The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1873-05-15
ICONlTUNIcATED.
RannfInfInn.


We are pleased to know the citizens Of
our State are speaking out on this subject.
We.have before us in the Sulphur Springs
Gazette, the utterance of mass meeting
of Hopkins county, that has the ring of the
pure metal. 1t ignores as futile and base,
all party and political issues, and literally
demands Of our Legislature, that they pre-
serve the credit and fair fame Of our hon
ored State Resolution 9Th reads thus:
1--WE ak and demcad that the State of
Texas shall promptly pay the land
subsidies, and issue the bonds due to any
and ali railroad companies IN the
State, who have complied with the condi-
tons Of their respective charters, and pro-
vide for the payment of all the bonds issued
by the State.
This language is emphatic, and indicates
that the citizens of Hopkins MI hold their.
representative to a strict account. 1t is the
sentiment that must meet the approval Of
all who know the result and wish an hon
ored and glorious future for our State. A
few millions Of dollars can be paid (although
we may believe the debt was wrongfully
and ignorantly ineuued) and no stain rest
upon our fair name, but Tepudiate and
you place brand upon our State that
all men viii recognize and abhor, and
neither time, nor money, norfuture honesty
can efface Reputation on account of
poverty or inability is a sad calamity wheth-
er If fall upon q State or on an individual;
but population with an empire and its re-
sources with which to pay, who would
wish to place this blot upon his own name,
or the fair fame of State that has never
yet been branded as dishonest2 Texas
can't afford to repudiate; it won't pay y
What throws a darker shade upon
this Reputation is that we have
received and viii continue to receive
use and enjoy the benefits of this invested
capital-invested under the solemn pledge
we would honestly meet our obligations.
Still worse view of this subject is that we
hGve permitted these capitalists to invest
their money for our benefit in form of
properly that is utterly worthless for re-
moval, and that we must continue to use
and enjoy, Notwithstanding our repudia-
ton. Could we say to these men, take
youf railroad out of our State, we do not
want it, and could they remove it without
loss or damage, then we might repudiate,
although this would not be in accordance
with liberal and just code of morals.
1t IS damaging mistake to suppose the
people wish Reputation. It is an imputa-
ton that we for one win neither believe
nor assert. The mass of the people are
honest and demand honesty in their agents,
and those who believe otherwise and act on
that belief will learn their error when too
late to amend. We will forever defend the
honesty of the people against all such i'm
putations. We venture the assertion that
there has not been and will not be a single
caucus convention or mass meeting IN any
part of the State, that openly demands that
our Legislature repudiate all or any OF the.
Indebtedness of the State, even though that
Indebtedness was placed upon us by ignor-
ant or corrupt legislation We then say to
ourlegislators let your constituents and the
world behold in the Thirteenth Legislature
amodel Of political honesty and faithful
ness TO the obligations Of the past as well
as the duties of the present and future.