The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-10-29

or conventions and that is what many
thousands of our people are now doing
Strange and alarming doctrines have
peen promulgated under the name of de-
mocracy and the party discipline has beer
invoked and party loyalty has been ap
pealed to for the purpose of coercing OF
persuadlng the people to cast their votes
contrary to their honest judgments.
Know the potency of these appeals to
party fealty, for | am a party man and
always have been; but nv allegiance
Is due principally to the principles of par.
~ and not simply to the organization
that assumes to control and dictate its
platforms; and certainly not to any or.
ganization which divides it's authority
with my political opponents and incor-
porates undemocratic features in its
creed in order to secure their support
In ordinary times and in the presence
of ordinary questions of policy and ex-
pediency no citizen can be properly cen.
sured if he conforms his action to the
Judgment of majority of his political
friends. but no man or set of men can
rightfully have authority to dictate how
you shall vote on questions which in your
opinion involve the honor and peace and
prosperity OF the country. There were
democratic principles long before there
has never been a time in. the history of
this country when there was not n strong
and aggressive sentiment among our peo-
pie. 1t was the vital force behind the
revolution which resulted in the achieve
ment of our independence; it was en-
bodied in that great declaration which
startled the crown heads and electrified
the oppressed people of the world in
1776.
What are the principles of this Amer
lean democracy, for do not refer to that
wild, turbulent and destructive form of
democracy which has been imported from
abroad and which is so nearly allied to
anarchy that it is almost impossible to
distinguish one from the other. Liberty
regulated and protected by law; local
self-government and strict construction
of the powers delegated by the states
and people to their agents; no interfer.
encc with the private business of the
country except so far as may be neces.
sary for the preservation of the public
peace the public health. the enforcement
of honest contracts and maintenance of
the just authority of the state and fed
eral government; no prescription on ac-
count of religious belief, freedom of
speech, freedom of press. habeas corpus,
tllt VI liz W lh'
civil authority; no taxation beyond the
necessities of the government, honestly
and economically administered; the near
est possible approach to the absolute free
dom in commercial intercourse at home
and abroad and sound money for the
use of the people in order that their
trade may be profitable and that they
may not be cheated out of their earnings
by the use of spurious or deprecated
coins or irredeemable paper. These are
some of the familiar essential articles
in the creed of the old democracy which,
during the last hundred years, has been
illustrated and consccrated by the genius
of Thomas Jefferson. the heroism of Jack
son, and the courage, fidelity and pa
triotism of Grover Cleveland.
During all that time democracy has
constituted the great conservative force
of the country. 1t is opposed to paternal-
ism and radicalism in all their forms and
at every great crisis i'll our affairs it has
appealed to the sober reason and judg-
ment of the people for support. 1t up
holds the honor and dignity of the jul
dietary rs the last refuge of the OPP
pressed citizen: it vindicatcs the rights
of labor and rights of property: it de-
nounccs violence and crime, whether
committed by one man or by combina-
tons of men. and insists upon the alb
solutc supremacy of the federal and
state laws within their respective
spheres: and while it advocates all neces-
sary reforms in legislation and admins
tration. it resolutely resists all revolu-
tionary attempts to subvert the founda-
tions of public authority or to destroy
the basis of our commercial and indus
trial system. 1t does not recognize the
of any human government
and it therefore denies the power of par
liamcnts or kings to create values by
law or proclamations. This is the kind
of democracy | believe in. and my sup
port will be given to the candidates who
represent il in this contest Every man
who knows the history of this country
knows who they are. John NJ. Palmer
and Simon Bolivar Buckner represent
the American people. They were not dis
covered yesterday by the bcwildcrcd del
rgatcs to IL political convntion and they
will not be forgotten when the sound
and fury of this remarkable campaign
have subsidized. They are soldiers ana
statesmen. They have experience de-
rived from long public service ut critl-
rnl ncriods in our history and stand con-
sniclously in this contest for law ana
order. for the inviolability of contract
for the independence and manhood OF
MI classes of our people, for Just ana
,uual taxation for public purposes only;
for n sound and stable currency ana LOT
he maintenance of the national author
Nv and national honor under all en-
Let us inquire for II mo.
npnt how far mere CONSIDERATIONS oI
,rrularity are Influencing the actions OF
mr. critics in this campaign. The noml-
cations made ut Chicago have been par
.inlly rcpudiated by the very men VINO
made them in Il majority OF the states Ill
he Union. The national and state COM
nttees appointed to carry ON the cam
,nirn and pledged to the support or noth
.hn nominees of the Chicago convention, |
n the support of one just as much as 10
he other, have in twenty-siX or twenty |
,ryrn states deliberately entered INTO ar
,onprmcnts and combinations to deprive
mo of the nominees of Il large NUMBER
If electoral votes and give them TO an
,thcr candidate. not nominated by tnat
convention, or by any other convention,
.vcn pretending to be democratic, anu
,nt these gentlemen have the assurance
~ cali MS boilers. and the presidential
.,ndidote himself. who has countenanced
md encouraged the sacrihce OF ms US
;ociate on the ticket, whose NOMINATION.
vas as regular as his own, telis us lil'!.
ye can not get back into the dem9cratl1
,arty unless we come Ill sackcloth anu
lshes.' 80. of tho
"Gentlemen. we are not out OF u
emocratic party and we 90 hot ilttnu
0 go out or to be put OUT. Hete ~ or
ucky, the state committee, Wltnou' q"
i,o.;tv and in defiance of the state con,
hoi.' L;L soIoctad a full electoral |