The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1873-10-02
! TEMPERANCE POLITICIAN.

One Lee Newton, Reverend, or otherwise,
who publishes and edits the Teras Sig7aet,
temperance organ in Weatherford, town
too temperate to provide church for re-
ligious worship, is down on the Democratic
platform, because it does not contain a
temperance plank, and threatens what he
and his sort Of folks will do in view of the
premises. He publishes the sixth resolu-
tion, which pledges the Democratic party
to the Encouragement of immigration, and
the protection of all in the freedom of con-
science and the peaceful indulgence Of their
as mere bid for votes, and then proceeds
to give notice, that ''there is another sound
in the land, F" and that ''the temperance ele-
ment of Texas is being organized" and it
will play thunder with the Democratic
party We have heard of this Lee Newton
before We have watched his doings for
some time and our opinion of him and his
sort is not of the most exalted character.
He has been anxious to introduce the tenn
perancc question into the politics of this
State in order to increase his own impOr-
tance and put a few more dollars in his
pocket by increasing the circulation Of his
paper About a year ago he tried his hand
at it, and the writer of this article gave him
a little moral castigation, which made him
draw in his horns within his little she'll and
declare that he had been misunderstood and
had NO such intention. we knew Det1ef HV
the time, Dut we took his word and let him
off as easily as we could under the circum-
stances. Now he is running out his head
again, and proclaims ''another sound in the
landn Well, the sound is very small
one. 1t is the sound of Lee Newton, and
it is not likely to frighten anybody, least of
all, the great Democratic party of Texas.
If Mr.. Lee Newton don't like the Demo
cratic party, he can act with the Radical
party, if he pleases We can do without
him. In fact, we don't want any small,
narrow minded, fanatical people in the
Democratic party--they do not properly be-
long to it, and they are out of place there
And these same kind of fanatics are out of
place in Texas, also, and should live else
where. They should go North, where their
notions prevail, and from whence come
all the isms and schisms and patent politi-
cal and religious humbugs that disturb the
whole country. If Mr.. Lee Newton wants |
to live under the Maine or Ohio liquor and |
Sunday laws, let him goto Ohio or Maine aud
relieve us of his futile groans and threats.
Don't let him attempt to put shackles on
The free sons of Texas and set himself up to
Judge their private and social habits. He is
not prophet or the son of prophet, that
he should do this thing. We do not wish
10 be misunderstood. We are the advocate
IF temperance in all things-in drinking
md eating, in religion and politics, and in
everything else. Intemperance of all kinds
should be avoided, and good morals and
rood behavior encouraged and favored.
But we are and ever have been opposed 10
my legal interference in the matter of cat
ng or drinking or keeping the Sabbath,
eaving these matters for Christian adnlo-
lition and private judgment. No applica-
ion OF force can put down intem-
perance, and it prevails, at this time,
o as great an extent in Maine, Mas
achusetts and 0hio as before the adoption
# their present stringent laws in regard to
his subject. Above all do We deprecate
he attempt to get up temperance party in
Texas, or to convert the Democratic party
nto Grand Temple. with Lee Newton rs
3. W. r., whatever these letters may sig
lify. The man has all the fanaticism in his
nature which would make him dangerous as
rulel.or teacherin Texas, bat, fortunately,
lis mental caliberis too small to make him
in object OF any particular apprehension.
let him ''sound on, and threaten and
,rack his whip. The Democratic party is
lot frightened, and ITS platform win stand
n spite Of Lee Newton. It is sound in all
5 timhers, and founded on the rock Of
ternal principles.