The Southern Mercury. (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 17, No. 3, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 20, 1898 Page: 3 of 16
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January 20, 1898.
/
THE SOUTHERN MERCURY.
germs of easy revolution, I would
father see an earnest, peaceful school-
house revolution In Texas tWn have
an official position. Such a revolution
would enable us to hedge against fu-
ture financial, social and political dis-
turbances and stop these effects at
Red river.
"I would be willing to .forswear pol-
itics if I could see Texas on a hog,
hominy, home industry, pay-as-you-go
basis, with a state railroad from the
Gulf to Red river and a referendum
.vote on contested state politics.
"Cussing federal courts, appointing
autocratic commissions and raising the
devil ever the work of the lobby at
each session of the legislature may
suffice to tickle the populace, but only
produces more expense and more ex-
citement. The people should either
have more power and exercise it or
waste no more time in fruit-
less discussion. The courts have
still left us state's rights
enough to build the railroad and adopt
the referendum of statutes.
"What Texas needs is easy commerce,
conservative legislation and a business
administration of government details.
If the lobby has plunder to distribute,
the-mudsiller at the forks of the creek,
living on 5-cent cotton, needs his pro-
rata for gingham aprons for his girls
or russet shoes for his boys as bad as
is needed by the politician.
"Some ef our people are worrying
themselves about bucket shops in New
York and Liverpool, which can not be
reached with either a Texas search
warrant or riot. We tried to get at the
federal government once with guns,
when it was a good government and
failed, but we were just as near to cap-
turing it then as we ever will be, with
,votes that mean more than a change
of pie cutters.
"A material beneficial change might
be made in Texas in two years, which
•would eliminate high freight rates,
violent partisanship and the corrupting
influences of the lobby. A well defined
tip from the schoolhouse clubs is all
tliat is needed by the average politician
<?n to his job; it will even make him
talk free silver and home industry for
the first time in his old age. Great
will be the power and prosperity of
Texas when its people throw off the
yoke of freight monopoly and the lob-
by generated by them.
"Agitation at the right time and
along the right lines is necessary to
good government where the elective
franchise is the basis. Jefferson had
this In view when he counseled eternal
Vigilance. Under all forms of govern-
ment indifference and inertia on the
part of the people has led to extrava-
gance if not corruption. Official power
is just as aggressive in republics as in
monarchies, for it is the nature of the
beast.
"I have often watched buzzards gath-
er around dying animals and look wise
and hungry. As long as the corpse
winked its eye or raised its leg it was
safe from being devoured, but when
still a little while the work of destruc-
tion was soon completed. Agitation
that has for its end only a change of
officials is a useless waste of time
and energy and wears out the body
politic just as the fretting of the aged
tiger against its iron grating takes
away its energy.
"The science of party politics is to
fcave the mudsiller expend his energy
on theories or fruitless efforts and to
keep his eyes off the practical reforms.
You toll a wild turkey into the pen by
a dark underground passage and then
the fool looks to the skies for escape.
"I don't want to engage for a dance
until the music strikes up, but as far
as I can now see I Vill dance another
set with the Populist girl. If I was
to dance with the Republican girl I
would likely get in a row by not know-
ing whether it was Green's or Grant's
girl. Hanna's or Bushnell's girl; if I
danced with the Democratic gal I
would get myself into a compromising
situation, as she is that kind of a girl.
"As to who shall be nominated? I
believe the Populist have a plenty of
good men for all the officers, or if not,
they can borrow some for the occasion
to carry out well defined state policies.
"I aril by this question like the old
woman was who was fixing to set her
hen—she was putting the eggs to the
water test and the sun test to select
them. She looked around and saw her
husband critically examining the hens,
and said:
" 'What you doing dar, Jake?'
" 'Why, Polly, I were a picking a
suitable hen fur to sot on them eggs!'
" 'Come here fool and help me pick
the eggs—any old hen will do to sot
on good eggs provided she will stay
sot!"
