Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-05-13

souls were tried as In the fiery furnace,
challenge the admiration Of every man
whose heart has not boone SO M
Filtered by partisan prejudice that he
is incapable of nppreciatinR an eS-
aited character and noble manhood.
No man. however bitter his oppose
ton, can put his finger upon one stain.
one blemish. IN the public record or
private life of this great citizen, and
traduction and misrepresentation fall
harmless at his feet.
Where arc the mistakes he has
madeG Though for O lifetime IN pub
lie position. open TO the envcnomed
shafts OF envy and the cowardly stahs
of malice, he stands out boldly, proud
ly pointing his traducers 70 his record
and defying hiin--and IN nominating
this grand old statesman as the choice
as believe OF the people for governor,
/ point for my justification 10 his rec
ord In the past and his correct posi-
tion today upon the great questions
about which we are much concerned
and for the success Of which we have
made so many sacrifices in party har-
mony and good feeling.
l tell you, my fellow citizens, the
hour Inns come for those who believe In
the principles declared In the platform
adopted and promulgated by the Demo-
cratic party Mt Houston IN 1899, and
are determined to stand by the declnra-
tons Of said platform In the face Of
all opposition. to awake from their
fancled security and recognize the fact
that unless we Efasp the true situation
aud rally to the support OF these prln-
cples FOR which we have fought so
earnestly for the last four years, there
Is danger OF long step backwards
and much OF that we have gained In
the way Of erfcrms will be lost to u.s.
He who indulgcs the dclusive hope
that there win be no further contest
4,, la, In tho Houston
plt torn, will find his mistake when
tool ate.
1--WE should not sleep on duty. MY
countrymen eternal vigilance IL the
price OF liberty" said the great 1oner-
son. IL IA as true today MS when ut
tered by that Freatm an.
Do you challenge this statement and
conclude that I am an alarmist ana
would breed strife? Goo forbid. Every
pulsation of my hart, every utterance
from my lips. every line from my pen
Is for Democratic unity Democratic
harmony and Democratic sueoeas'
But am far less earnestly concerned,
my fellow-citizens. for the success Of
those principles declared BY the Demo-
cratic party at Houston 20 be cur
true faith. and which, from every
stump in this state during the last cam
paign, our faithful friends and de-
tenders upheld and supported
w ere We nblltEl llitb ~ w 49,
est now? | know not what others may
eay for myself, l declare my unelter-
able devotion to those principles Have
YOU changed? Have You been con-
WINGED we were wrong2 When, and by
whom l tell you, In nay Judgment
time has demonstrated that we were
right then and are right Stlll, ana
should go forward braVely and courn-
geuusly. and not one hairs breadth
should we recede from them.
To give emphasis to our deep convic-
lions az well AZ 20 these vital princl-
pies, let Va call out. nominate ana erect
the man for governor whom we Know
to be true 90 the faith, and who ~ VIII
Ing to stand or fall with the great
muses. OF the people upon these Nlial
questions,
We are sick and tired OF trimming
and fence-riding We demand men OF
positive convictions and the courage
10 stand by them, and, my feloW-cils
2ens we must not overlook the tnct
that our railway commission is but Just
i'm its infancy, and needs the fostering
care of a man who is deeply imbued
with it's wisdom, and 1 ask you, who
Ia more capable than that grand old
man. who all through its stormy life
has stood by II with untalturing faith
and unabatcd energy. Night ana day
he has faithfully lnbored to solve the
so much concerned. to the end that
they be protected and invested capital
not injured. Not only has he done this
and more. he did that which crowned
him the most unselilsh patriot OF his
age and time, and when those who
wilfully misunderstood ana mlsrepfe-
sent his motives will be remembered
no more forever; our children, when
seeking for shining example OF pa
triotisn and self-sacrlfice win turn with
burning hearts and swelling pride to
the name OF John II. Reagan. who re-
signed a senatorship In congress, the
proudest place in the Gift of his poo
pie wherein he stood as the peer Of the
noblest of that historic body, 10 ac-
cept the Craftsmanship OF the Texas
railway commission. because he be-
lived he could thus the better serve his
own people. when he know full wen
that he would thus meet the malignant
fury of corporate power. which stops
at no extreme to crush and destroy
those who oppose its unbrldled puwer2
He brought to the consideration OF
this most delicate and difficult problem
a raro ability and an energy that
would have distinguished younger
man. and before the railroads invoked
the aid OF Federal power 10 override
the laws OF the state of Texas, has al
ready done much TO relieve the people
of the unjust burdens levied upon COM
fncrce by these corporations,
Can we not then confidently rely upon
his past public services as an earnest
of what he will do " we call him TO
this high trust2
My countrymen. we should with graf
itude remember the long. heroic strug-
gle he made IN the congress OF the
United States TO put the bride Of law
upon these great and powerful corpor-
ations? For many long and weary
years he fought the great anaconda
single handed and alone, and though
every influence WINS brought 10 bear
on him that money and power could
command. he remained steadfast and
faithful to the people,
In one OF the greatest speeches that
ever fell from the lips OF mortal man
when speaking upon this subject, he
said: ''Mr. President, the greatest
danger which. TO my mind. threatens
the liberties OF the people of America,
is aggregated capital and corporate
power and the greed thereof, and some
day there will be a mighty struggle
for supremacy between the money
barons nf America. the pets of govern
ment, on the one side, and the people
on the other, unless these corporations
are restrained by Just and wise laws
and when that day comes. which Cod
forbid, 81 ] am spared, Will Bio found
on the side OF the people" I do not
quote his words, but ! have given you
his Ideas They are worthy OF the man
and the occasion, and bat demonstrate
his far-reaching view OF the future
dangers TO his country. True to his
word. wherever the struggle has begun
80. all lie. - a..