The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1875-06-24
NORTIERRN PARTISAN TRANS
RRRRED TO THIS LATITUDE.

Personally We know very little OF thAt /
original genius, Mr.. Leader, whose very
name and that Of his unique paper, areidenti-
cal and significant Of cOincident idiosyn-
cracies. In bis person, too, he is peculiar.
His face is attractive, but his diminutive
legs have hard time tOting that massive
head, and we have imagined that he owes
his sobriety and Temperance procliyities to
q proper want Of confidence in those trait |
orous-lOol1ng legs. Wehave seen him ter
ribly assalled, not here alone, but had oc-
casion TO observe his course some years ago |
when he was in like manner reviled for his
''copperheadism," Do-called, in Philadel-
phia. He was as 'fmpracticable" then as
now, and as defiant and deyout in idolatfy
Of the gods worshiped by Democracy as
was Jefferson Davis, when Democracy sig
nifedimore than to-day. Then there was
reason to admire the steadfastness and
moral heroism Of Mn Leader. It cost much
to be Democrat in those days in the loyal
Quaker City and he never faltered. But
Democracy North is not Democracy South.
The two bodies cohere in practice, bat diff
fer widely in many theories. For aught we
know, Mr.. Leader may be a Pennsylvania
protective tariff Democrat; but we can't un-
church him for that reason. II We have a
Western man, Hendricks or Hancock of
Texas, a Southern Unionist and straight
Democrat, as the Democratic candidate for
the presidency, We viii not have Western
man Speaker Of the House, and the contest is
between high taliff Randall and Sunset
Cox. We cannot, therefore, repudiate Mr..
Leader because he may have been imbued
in early years with the philosophy of Ran
dali and Carey and other leading political
thinkers Of Pennsylvania. Intact, the very
soundness of this Texan editor, when sound
ness was worth social position, and even
personal safety, closes the lips of those who
would anathematize him for some trifing
divergence from Irelandism, or from that
narrow path mapped out by those who
have their eyes fastened on Federal honors
and offices. There ia but one universally
recognized difference, emitting Grantism
-..-->-S44 s4..--aiaiiAa.aiahinnr Damnn-
racy from Republcanism. The first Is the
party Of State rights, OF OF local freedom;
the latter, Of consolidation. Radicalism
would make the Union the State, and States
counties. Democracy would construe rig-
idly the Federal compact, and except as sur
rendered, invest States with sovereignty.
We believe that tho durability of the Union
depends upon its benefcence, and this upon
the concession to Maine and to Texas, to
which the same local codes could by no
possibility be applied, Of perfect local indie
pendence. He who accepts this dogma
Of political faith is Democrat. The
STATESMAN goes bow shot further,
and is a frcctradcr and utterly hos
tile to the present banking system,
but inordinato as our vanity and selfish
ness may be we would not construct pro-
crustean bed for the JsfTersonian editor.
Ho has the right to differ from us and from
Ireland in many minor questions, and his
Democracy is as stainless as that Of Randall
or Of the foremost men Of our party. We
sag these things Of Mr.. Leader because he
would hesitate to talk OF himself thus
freely, and because, within few years, he
has become citizen Of the South and every
law Of hospitality and honor demands that
he should be dealt with with the utmost
generosity. He has no regard for the ex-
actions Of s'the CODE deemed one Of the
twin relics Of barbarism in England and
the North, and since bloodIetting. a few
years ago, became quite disagroeable, tire
some and disgusting, We may never more cure
a grievance by bloody handed murder OF
wash out the stain upon honor with blood
when printers ink is cheaper. But VIC
only proposed to say, because Of harsh
criticism on the personal and political pecu.
lianties Of Mr.. Leader, that he is honest and
fearless in the discharge Of every duty, and
il lis intended to exclude him from the
Democntic church, as proposed, some
Democratic enthusiast and apostle should
at once prepare the platform Of Democracy
for 1875 that We may determine what il is
70 be, whether the Seymour platform
Of lS6e, or tho Greeley abortion Of
iS7e, or the breckenridge or Douglas
squattor sovereignty nonsense Of 1850. Let
us At least have q fixed standard Of princi-
pie By which Mr.. Leaders soundness may
be defined. OF course Judge Ireland's pro.
nunciAmientos, issued without authority,
signify nothing. He would fasten infamy
upon many who supported the International