Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1896-01-30
A CALL FOR UNITY
Interview with Judge Geo. w
Riddle of Hood County.

Granbury. Jan. 29.-(Speclal)--To a
representative of the Gazette today
said:
We are Just now at the Threshold
OF national, state and county cam
palgn, and as to our success in state
and county politics much depends upon
the way our campaign is managed we
are confronted with a political foe
whose cohorts are now being mar
shaled In battle array-ready for q
Tight with sword and helmet fixed.
Shah we, confronted as we are with
such condition at the very inception
OF the engagement. suffer ourselves TO
be drawn into bitter and ranking
conflict with each other? IL so. the
nomination to state Office would be
an empty honor. and the deep solicit
tude and cherished hopes OF those in
terested In the welfare of Democracy
In Texas. at least for a time, blasted.
1t would be the story of the Peruvian
conquerors warning with each Other
and the enemy overrunning the coun-
try, paralyzing and devastating Its re-
sources. Every Democrat who will
study and think for moment can see
that there is brains and energy on 10th
sides of this financial question, and
1 am persuaded that It would BE- about
az easy for camel to pass throI yh the
eye Of needle as for either faction 10
succeed without the help of The other.
Shall n question which IL in its very
nature national. and belonging to the
national congress, disrupt and blight
the prospects of a party whose banner
has fioated over the fortunes of our
people almost since the days Of our
independence? VIII Democrats who
assume to write or speak on this cues
tion read each other out OF the party,
or charge n want of honest conviction,
.,et A. "a.
minority? The main question OF slch
campaign by our leaders would In my
opinion he born of the sheerest nom
sense and folly, and In the end work a
ruinous disaster to our political hopes.
Let every man who desires to affiliate
with the party and participate in It's
councils train for the occasion in
schools OF loyalty and conservatism.
Let him make up his mind TO he reu-
sonable and conservative and abide the
will of the party when II acts authori-
tatively on the question. This being
done we can present a solid and un
broken front 10 the political opponents
and carry the principles OF he rnrty
to victory as we have heretofore durC.
As to the state platform On the silver
question, prudence and judgment
would seem to dictate that we put our
selves In line with the nation II plat
form. In this way disloyalty and cor
responding disintegration is kept down
and structure and permanently OF the
party more securely maintained, Our
delegates to the national convention
should be instructed In a cledr-cut
manner so they may exert th7'r lest
efforts for the engraftment NJ heir 'n-
structlons into the national Platform.
But when that convention 1cts, and 1t
should speak In plain and unmHt1k-
able terms, every Democrat should
wheel In line and success would lie most
assuredly ours.
For my part, / want no atraddle. THO
days of lodging is over. This is vital
question and should be settled ny our
Democratic councils one way or the
other 1t Is Continually disturbing our
business and political relations toward
each other, and thereby in!Gtins our
standing and credit as n nation, and
the sooner 1t is fought to a 'nali.y the
better It will be for the party rs well
as for the people.
II know myself am out ani mt
Cleveland Democrat. but having teen
born In the South ana imbibeu SOUTH
ern ideas from infancy, and the Dom
ocratic party being so inseparaoly con-
nected and interviewer with our south
ern growth and freedom, that nothing
but a complete reversal of Its primitive
doctrines would wean me from the
time-honored councils. love It's prin-
ciples and teachings under which are
sheltered the rights and liberties or the
neople. / love to read and study its
history. and " a plank is put into Its
platform in which is adverse TO my
way OF thinking / shall not become
disioyal hut will stand on that plat
form and help carry Its banner 10 VIC
tory.