The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 78, July 1974 - April, 1975 Page: 20
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Southwestern Historical Quarterly
initio (which would have declared that all legislation adopted in the state
since March I, 1861, was "null and void"), the division of Texas into two
states, and the disfranchisement of ex-rebels. Moderate Republicans led by
E. M. Pease and A. J. Hamilton came to oppose these issues because of their
possible economic and political consequences, while radical Republicans
under E. J. Davis's leadership continued to favor them. Eventually, how-
ever, even Davis and the radicals were forced by political necessity to
abandon these programs.58
Increasingly, the issue among Republicans in Texas was more who would
rule, moderates or radicals, than which principles would prevail, and there
was a constant shifting by some members from one group to another depend-
ing upon political advantage. Actually, except on the aforementioned prin-
ciples, the two wings of the Texas Republican party differed little. The party
platforms, political speeches, and private letters reveal a concern with sup-
pression of violence, protection of civil rights, free public schools, the en-
couragement of internal improvements, and state aid for the inducement
of immigration. Though some party leaders favored social equality, few
openly declared themselves for it; most Republicans, black and white, avoid-
ed the issue.
The primary weakness of the Texas Republican party was not internal
division--the greatest confrontation ended with the election of I869 won
by the radical wing, who thereafter controlled the party. Rather the trouble
was the party's hopeless inability to generate broadly based political support.
The continuation of the Republican party's political power depended upon
one or more highly unlikely circumstances: continued congressional support
for Radical government in the South, disfranchisement of a large number of
white Texans, a division of Texas into two or more states, adoption by the
white majority of a new attitude regarding race, the winning of popular
support by the highly unpopular Davis administration, or a rapid, heavy
influx of northern and foreign immigrants into Texas.
58Hume, "The 'Black and Tan' Constitutional Conventions," 670; Duval to John
Hamilton, August 9, 1867, Andrew Jackson Hamilton Papers; The Daily Austin Re-
publican, December 12, i868; Ramsdell Reconstruction in Texas, 176, 177 (quotation);
Winkler, Platforms of Political Parties in Texas, I g- 21.
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 78, July 1974 - April, 1975, periodical, 1974/1975; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth117149/m1/38/?rotate=270: accessed April 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.