"The only security the mudsiller has
for his vote is that a party will hatch
its platform eggs and this the Republi-
can party is not doing, and the Demo-
cratic party has not done recently in
Texas or the nation when it had a
chance.
"In spite of histoical facts, even
those of France and our own country,
I believe that the present political evils
can be rememeried throughout the Uni-
ted States without a revolution of
blood; if not, I know that Texas can
so adjust her government, that all the
blood will flow down hill into the Red
river. We have a variety of soil and
climate and products and a gulf coast
that would make us a great people,
even if the Lord had made this con-
tinent no larger, confining it to Texas.
"I see the Populist congressmen are
reported to have voted in caucus
against the civil service law, and sug-
gested nothing in its stead. I am not
this kind of a Populist, for I believe
every employe of the people should be
either elected by the people or appoint-
ed under the strictest civil service rules
and prefer the warmer where practical
as in past matters of revenue collect-
ors sit with power or immediate sus-
pension by the president for cause and
another election ordered.
"The present system of prostitution
to political bosses has all the evils of
tribal government with none of its vir-
tues. I am not a sufficiently hide-
bound partisan to be consedered at
present in conection with a nomina-
tion, and when I quit the Democratic
party, it was with a firm resolve to
have greater freedom of politcal
thought and action. When I come to
die, it will make but little difference
whether I am buried as a prince in
Israel or a pauper, I will carry with me
my convictions.
"So far as the merits of the constitu-
tional amendments are concerned, the
people could decide that, and in case of
submission I would, as far as health
and finances permitted, present my ar-
guments.
"It,don't require any guns for the
people of Texas to get themselves more
power and protection and each man
a kingdom, but only to unite to break
down the barriers maintained by in-
terested elements distrustful of the
people.
"In this year's campaign I believe
every aspirant for office in every party
should be made to talk Texas or be
left without an audience—Texas can
prosper some with or without a tariff
. or federal financial system, and can
stand war, pensions perquisites and
pestilence, or even 5-cent cotton, if
she fixes herself for them. Texas may.
be an empire in herself, but the other
fellow is collecting the revenues just
as in Korea and China.
"Whenever there is an unjust com-
bination of capital of China to dis-
criminate against Texas then Texas
must fight capital with capital and not
with political wind. Texas is the one
state that can make a winning fight of
this kind, and our people ought to quit
mouthing, and either fight or lay down.
The Idea of 3,000,000 people with a ter-
ritory larger than France or Great Bri-
tain and 5000 convict slaves, and 500
miles of sea coast, squealing like a
stuck pig.
"Texas is now inflicted with baby
politics and this whining about evils it
could correct at home if they never had
even one congressman to smell the fed-
eral flesh pots. They have got the mud-
siller to whining about free silver
when we in Texas lose more every year
in excessive freight rates thsfn our pro
rata of silver would amount to in ten
years.
"They have got them to talking war
and whining about other nations kill-
ing negroes in Cuba, and Indians in
Hawaii and Chinese in China, when we
have done the same thing every time
we thought there was a military or ter-
ritorial necessity for it. We had our
pro rata of Chinamen and more a com-
ing and we shut them off and now ask
for a piece of the Chinese pie.
"Texas ought to kill her own snakes
before she goes in to help the north-
west kill eastern moccasins or help the
east kill foreign vipers. A state com-
mission without a state railroad is no
more account than a policeman with
out a club and the annexation of Cuba
or Hawaii or a slice of China or free
silver will not change the fact that the
lobby is too powerful and political
bossism too rampant and cotton too
cheap to be raised on a credit.
"If the people would discuss crop
diversification and home industry for
two months more and after that con-
fine themselves to state issues, for this
entire off year, we might not save the
whole country, but would save our
own bacon. We can save the United
States next year."
