The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1873-12-04
VOL III.


lhefe IS often proIessed heutIalty -
politics, but such thing in reality never
had an existence. Neutrality is only com
patible with idiotcy. All sensible people
have ideas and feeling the ono way or the
other, though, for certain reasons, they maS
try TO conceal them. But in spite Of tn,
utmost exertlons and the greatest care, the
bias and inclination will be exhibited and
plainly noted by the discerning. There il
no such thing as a neutral newspaper. II
may profess to he, it may try hard to be, but
it never is neutral. 1t may, like the ostrich,
stick its head under the sand and imagine
that it is hidden from all the world, but the
whole world can see, II it chooses, its most
inferior proportions ar d the real nature OF
the thing. Neutral ne xspapers, so called,
arc usually established by men who hold
opinions with the minority, wherever they
live. and desire TO court the favor and sup
port Of the majority by protesting to
be neutral and holding an independent
position 1t is all pretence, in most cases,
to make money out Of people who entertain
entirely different opinions from themselves.
Where this is the case, it is undoubtedly a
dishonest trick, which should be exposed
and censured. But admitting that some
men actually imagine that they can be
wholly impartial and steer straight
course between parties and opinions,
and make all sorts Of promises to that
effect, it is, as we have said, impossible,
it is not in ordinary human nature, to carry
out their intentions and professions. They
should all then be regarded with suspicion
and watched closely or they may do serious
injury under their careful disguise. Now
the white people of Texas arc known to be
overwhelmingly Democratic, and the most
of the negroes incapable of reading, and
therefore, if able, not very likely to patron
ize the press, so that when pro-
fessedly neutral paper is established
in this State, it may be understood,
at once, that Its owners and
managers are Radicals in heart and mind.
They are Radicals who are expecting to
make some money out of Democrats by this
disguise, and if you watch them closely you
will every now and then discover the dirty
thing peeping out; cautiously, perhaps, but
showing Enthusiastically that it is there. So
in our younger days have we marked the
weasel peeping out of stone wall, in
which it had hidden, and looking about for
a chance to do some mischief to farmers
poultry or eggs. We say to our friends that
these protesting neutrals will not do. Let
thcm be discouraged put no confidence in
them; they will be sure to betray you, and
you will repent when too late.
What we have said about neutrals applies
equally strong to Independents. Was there
ever really independent paper or even
man? We never knew one. TheProfessing
independent newspapers are generally the
least independent of ALL They are the very
ones to trade and barter in everything.
They are always in the market and can be
bought by the highest bidder. Their indie
pendence is a mere sham, like the most of
neutrality. How can they be independents
They are dependent on the community in
which they are, and they are seldom rich
enough to dcspise and set at defiance public
opinion. If they happen to be rich, they
have become so by pandering to the whims
and excitements Of the day, by selling their
columns to all who were willing and able to
buy them, and when this is the case, the
habit, by which wealth has been acquired,
will be continued when there is no longer a
necessity for it. There can be no actual in
dependent human being. All are more or
less dependent on each other. In conclu-
sion, word about independent candidates.
All these are also a delusion and snare.
They win not do to trust. A man in these
days cannot be independent of his party
he must take sides, one way or the other.
In the language of Scripture, ''they who are
not for us are against US.