly and secure equal and exoc,
Justice to all. He then declared a.
the Income tax, saying that he aid no.
believe 1t was inquisitorial or upronstIN
tutional as was held BY sorne Da,s,a
Gratis IN opposition TO the vlevss 70
President Cleveland upon the snh.os,
But he said he was not in scco.S go.
ne president on the fiscal o,,est,a,.
he SPOKE Of his long and pntisat ..,.,ll
OF the subject OF finance rs ,,s.,i'tys |
" tne mousse COMMITTEES or eoinees
Neishta and measures. and ,,assrr-',l y, !
me fact that with Messrs p,sns 49, 70 |
Bynun, he had submitted - anu |