The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1894-02-01

win De rlu OF ClCleS In perpetulty; ana
happy homes, occupied by independent
freemeu, patriotic and ever ready to
defend their country, will everywhere
mark the justice aud wisdom of the
measure. AT amy rate. without enter
ing into details, beg to draw your at
tention to the fact that this issue,
which greatly disturbed our party
affairs in 1899, is permanently engraft-
ed on the statutes of our state, and will
perhaps never be disturbed.
The fourth issue eliminated into a
law which regulates and restricts the
execution of bonds by counties cities
and towns to actual public necessities;
provides methods by which all ques-
rlons of irregularity in their execution
shall be determined lays down the
rule of evidence in relation thereto:
and defines and Furnishes offenses com.
mitted in connection with their is
suance. Under this law you will
rarely if ever again hear of the credit
OF our towns, cities and counties being
attacked through the courts of the
country, because the bonds and other
securities will have such safeguards
thrown around them that elements of
extravagance. of fraud and of pecula-
ton will be removed and their security
made absolute. This will give the
public the advantage of q low rate of
interest for all the money they obtain
by municipal bonds, and the investor
will 20 longer be put to expense in
testing their validity or enforcing their
payment.
81 then, these four questions that
created so much trouble among us two
years ago have been settled by statute
and otherwise, and will hardly be re =
vlved in the campaign of this year.
My fellow citizens. with all these dts
turbing issues eliminated and removed,
why should we or any of us undertake
to revive the bitter memories of
that memorable conflict, or en-
deavor to place any obstruction
in the way of harmony and sue
cess in the campaign soon
TO follow? Is there any division
now between us? Is there any issue
involved that disturbs us? Have any
of us sacrifices to make? If so, wat
are they? Ii you imagine any, stop
and reflect that in all deliberative as
semblies, in all republican forms of
government, in all party organizations,
in all contests of numbers the majori-
ty prevails. If the minority should ac-
quire and maintain this right, our re-
publican form of government would
change to dictatorship, our party or
ganizatiOn would die, and the multi
tude would grope in the darkness for
ever as poems and slaves. So, when we
meet next July or August in state con-
vention, while we cannot all think or
act alike, nor advocate the same meas
ures, nor support the same candidates
for nomination, we can easily settle
whatever troubles that may arise, lin
obedience to sound principle and es-
tablished precedent, by subscribing to
what the majority may do. Speaking
for myself, assure you, and through
You the splendid people of Texas. that,
as | have in the past, l shall in the
future stand by the action of the state
convention, which necessarilymust be
the will Of the people expressed
through majority of the delegates.
adopted by majority of some dele
gates vote, so far as | am concerned
my individual convictions will be
waived, aud / shall gladly go on, be-
lieviug in the supremacy of the party,
with the hope that if the majority S
wrong l may within the next two years
be able to convince and persuade them
my way. Since | became voter l
have been attending Democratic con-
ventions, iu many of which the nomi-
nees of the party were personally dit
tasteful to me, aud ia very many in-
stances the principles and policies au-
nounced by the platform were repul-
sive to my convictions. But | never
theIess went on, and up to this time l
have stood faithfully by the Demo-
cratic flag, and shall continue to
do so. because l believe that 10
waves over the life inspiring principles
so interviewer with the rights aud lib
critics OF the people.
Some one AXIS, what shall be the
basis of representation in the pri-
maries and next state conventilnf
Another asks, what shall be the test
applied to those who propose to par
ticipate in the primaries and local con-
ventions? Fellow citizens, it occurred
me that the best method would be to
bridge over the chnsm from Nov. 0,
1890 to Jan. 1895: that we adopt as g
basis Of representation the vote cast
for governor in 1890, when we were all
friendly and fighting together; when
there were no issues that divided us;
when united effort ia a common cause
won for Democracy glorious triumph
Without reference to anything that
has occurred since that period let Ut
apply the usual Democratic tests pre-
scribed by the state Democratic com
mittee in the primaries and local con
vsntions and ask no man how he
voted in any ection. If Democrats
have differed, separated, divided and
fought it is but manly III them to
make peace. He who objects to it OF
stirs the mouIuering embers of bitter
ness and hate If 1892, wants war in
the house of the fathers and is an
enemy to Democracy. Peace cannot
be restored upon lines that involve
humiliation or sense of shame by
reference to past differences. We al
know that in the past when converts
from the Republican and other partie!
knocked at the door OF our party ant
submitted to the simple but safe
Democratic tests and asked admission
it was deemed but right, but human
but sound policy, an evidence of mag
nanimity in the promotion of publi
good, in honor of the party that ha
l. , L