The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1873-07-03


The hubbub IN Illinois created in the re-
cent election in that state seems 70 US 20
nave given rise to alarm which IS IN q great
degree without any foundation upon which
70 rest While we are satisfied chat the
IDEA OF electing Judicial officers under
pledges 20 decide particular Questions in
given way, was a grand mistake. We also
think Il IS one In which the proverh;al sssf
Der second thought of the people viii de-
liver them from the folly of repeating.
They viii discover that the functions Of 4
judge consist, not IN manufacturing the law
TO order, but simply in deciding what il il
and leaving to the people through the medi-
UNI of their regularly constituted agents-the
Legislative bOdy-tO alter il as they think st.
However, they aHe in ferment in Illinois
at this upheaval, and the politicians who
have a single eye to their own success, are
preparing to utilize this breach of disci-
pline upon the part OF the voters, and are
urging the immediate organization of =
party which will bring TO its Qanks the farm
er's party. These men have no idea of prin-
ciple in politics-interest is their deity.
Now what is at the bottom Of all this COM
motion, after all but the innate Democratic
feeling of the people of Illinois. They
were Democrats in fsrmer days, and are the
1880
in his brave battle with the monster in
1882; some of them indeed may be among
the few remaining veterans of that tremen-
dous struggle between monopoly and lib
erty. Drawn away from the old party by
the simulated philanthropy Of cunning
men, they have been led step by step further
and further, until at last growing impatient
at the frauds practised upon them, they
have seized upon the anti-milroad feeling
by means of which to try how the chains of
false Republicanism could be severed.
Regarding tie vast corporations as inimical
to the interests of the people individually
they have, we think unwisely rs to the man
ner of their doing it, shown the innate OPP
position which every Democrat feels to all
monopoly of privileges In short, this ex-
oitement in Illinois and Iowa too, shows
that the veil is being Withdrawn from the
Radical prophet, and he is now beginning
to be revealed to his gulled and befooled
worshippers in all his real ugliness.
All the Democratic party has to do, is to
preserve its organization intact and its prin-
ciples as they always have been. 1t is the
only real party in the country, and has been
so ever since the old Federal party dis
banded; for the successors of that long
since dead and buried political organization
have not been parties, but only factions
made up of the odds and ends of all parties
and sacrificing principle to expediency
wherever they Imagined expediency would
win. The signs of the times are clearly
observable, they all give token that rotten
Radicalism is about to be resolved into its
original elements; the honest and intelligent
atoms will be drawn to the Democratic
party by the power of honest attraction
the rest of the moribund affair will endeavor
to gather into one mass all the odds and
isms which have been, are now or ever viii
be, and form new party with some high
sounding name and with enormous profes-
sions of the most unmihgated patriotism.
The old rottenness will be in its bones
nevertheless.