El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-11-20
Judge George Clark, of Waco
Denies Claims of
Democrats.
A VERY NOTABLE LETTER
Eminent Member of the Democratic
Party Says Republicans Have
Appropriated Every Jeffer-
Sonlan Tenet.

Louis Globe-Democrat, will create a
consid erable ripple in political circles
being no less than . total Remuneration
of Bryan democracy and an attitude
toward the republican party amount.
ing to an Endorsement on tho part OF
Judge George Clark. The judge was
attorney general of Texas from 1874 to
1876. and Judge of the courtof appeals
| in l1879-SO. He was the state DEM
ocratic leader until 1892, when he led
the sound money wing against the pop
ulistic element, and WAS defeated by
Hogg for governor, the latter polling
the negro vote. Judge Clark could
not swallow the Chicago platform, and
the letter given below shows that he
is now .entirely at variance with his
party and possible supporter of the
next republican national ticket. At
any rate, whether this be SO or not, his
letter draws o marked distinction be-
tween the parties, and his deductions,
supported as they are by indubitable
facte, present phase OF politics almost
ludicrous, by demonstration that tho
republicans are more closely following
Jeffersonian principles than the Dem
ocrsts. Here is the letter:
JUDGE CLARK'S LETTER.
Dear Sir:-Your letter of the 9Th
inst. received, in which you inquire:
"What can q believer in the doctrines
of Mr.. Jefferson do in the present
attitude of parties, If he desires to pre-
serve the fsith?"
To this 1 reply that I do not know.
The course of the leaders of the party
in recent years has been SO erratic that
democratic principles seem to have
been altogether lost sight of. aud party
platforms have become q compound
mixture of populism, Hamiltoniauism
and state socialism about commingis led
in equal proportions. The worst fea-
ture of the situation is that in the
reign of chaos and carnival Of folly the
republicans have appropriated and
walked away with some of the most
essential and cardinal features Of Mr..
Jefferson's original politics, and 1t
looks now a. If true believer in his
faith and doctrines will be forced to
abandon the party organized by him
and cast his vote with the republicans
If he persists in being So eccentric as
to desire to vote his true convictions.
The organic principles of the demo-
cratic party were formulated by Mr..
Jefferson in his first inaugui al address
in 1901. Briefly stated they are as fol-
lows:
!. This is a representative republic and
2. Equal and ex act justice to all men of
whatever state or persuasion. religious or
8. Commerce and friendship with all na-
tions, entangling alliances with none.
4. The maintenance OF tho state govern
Germ, and the surest bulwark against anti
6. The preservation of the general govern
ment in its whole constitutional vigor, as the
sheet-anSehor OF our peace at home and safe
6. A Jealous care of the right of elections
Z. Absolute acquiescence in the decisions
of the majority.
bs ea s %ilit aixt owe, mill,
TO- Economy in public expense.
IL. The honest payment Of our debts and
IL. Encouragement of agriculture and OF
commerce as its hand maid.
49, Diffusion of information and arraign-
ment of all abuses at the bar of public rea-
"A. Freedom of religion, of the press and
of the person, with habeas corpus and trial
by jury.
It Is remarkable that, notwithstsnd-
ing the warnings OF the great leader of
in 1901, his successors in
party leadership have abandoned the
most material OF the principles laid
down by him for party guidance and
party faith, and all those so alb andoned
have been appropriated and are in the
possession of its political adverssries.
Such, however, is the fact. The acts
and tendencies of the republican party
today more nearly conform to the es-
seutial political doctrines of Mr.. Jeffer-
son than do those advocated by the lat
ter-day leaders of democracy. This
declaration may be, and doubtless is,
distastetul to those in control of tho
party, but If It Is true it ought to be
said. That it is true ia susceptible of
easy demonstration.
Tho most cardinal features of Jeffer-
sonian faith are: That this is q repre-
sentative republican government and
not democracy; equal aud exact JUS
lice to all men; the main tenauce of the
state governments in all their rights:
the preservation of the general gov
srnmsnt in its whole constitutional
vigor, and the honest payment of our
aebts and sacred preservation of the
public faith. With the other prin-
;iples announced there is no practical
between the parties, for |
both porties alike adhere to them and |
declare for them. Every American,
ne his politics what 1t may, stands for |
commerce and friendship with all ma
ions and entangling alliances with |
none, and they likewise stand, without |
-egard to party, for the other prin-
,iples announced by Mr.. Jefferson But |
q the vital essentials just announced |
The trend of the republican, party lie |
very much nearer to the doctrines and |
practices of Mr.. Jefferson than is the |
democratic party, which he founded.
NEBRASKA PLATFORM. |
l. Does the democratic party stand |
OdRy for q representative government?
An answer may he found in the |
state platform, prepared by
Mr.. Bryan, the present leader of the |
party and chairman of the platform |
and which demands the |
Initiative and referendum" Every
democratic state convention held since