In New York
a short while
ago a baby was
born in jail. Its
mother was be-
ing tried for
murder. Every
womanly heart
gives a throb of
sy in path y at
thought of the
blight upon the
poor little
baby's-life. But
a bahy need not
be bom in jail
•to be unfortu-
nate. Any baby
which is not
welcomed into
this world with
loving hearts
and ready hands
is unfortunate.
Any mother who
is physically weak and incapable of bestow-
ing a healthy constitution upon her baby
may darken its future with weakness ana
disease.
A prospective mother ougrlit to insure her
baby's welfare by every means that Nature
aud science afford to keep her physical
powers up to the very highest point.
Every expectant mother ought to know
and avail herself of the strengthening and
re-enforcing nroperties of I)r. Pierce's Fa-
vorite Prescription. It gives health and
endurance lo the delicate organs concerned
in motherhood. Taken early during the
period of expectancy, it makes the coming
of baby perfectly safe and comparatively
easy. It makes the mother strong ana
Cheerful, and gives health and natural vigor
to the child.
It is the only medicine of its kind devised
for weak and delicate women by an edu-
cated, experienced physician.
For nearly 30 years Dr. Pierce has been
chief consulting physician to the Invalids'
Hotel and Surgical Institute, of Buffalo,
N. Y. His thousand-page illustrated book,
"The People's Common Sense Medical Ad-
viser" contains advice and suggestions
which every woman ought to read. A pa-
per-bound copy will be sent absolutely free
on receipt of 21 one-cent stamps to pay cost
of mailing only. Address Dr. R. V. Pierce,
Buffalo, N. Y. Cloth-bound for 31 stamps.
A sure and permanent cure for constipa-
tion is Dr. Pierce's Pellets. One "Pellet"
is a gentle laxativfc,' two a mild catharufi.
FREE TO BALD HEADS.
will null oa •ppllMtion, IN* informal lea
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hair, and renové ecelp dlmm. Addreee, <
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full-nized package of Allti«Nlck (regular prico
$1.00), the Only absolute and guaranteed cure for
the liquor and tobacco habits. Can be given with-
out the knowledge of the patient. AddreHs,
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Insanity Prevent id by
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RUPTURElPILES
CURED
OR. F.
Without the KNIFE or
detention from business.
Vístala. Fissure. Ulceration of
the Bectam, Hydrocele aad Tart*
córele. Ho Care no I'ajr. Trusses
fitted. Hare best inade. Send
Stamn for pamphlet of testimonials.
ICKEY. 395 Main St. Oa/las. Tu.
YOU PET THE DIFFERENCE
W. W. Brooks, chairman of Burnet
county Populists, calls a meetings at
Burnet, Feb. 5, prox., of the precinct
representatives to determine what ac-
tion shall be taken in regard to a coun-
ty ticket. Every precinct should be
represented.
Judge C. C. Bland, who was elected
judge of the court of appeals for the
city of St. Louis by a shady deal with
the fusion populists of Missouri, has
been served with a writ of quo war-
raato by the supreme court, and will
have to show himself clear of any
complicity In the Roselle paid fusion
deal, or vacate the office.
between the wholesale price end the
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Wl SILL out Y DIRECT T8 THE
mamma*
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atanco for circulare and eitra 'pedal flWonnt.
ADVANCE FENCE CO. -19Old St. Peoria, III.
20 Choice Everbloomlng Rota* ft
16 Standard Aas'td Geranium* $1.
16 Choicest Chrysanthemum 11.
or half of wwh together with odrpn- #|
magnificent M page cetalogu sVI #1
This catalogue Is richly and profusely
lllnntrated an 1 contain* s mow_ complete
collection of need*and plante for the Flawer
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Tothoae who don'S wish to «üm^g the
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Park, Milton. The Southern Mercury. (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 17, No. 3, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 20, 1898, newspaper, January 20, 1898; Dallas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth185740/m1/3/?q=Lamar+University: accessed June 7, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .