The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-03-26

soldier throw away his gun and follow de-
serters? No, no, thousand times no;
but with his eye on the flag and step quick
and ready, at the command of his leaders
he will move to the front.
Major Walton comments with much
truth and force upon the habit of parties
| levying campaign funds That should
certainly be no reason why he 'can no
longer cooperate with the Democratic
party" for in it's best days under Old
Hickory the party was more corrupt in
this respect than it is now; but Major
| Walton further asserts that the old doc
trine Of the party that lines of govern
ment go up from the people to their serv-
ants have been swept away. THAT great
and just recognition of the sovereignty of
the people has been swept away" de-
clares Mr.. Walton. Now there is great
difference between the allegation of fact
| and the fact. Let us hold that in mind,
and as Major Walton leaves the allega-
ton bare of proof by single witness let
us inquire where, when and how has the
Democratic party swept away that prin-
ciple of sovereignty in the people?" We
confess, with some familiarity of the his
tory of the party, we fail to recall single
instance when the Democratic party fail
ed to maintain that sovereignty of the
people. If anyone else can call to mind
such an instance he could give to history
new feature indeed.
But the large fortunes, great wealth
accumulated in the hands of a few, Major
Walton says, is most pernicious. We agree
with him, and he used to agree with US
that the protective tariff system inaugu-
rated and perpetuated this concentration
of wealth in the hands of the few. The
Democratic party has been the only enc
my to the pernicious system of protec-
tive tariff, and it is still fighting it, but on
account of Major Waltons devotion to the
free and independent coinage of silver at
1G to 1 he has deserted the only party that
can or will ever kill the protective tariff
system, if, however, Major Walton per-
mits it to live long enough to do so.
Major Walton says: II would to God
| had the power to show you these gov
ernmental evils, but / am weak, and old,
and ignorant compared with the strength,
the vigor and the wisdom and ability so
needful to cope with gigantic evils that
proudly, boldly and with defiance stalk
through this country that was the land of
the free and the home of the brave" Per
init us, major, to complete the sentence for
you: When the government was for
years under the absolute control of the
Democratic party. There, major,
is where you made mis-
take in leaving party which
was able and willing to cope with
these evils and embarking on ram
shackle Populst vessel with every plank
rotten at the CORE advocating principles
of government that you, in your youth
and vigor and brightness, fought so gal
lantly against in the front ranks of the
Democratic party.
But it is impossible to compress a full
criticism of that extraordinary speech in
n newspaper article. Let us take up
and glance at his objections to the Demo
cratic party. He complains that the
tariff was not reformed Major, was
not that on account of professed Demo
Gratis of the German stripe being dis
loyal to party principles and party organi-
cation? We will not notice. because it |
will take too much space and because it |
was fully discussed at the time, Mr.. |
Cleveland's use of troops to protect |
United States property from the violence
Of the mob at Chicago, or even admitting |
that Mr.. Cleveland did wrong, he is not |
the Democratic party, and this single ac-
ton Of the president does not warrant
Major Walton or any Democrat desert
ing the party; neither can we follow
Major Walton through the mazes of the
silver question. We have often, before
his argument was made, refuted every
possible position taken in behalf of free
silver.
T.. |