The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-07-15
WATTERSON'S SPEECH.
HE RUSHED HOME TO SAVE THE
COUNTRY.
the Free Coinage Of silver Ii
Dcnd--Nothing la II.
MIR. Henry watterson said:

Mr.. Henry Watterspn said.
had thought never again to cross III,
threshold OF party convention, or to mak
another political speech. For thirty year
the chief aim OF my life as far as tina
life sustained any relation 90 public aiIah
was the restoration Of the Union. and th,
rehabilitation In that Union of the poopl,
OF the Southern States. The end OF tn,
war between the sections left the countr!
exposed TO all the dangers vi thrcatene,
policy of subjugaton. To stay the haut
of Imperialism at the North. to restrain the
turbulent elements at the South, by APP
sense and good feeling OF the people OF
both the North and the South 10 Undue,
them to 70 back for their Inspiration no
TO Shiloh aud Appomattox. but TO Bunker
I'M and Yorktown, and TO take MP anew
the old. sweet song of National brother
hood seemed 10 me the best service the
wiaest craftsmanship could render the pub
lie
Happily. the invocation was not made
in vain. The battle for the constitution
won--;hc South rescued from historic com
panionship with Poland and Ireland the
North spared the disgrace of Russia and
England--lhc people Of each of these terri
torial divisions saved tho loss OF their Tree
institutions the cup OF my happiness Was
fun to the brim | had seen the country
meet and survive too many perls TO feel
mat need pass any more slocploss nigi Is,
The larger ends OF the fathers and found
ers of the Union achieved the deeper n oh
lens of a century Of agitation folved--the
citadels of civil liberty secure-some che
else might pace the floor and count The
hslgs
of nuhlic duty none the less Furthermore
because IL was self imposed could afford
to take little heed what happened 80 II
did not happen TO me- or mine,
l had lurod myself into the belief that |
should not cheat my age OF any Of It's
rights or claims; that / should leave to
Younger men the tasks and the opportuni-
ties which had been mine, and ! vas in
eXpressibly cheerod by the fancy
TO husband out lifo's taper at The close,
And keep the flame from wasting hy re-
nose"
Constituted as God made me and as
am. this was not 10 be. From far, for
cign land, Haw that party, which ! have
always held 10 he Mt once the bulwark OF
constitutional freedom and the sunshine OF
progress imprcgnable alike
against the crushdcs Of fanaticism aud the
temptations of expediency--the citizens
one hope Of lndlvidualism, and home rule
in the State as opposed to the theories of
paternalism and Capitalization In the Fed
oral Rovernmcnt--thc democratic party Of
Jefferson. Jackson and Tiden--cut loose
from its constitutional moOrngE and cast
adrift upon the shorelcss yea OF political
adventure. j. is drifting still without ii
pilot. or rudder or compass | should not
he true TO my birth, to my teaching or to
you If ! stood aloof; II | denied the OBJ
legations of convictions and comradeship:
If | refused to join In making one last eff
fort 10 bring back the derelict to port. 10
reclaim the honor of the flag
These, and these alone. are the motives
and the purposes which have brought me
here today.
For thirty years the men who headed
his dieastrous movement have been seek
ng Intellectually to defIcct tho party policy
rom the higher to the lower plane of po-
ideal thought and action. During the six
les they were shouting Down with the |
amendments" During the |
eventi.s they were shouting Down with |
he bloated bondholders," In The saddle |
i last. IL was Down with the courts of |
iW-down with the money of the people |
nd the credit Of the NmHon-and up with |
no red banner OF population and an
rchyi"
/ would do no man injustice ] would
ais'tate the position of no set Of men But
submib that the whole warp and woof
9th OF tho organization and the argu-
lent OF the Bryan Ss~nll- Watson cam
align OF last year led TO this conclusion.
nd nowhere else. and, contend. that, II
hers bp nat enough Of enlightened con-
oryatlsm in the people To Enterprise be-
Neen the warning extremes OF agrarianism
nd rapaclty tho strong arm OF democ-
ICY, unterrified and undefiled--still true
the spirit OF the fathers and the tradi-
ons Of the pnst'-the co,rntry VIII present.
ba reduced TO a condition. whore tho
cod of the many IL wholly subordinate to
he win Of the few. aud II will matter lit
q which OF the extremes the few may In
atty represent.
As good democrats--as men, who love
.eir country and their party. anG would
lin do something to rescue the enc from
and 10 preserve the credit and
der OF the Oiber--we are here this day.
70 arc here TO appeal Il may be for {
at time. 10 tho serious sense and jildg-
eist OF our fellow democrats. We are here
protest against the yagarias Of body OF
doinpetanf leaders. who have prostitused
70 name and the principles 0f the party. Il
I'd who seem more than ever bent upon
irsning ths course which has wrecked US.
d who can present no claim 70 the party
'nfidelce except such az may be allowed
70 defeats in hand with the dcduse yet TO
'mei
As a political Issue the free and indie.
,ndent coinage OF silver at the ratio Of h
TO ]. or any other ratio, IL ~ dead ~ X
Q Institution Of African slavery. After
ry has had Of It there would be 20 q
ought Of keeping II longer before The
Dple. even 70 vindicate those who are re- <
onsibIe for the evil II has done ", ex- | II
pt that hack Of II stu stand the silver =
nss Of the rotten bcrouxtu and the stock I,
,ess represent millions Of present and g
euilatlye wealth supplying the needed y