The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1874-05-28
1ADEEFEEpEsE IoUns1LIss1. l.I .s.1..

fOOldly IN taYor OF independent and hones
4 journalism, and we welcome that able pa
per to the ranks. On the contrary, the
Aexia Ledger sets forth its views in favor oi
an organ at the State capital supported bJ
the government pay. The only thing the
matter with the editor Of the Ledger is,
that he lives in too small a town, sees toe
few people, reads too few papers, to be
thoroughly up to the spirit Of the age. But
he has sense and judgment, and what is
better, honesty, and as certain as the sun
shines he will come out all right as soon, as
he gets out of the woods and sees the daT-
light all around, He is bound to see that
party is less til an government, that the peo-
pies money must be judiciously spent for
the whole people, or it is not honestly dis
bursed, and that organs that cost fifty to a
hundred thousand dollars a wear of the
public funds for their support, make use of
money that could be much betterTspent-in
education for instance, or in repairs of the
public buildings, or in fighting Indians. y
Houston Telegraph. a- IS .esrr. sdi y.'r
/ From the above we are Convinced that the
Telegraph totally miscoheei7es our mean
ing, we have always been d Democrat era
from the time that we were old enough and
had mind sufficiently improved by study
to comprehend the difference between party
principles and the policies of government
Governments must either be administered
for the good of all the people orfor the ben
eft of few. Whenever it Ibscomesiheces,
sary to abolish Democratic principles and
erect a government merely for. the strength
which it may exhibit in placing the people
under an oligarchy, then we shall lwield a
free pen for an independent press IN the
broad sense advocated by the telegraph.
But so long as we are permitted to make our
own choice between an adherence to Demo
cratic principles and those which are advo-
Gated by Radicalism or any other party in
republican form of government, our peniand.
voice will ever be found on the side.of De
mocraey. Now we know that in society we
have to surrender some of our natural rights
for the good of the communityi and it
would be just as reasonable to insist that
those natural rights should be preserved inl
tact as to say that paper cannot be inde-.
pendent in the support of the principles adj
vocated by party of its own choice. The
paper helps to make the party, helps to form
the platform of its choice; and it would be
most absurd and nonsensical for it
to refuse to support 1t as a whole
simply because there were clauses
or paragraphs or planks in it which
were Objectionable. Such rule would
subvert society, destroy governments,
abolish courts, and remand us back intoa
state of barbarism, where the laws of ma
ture, interpreted by savages and exercised
without restraint, would be the rule of ao-
ton. The Telegraph must know that in all
the relations of life, we have to surrender
some Of our preferences for the good, the
well being the happiness of those with
whom we are associated. is it degrading
stodO soG Is it unmanly to yield somewhat,
in order that harmony and fraternity may
prevail Does a man lose his, indepen-
denoe because he will not insist that the.
whole community must be governed by his
ideas and theories Surely not. But in
what respect does he differ by such a course
from the paper which gives voluntary
support to the principles Of a party They
are all known to and approved BY him.
If then, the party in convention, should
adopt a platform defining those principles
and the mode and manner of carrying them
out, would it be rightfor a paper to refuse
to give hearty support to them simply be-
cause one or more clauses did not meet
with its approbation9 Such q course
would break up all concert of action; and
would place before the country such a con-
trariety of views that discord would reign
supreme Does not the Telegraph see the
differenceR But We do favor independent
Journalism in the true aeceptation, as We
conceive, of the term. But right here is
where the difference of Opinion6s mahifests
An independent party eapef is 6ne thai
dates to speak out in denGSciation OF |
any construction Of principles which. would |
destroy and perveEt = their influence
and purpose, whether such perversion we're
advocated by the most able, talented, IN
fluentiaI and powerful member of me party /
Or the most humble and ignorant, Hrist
to tO0dyism, 70 subserYisncy, 10 ]
yielding up principles 10 place and power,l
to falling down at the conniAnid Of q clique, /
ring or person; to cowardIy shrinking
away from the post. Of duty and honor
merely to serve the will Of some one,
whether he wieIds the POweEoE tn dutoefaFi
Or the terror Of a Robespietye. HI other
words, il i an advocacy without fesr or /
favor, reward, or the hope thereof--ofrsnch
prriHeiples Of governments as he believes to
Be wise, and essential to the mainfs6sbce Of I
laE and order, Of the rights and libsrtiesofi
Is defined hy the oEpInid la-.I.,'lI
Surely there Is indepeudenco lnflSueF :
course. How dfferent nom the 1ts7
which only waits for q fee OF for che opiin-
lonof some man. And yetqthoss rA5sf5
winch usually 4ait5 Tor a subsidy trs fbs I
veEy -Ones, above an Others, Which 'EouiaE
,laiminisPendsncs II isihOsnss aad,not
liberty. They work for. = plics ma ds,;ss
o Be free to follow in the Wske 81 p61fer.
% court the smiles 81 he great, a. prp.,i,
ute is influence fm Placs.F We lsy i log1I
3 a. axiom in political cconDny elat lIlitIo
an be 10 independehce 81 ne pres. Eliiif5
iheie Is no allegiance . principle on
sourss We do not imp1gn The motiSss a
he TslegrsPA, and do -not wish that paper
a scpp6ss thzl We charge L Wlkb vtIkIil,y
nd ion. ~. -, -.
Wofrnst that TIA zl.i1ylrt 'uill '1-Irlg
.li 1ilpslIo1stsly co1sidsI 5ol
lEsnt iof AZ indepehdenl pre SO nj