The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-12-02
From the Louisville Courier Journal,

| Hon. Ii. A. watkins. Munfordville, XIV.
Glen LILY, KY, November 25, 1887. Dear
| Sir: have received your letter OF the
| 18th instant, Ia which you ask, as mat
| ter Of interest TO yourself and other gem
| tlemen with whom you have communicated
| in this and other States. my views con-
cernlngs the recent State election 10 Ken
| lucky and the attitude which snould De
taken by the national democratic party IN
| the future
have no wish to obtrude Liy opinions
on these questions upon others; nor have
| a disposition or u right 10 withhold them
from my friends when sought. My VIEWS
may be briefly summarized:
The Chicago convention of 1906 aban-
doned every fundamental doctrlae q de-
mocraoy, discarding the principles OF the
revenue tariff. surrendering 10 the fiat
money doctrines practiced by The republics
an party, renouncing the Jeffersonian pIin-
ciple Of commercial value In metallic
money ana substituting therefor the fiat
doctrine OF republicanism and populism and
| seeking to inculcate doctrines which would
| pdrulyzc the power OF the courts TO pro-
| tcct the life aud property OF the citizen and
subject them to the unreasoning passions Of
| any Infatuated mob.
There were democrats who had been
trained IN the school OF Jefferson and Jack
| son who could not follow this departure
from all true democratic doctrine. Nor
could they join the republican party whose
paterDalistic and protective principles Trey
had alwayo opposed and whose nat Iii )ney
doctrine they believed was the parent Of
tho existing financial decisions. AS re-
suit OF these Views the Indianapolis con-
Vention Of 1896 was a necessary " qlicnce,
What followed has become history In
| the progress Of the campaign oi last year
| the money question became more ai,o more
Is t...I
on reiegating other questions TO the rear
and making fiat silver the sole issue Of the
campaign. Their position was controyeited
by the national democracy who cyalssd the
iailaeles OF nat money. The attitude OF
the republican party on this question was
lirst oVasiVe. but when the issue VAS forced
upon them they embraced the calse of a
| sound financial policy. The violent aud
proscliptive course OF the Chicago dcnpc-
idcy, coupled with their advocacy OF poll
| cies which. 1t was believed, would bring
| disaster upon every interest n the coun-
| try, excited general alarm. AS A result of
TINS conviction great majority OF the
sound money democrats supported the re-
| publican ticket as a choice Of e:lls- the
| election resulting in the defeat o. the
| Chicago nominee
think 1t is generally conceded that but
FOR the pronounced position OF the national
| democracy ON the question there would
| nave been no substantial contest during
| that campaign on the financial policy Of
| the country There can be no more con-
| Vincins proof Of the influence OF the Ia
tlonal democracy In The campaign than the
| hltter and persistent denJuclations Of their
| position by the disappointed politicians who
| 'pdhuoned principle mt Chicago in order
! 10 make combinations. which, they believed
would lead to individual promotion Tho
Srons'n oil our party In that campaign
must therefore. be reckoned not by the
| huhloer or votes cast for the ticket iut
| ny the character and amount of yitlnera-
tion IL mas received from disappointed pnI,
! ticians ""''-
inc reasons which led 10 the organtza
tion OF the party at Indianapolis sull exist
uhu "tH perhaps more urgent now thar they
| We're at that time.
me Chicago democracy, through va
! t,Vus STATE conventions have reaffirmed
inc Vicious principles of their platform
"nu INSIST upon making their next con-
'Vst on the issues of 1896. The republic-
aus on the other hand, have thus far
t"Nen no step toward amclorating the
| nuaheiai condition of the country. hut
nNe returned to their doctrine OF pa
.crhaiisn In government, aud have sue
ceeded, with the aid OF number of
Nhicago democratic senators. In enact
| ing protective tariff law which threat
ems to be more fruitful OF trusts and
more harmful In its general results than
me Mckinley tarin bill OF 1890. The
principles OF the Indianapolis platform
| ana the party which stands upon II are
| the only refuge for those who can not
follow the extreme doctrines OF the other
parties The party was organized NOT
tor individual preferment, but from n
p"'.io'ie purpose to promote the gen
srai weliare. 1t has been powerful
snsasn 10 eNert potent influence In the
| NJ Z ntst.ff To-.
u VIII be fruitful OF good results In the
future There is no more reason for dig
| Sowing ~ now than there would DO to
| apoilsh the moral law because IL Is yIo-
| iatfd, or to renouncc Christianity be-
cause the majority OF the world is pagan.
l. is based upon great principles OF gov
ernment which have been evolved from
| experience, and which. when practiced,
IN the past. have brought prosperity and
safety to the people. II. as has been so
OFTEN said, Truth Is mighty and will
prevail, these principles must guide the
SUCCESSFUL party OF the future The In
| ternai dissatisfaction in the existing
great parties leads to the belief that tn, lr
Platforms viii be essentially modified in
! the near future. and may assume form
| nor antagonistlc 10 the principles which
we advocate. When this shall be done
II VIII be time enough to talk OF self
dissolution - when we can merge with
party whose succteS shall not threaten
the prosperity OF the people. the interests
OF the country and the perpetulty OF our
institutions. II 1t were dlsbanded to-
day it's elements would drift toward other
| organizations. or abstain from partici-
patton In public affairs. leaving .wo ex-
IRENE parties only contending for poa or,
both OF which, In one form OF ano.he-'
would threaten the best interests of the
country
| can not obtain the sanction OF my
own Judgment to ally myself with either
| OF these parties. whose policies so strongly
antagonlze all that have been taught 10
J believe was democratic: nor have / met.
since the recent election. any national
democrat who advocates the dissolution OF
the party before we can merse with an
organization which shall adopt kindred
principles
can not see anything In the recent
state election which would warrant such
suicidal course. While the vote OF Can
tain Hindman was far short O, what
nis personal merits and the principles
which he advocated entitled him 10 re-
ceive, the local contests controlled the
result, yet his vote nearly doubled that
" 1895. Mr.. Shackelford's vote was about
QI,nr .>f n