San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1894-10-13
REFORM REPUBLICANS.
HON. ]. B. sOHMITz' ADDRESS.
Before the Republican Clubs at
Dallas Tuesday, Oct. 9th.

palgn as the nominee lOT GONeIuOI VI Jue
Reform Republican party Of Texas, an
organization the prime object Of which is
the upbuiIding of the Republican party
in this state. to that same standard OF
eminence which it occupies in the North
The Republican party of Texas and
other Southern states, has ever since the
DAYS OF re construction, been subject to
much adverse criticism, resulting in its
gradual diSintegratiOn and its loss OF
power and respect as political factor in
the eyes of the party in the nation.
Those of us who have come from states
In the north. which were blessed with the
material prosperity that always goes hand
in hand with Republican government,
feel that no opportunity should be lost in
disseminating true RepublicaniSm into
every city, village and hamlet within the
broad confines of this great common
wealth. We should use every effort to
build up the party on a basis that will
command the respect, the admiration and
co operation Of all men who believe in
our principles.
THE Reform Republican Party" of
Texas does not discriminate against any
man on account of race, color or previous
condition. If his political convictions &C.
cord with ours, he is just as welcome in
the ranks OF our party as he can possibly
be in that Of the Democratic or Populist
parties. We are convinced by the history
of the Republican party in Texas during
the past twenty years, that it has been
used by ambitious federal Office seekers
to its injury and even its disgrace, in that
it has been the apparent purpose of few
leaders to so manipulate the campaigns
as to make defeat inevitable, and thereby
insure their continuance in control OF the
party in the state.
In support of this assertion merely re-
fer to the fact, that during the past ten
years the State Of Texas has gained not
less than one million in population, and
yet, we are confronted by the fact, that
while our political enemies have steadily
gained in numbers, we have steadily lost,
showing very conclusively that some
thing has been radically wrong with the
Republican organization in Texas. 1t is
for the purpose of correcting that wrong
that the Reform Republican Party" was
established and organized on basis,
known as the census plan OF representa-
ton, a plan with which | trust you have
all become familiar, plan which has a
tendency to lift the party out of the old
rats in which it has been so long and the
placing OF it on parity, in dignity and
pectabiity, which ii occupies in Mas
SachuSettS, Ohio or Illinois.
But it matters not what our differences
locally be, nationally, we all stand on and
believe in the undyiag principles upon
which the grand old Republican party
was organized nearly forty years ago.
Some may regard it as a sweeping asser-
ton, but believe it TO be a fact. that the
Republican party has done more for the
people than all other political parties
combined have done since the foundation
OF this government. 1t is fact worth
remembering and one that no man can
successfully contradict, ! care not what
his political belief may be, that under the
able administrations Of our Republican
presidents, and under the safe guidance
and leadership of our Republican states
man and,paLriotS, from the days of that
grand and rugged old COmmoner, Abra-
ham Lincoln down to Benjamin Harrison,
who so ably managed the affairs of the
government, the country has at all times
enjoyed the greatest measure of prosper
ity. Its watchwOrd has always been pro
gresS," and it has never receded from a
position nor abandoned principle, until
1t was formulated into law on the stat
ute books OF our country. All the ben
Efficient legislation, all the advantageous
reforms. inaugurated during the past
thirty years have been the work of the
grand old Republican party, -four ded on
the eternal principle Of equal rights to all.
and special privileges to none.
1t was the Republican party OF this ma
ton, which removed the chains and
ShaCkleS from four million humans and
clothed them with all the rights of citi
ZenShip, and the formation of a govern
ment Of free and independent people,
without regard to race, color or previous
condition.
To the Republican party, the nation
owes the enactment Of laws, legiSlating
out of existence the abominable state
bank issues inaugurated by the Demo
cratic party, and the establishing in it's
stead of the nation banking system of to-
day, which is universally admitted to be
the safest and best on earth. 1t has saved
the people millions of dollars annually by
protecting them against the losses Incl
dent TO the old state bank issue which
preceded it. 1t has given us a currency
that always passes at par. A money that
need not hide its face in shame, but can
look you straight in the eye, and say II
know that my redeemer liveth."
To the Republican party, the nation
owes the great Improvement in the "PoSt
al System" giving us fast mails and let
ter carrier deliveries and connecting the
Atlantic with the Pacific by lines OF rail-
roads, which have developed the untold
riches and vast resources of the Rocky
Mountain states and territories and has
brought their products TO our very doors.
To the Republican party, the nation
owes the restoration OF the Protective
Tariff System, under which it has become
possible for us to manufacture our own
goods, giving employment to our own
people at the highest wages paid by
any nation on the face of the earth
1t has built thousands OF factories, mills
and furnaces all over the land, and under
its benelicent influence we attained a de
gree Of prosperity, such as the world has
never seen before.
1t has been the means Of building w
our splendid home market" far greater
than that of any other nation, by means
of which we dispose of more than ninety
four per cent of all our agricultural and
manufactured products in our own coun-
try, to our own people. and it has proven
one OF the greatest blessings ever inau-
gurated.