Year: 1875

Curiosity has led us to another careful re.
view of the Democratic platform. the one
which was enunciated by the party when
assembled in all its power and dignity at the
State Capitol in 1878. 1t is well known
that the STATESMAN regarded the injection
of issues, arising from party organization,
into the canvass preparatory to the conven-
ton, as pIeiudicial to the public interests,
and upon the careful perusal ofthe platform
we have arrived more fully at the conclu-
sion that this position was based in reason
and bolstered up with respectability for the
party. Al reasoning men will coincide
with us now, rs we think, if they will but
closely scrutinize the enunciations of the
party. The policy advocated by the STATES
MAN was in view of the fact that Texas is
intensely Democratic, aud that no matter
how the canvass was made for the Conven-
ton, its complexion would be all one way.
Ireland, as chairman of the Democratic Ex-
ecutive Committee, led the party off, in
number of the districts, under its col
ors; yet it was but in name alone,
and not in spirit, except, perhaps,
as reflected in those noblerintuitions which
seeures,to Texas to-daysa Democratic gov
eminent as representing purely republican
Institutions If the race was made in the
late canvass upon Democratic faith, then
the entire Convention is pledged to the
maintenance of an efficient system of pub
lie free schools. The platform of 1878
says:


"The Democratic party, through us, re-
afiirms its past opinion and the policy it has
ever pursued, that it is the bounden duty
of the State to maintain AN efficient system
of free common schools, and secure the
means of common education to every child
in the state"


Again the platform says:


''The Democratic party of Texas, true
to the early teachings and uniform practi-
ces of the party, advocates the most liberal
and active policy to encourage and increase
foreign immigration"


We desire to take but these two prop
ositions to prove that of the STATESMAN
the correct one. The party byits plat
form, stands pledged to the mainten
ance of public free school system, and
to that of an efficient immigration
system. These are the only two
points, coming under the province of a
Constitutional Convention, upon winch the
platform is explicit, and yet large pro-
portion of the Democratic members 10 the
Convention have been elected in direct an
tagonism to these positions. Here is the
error INTO which the party has been par
TALLY led.


We desire but to refer to these declara-
tions to show that the late canvass was to a
certain extent falsely conducted by the
party leaders. The people, however,
are all right. They have generally chosen
men to represent them in the Convention
who have not made their promises by the
platform, but upon their own good reason.
True Democracy underlies it, and no dema-
gogue or party of 'whippers-in" can control
such men for selfish ends. The day is
passed for this class to shape the destinies
of such an empire as Texas. The pure De.


mocracy outranks them thousand fold,
{ and they will henceforth find their circle
narrowed down to desperate few. Texas
D is freeing herself of political despots, and,
e by the help Of God and the constitutional
5 Convention, it will enjoy the glorious fran
G chise for generations to come.