The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-07-15


votes. You are not here to trade YOUR
| principles Tor office, or to solicit the In =
| uorsement or acquiescence OF political on
| poneDts, by Ignoring or misreprcsentinc
the real issues presented by the existing
condition Of the country. and by the dan
gerous character OF the policies which
| threaten the personal integrity or patrioi-
ism Of any part Of your fellow citizens. or
10 assaii their motives however widely they
| may diner from YOU on public questions
| but, IL understand your purpose you arc
| mere to simply make plain and honest
declaration OF democratic principles, with
out concealment or equivooation and to
nominate candidate who represents them
and inaugurate Il contest for their suprem-
acv which shall not he abandoned, in Ken
lucky Mt least so long as there is a single
man left to carry the old banner. II we are
not here for these purposes, we ought not
| TO be here at all,
In the estimation OF many of your form
| or associates, the mere fact that you have
assembled for the sole purpose of declaring
your continued adherence to the old dem
ocratc faith. unlnnuenced by the hope or
| expectation OF official power or patronage,
| VIII constitute ground for serious com
| plant against YOU during the campaign. In
| the opinions of such men. success at the
| polls. whether rlghtfully or wrongfully Sc
| cured. and the prospects OF official honor
| and cmoluments are the only proper in
! centives 10 political action, aud they are
wholly unable TO appreciate the force OF
| an honest conviction or to understand
| why n citizen should attach greater i'm
| portancc 10 the maintenance of a correct
| principle than to the preservation of nm
| autocratic party or organization. Abuse
ana Vltuperation are the only tribute that
| class of politicians are capable of paying
to your democracy and your patriotism.
The democratic party has always been
| united and strong when tt was faithful TO
| us true principles and COURAGEOUS enough,
| 10 contend for them, and always divided
ana weak when 1t abandoned them or al
tempted to compromise with lie enemies.
During the clvil war it's organization was
completely broken I'M in this State and
yet. when the conflict was over It's seat
tered members came spontaneously together
IN thls city and reasserted their fidelity to
tne constitution, their devotion 10 the prin-
cipies of free. honest and Just government
by the people and their determination TO
use their power for the protection of all the
personal political and property rights of
the cltlHon against unauthorized encroarh-
mcnt of state or Federal mower. and this
prompt and courageous action made the
party inV'ncible in kentucky for thirty
years, II would be iuvinclble still II the
deluSiNe promise of temporary success an
undemocratic iseucs had not dernoralizod
It's organization and rovoiutonized its
creed. what contrast between the united
democracy of 1876 under the leadership
OF samuel j. Tilden, with its clear and un-
equivocal declaration for sound money. a
tarlh Tor revenue only, honesty and econ
omy In public expenditures. and thorough
reforms in the methods of public admins.
tration, and the so-caled democracy OF
1896, under The leadership of three different
political organizations. with separate plat
forms demanding the free and unlimited
coinage OF appreciated silver the unlimited
issue OF legal tender paper by the royern-
ment the public ownership Of railroads
ana telegraphs and the pastponenent of
tarlH REFORM until the dehasement of the
euriehry mas been accomplished, and. not
saushed even with those extrayagant and
revolutionary schemes threatening tho in
austrian and commercial prosperity of the
country, the peace and good order of "a
cIe'S ana the permanency of our instltu-
nons We're impcriled ny the covert intact,
upon the supreme court and a denial o.
the right of the government of the United
states TO enforce obedience of its laws
without first asking the consent of local
officials. There is not a genuine demo.
oratlc sentiment in any of those declara-
'lons' and no democrat Is bound by them
no matter how many State or National con.
Nen'lons may endorse them. You are here
today 10 rcpudiate them, absolutely and
unqualiiiediy. and TO assert the true doc
trines OF the party, with all these modern
hereSieS eliminated: and, in discharging
that duty you will render a service TO
the cause OF free constitutional govern
ment not inferior to that of tho patriotic
man VINO, after long struggle, rescued
the country from the domination of fed.
eialism and pal ernaliFm and established
the principles Of democratic equality al
inc close OF the last century
"A sound and stable currency. inst and
equal taxation for public purposes only. n
strict adherence TO the letter and spirit OF
me constitution by all the departments OF
The government and rigid economy in the
Expenditures of the peoples money have |
been VITAL parts of tha democratic faith |
rem tho beginning, and there has never |
been time in our history when the condi- |
iiCn OF the country more mperat lively de-
handed the practical application of these !
doctrines than IL does now. Many OF our |
Industries are depressed for want OF a
market for their products many Of our
most worthy people are deprived Of employ
ncnt and many of our most valuable com
nercial enterprises are languishing for the I
want OF Il profitable trade. At such n time
very material interest Of the people de-
hands that thu currency used in the tran
action OF their business shall be absolute
less. that tho nocessaries of life and the
Materials used In our ministries shall be
xcmpt from the burdens Of taxation In Or
er that the poor may live comfortably and
ahor may find employment. and that the
fairs of tho government shall be honestly
nd economically administered and its OK
endtures b0 strictly confined TO the great
nblic purposes for which It was estab-
shed. But In defiance Of these obvious
rquirements OF the public interest. the In
7grity of our currency is still threatened,
lriff taxes upon nearly everything the peo-
le eat, drink, wear or Use in production, ! {
re about TO be largely Increased and the
ublir expenditures. instead OF being d-
finished to meet the cxigenlces or the sit
ation. are being extended to new ana I'M
orthy objects, many of which are purely
zeal or private in their character. The /
lralysis OF trade and industry. resulting In s
10 loss OF public revenue and in destroy :
u the ability Of the people to meet their