The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1873-10-23
OUR COURSE.

~
We are frequently complained OF because
We think proper to rebuke occasionally
some of our Democratic contemporaries, who,
We think, are getting little of the track
and the platform Of the Democratic party.
We do this from our love of the Democratic
party, and because VIC deem it all sufficient
for rthetregeneratiOn and wants Of the coun-
try. We have been opposed to the creation
Of Oranges in this State, because VIC thought
there was no need of them here, because We
objected to the secresy of the order and its
tendency to array one class of our citizens
against other classes, and above all, because
we believed they would interfere with the
organization of the Democratic party. We
want no other party to fight Radicalism
than the Democratic party. 1t covers the
whole ground of State and individual rights.
Believing this, when we have noticed
some of the Democratic papers favoring the
creation of Oranges in this State, VIC have
demonstrated against their action, and en-
deavored to point out the dangers which
might result from the course they were tax
ing. This, in some instances, has given of
fense, and the old eryof dictation has been
raised against US.
There is another question Of interest to
the Democratic party, about which we have
spoken with freedom, because We thought
it our duty to do SO. We mean the temper
ancc question. We have ever been the
friend of temperance, and approve of all
proper means to encourage and strengthen
the cause. But, at the same time, we
strongly deprecatc any attempt to connect
it with politics. We have witnessed
its effects in the Northern and Eas-
tern States, where it has been made
a political hobby, and political parties
have been formed, based upon temperance
as the main plank Of their platform. They
have done no good to the cause of temper
ance by this fanatical course, but, in fact,
have seriously injured it. Now, we want
no political temperance party in this State,
because we believe'it will add nothing to
the furtherancc Of temperance and for the
other reason, heretofore mentioned, that it
will interfere with the Democratic party,
and, as we have said, we want no other
party in this State, neither peoples party
nor temperance party. 1t may be said by
the friends of temperance, as it has been
said by the advocates of the Oranges, that
there is no intention of connecting either of
these things with politics, but we have seen,
in spite of denials, that the Oranges hare IN
ter5ered 1ith politics, and but lately tho
Weatherford Signet, the organ Of the Tenn
ance League, threatened, in reference to tho
sixth resolution of the Democratic platform,
if this position was to be the policy of the
Democratic party, the whole temperance
league should be brought down upon it.
For this threat, We censured him as NC
honestly believed he deserved, and in re-
turn, were saluted with a column of billings
gate more becoming an old woman of the
London fish market than reverend minis
ter Of the gospel; and some of our Demo
cratic contemporaries have the bad taste or
are thoughtless enough to compliment it,
We are too old and experinccd to mind
these things, except 90 far as they
affect the Democratic party. We are
the oldest Democratic editor in Texas.
We have never wavered in the faith
from the days of Jackson, and our
devotion to the Democratic party is un-
bounded. Without regard TO men, we
look alone to what We consider its best in
terests, and whether it please or offend, we
shall speak out with no uncertain sound,
whenever we consider the party endangered
even bv its protested friends