The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1875-05-20
VOL. "
THE PEOPLE AND FaE NEWS
PAPER.

PAPER.
Men uncertain Of their own social and
personal worth or conscious Of moral or
mental deficiency are ever most sensitive
to jest or criticism. We see this hourly
illustrated in the sudden unexpected feroc-
ity with which a very stupid newspaper
resents harmless jests OF badinage, and the
same conduct distinguishes ofiieeholders
who owe honors to blunders made in nomi-
mating conventions or to the corrupt action
Of party leaders. These people often par
eel ut-pubIic offices among themselves, and
in order to control some dark corner must
use very Objectionable men as associates in
ofice-seelzing. Moreover the ignorant do
not understand the precise force of good
English, even when printed, and often
fancy themselves or their class ridi-
cdaed or sighted or condemned by
newspaper when the truth is some
shrewd fellow is only amusing himself by
practicing upon their ignorance and Gre
dulity by misrepresenting the newspaper.
He has selfish end to gain, and therefore
appeals to the sensitiyeness of ignorance to
create an enemy for real or supposed rival
OF enemy. Ne have seen stupid fellows
thus led about by the nose and made very
absurd in the eyes of the public by their
anger excited by "a criticism, which, if I'M
just was harmless; if just, should lead to
R,ks ha .ofIIfaof o0nduof Of ;o10
rance is discovered when it takes offense
and is enraged because it is ridiculed or
condemned, justly or uniustly, and to
aYenge the outrage, withdraws patronage"
What signifies itG Who caresV If an article
be fierce and just enough to "strike oil' in
the direction of folly, it also strikes it
at the same instant in the direction of wis
dom and virtue and intelligence. More
over, the educated and Intelligent viii al
ways read and pay for newspaper, and
the press owes nothing of money to igno
rance and wee. Fools threats affecting
what they call patronage" are only
amusing to a modern journalist. 1t Is only
the feeble newspaper. as feeble in express
sion and intelligence as in supplies of pub
lie confidence. that listens when "patron-
agep is menaced.l We, have lived beyond
the point st which we needed patronage"
We now and then 'spatronize'' Others, but
suffer none to ''patronize'' ourselves. To
our patronizing care and influence Hon.
John lISeland owes his prominence before
the people of Texas, and if he ever blow
and blossom BeaHtifuIly in vernal tender
ness and sweetness in the Senate of the
United States, the fact will be due solely
to the patronage extended him by the,
STATESMAN. The STATESMAN has grown
steadily and surely in public confidence,
and for the reason that it is distinguished
by distinguished " don't-care-a-d-n-
ness" 1t can neither be cajoled by power
and Office nor diverted from its chosen
course by legislative condemnation. 1t
never bent the pregnant hinges of the knee
that thrift might follow fawnlng when it
cost, us a loss Of $3.50 per dem to stand by
the right and defy error, as illustrated in
the tergiversations Of the facile party
leader, and felicitous orator, Mr.. Barziza.
Neither the success nor failure to secure the
public printing has affected, in fact or in
words, the policy of the STATESMAN. 1t is
not for sale. And if the /" patronage" of
the State, worth many thousands, with
all the prestige it may give, could not
make the STATESMAN veer either to
the right or to the left, and this
is asserted of US by every officer of the
State government, how absurd becomes
the conduct of the police force and of the
mayor, who Withdrew their g patronage" to
avenge a just and certRinly.a Legitimate
criticism upon their public and official acts.
II the STATESMAN wronged them. in Office,
the STATESMAN would never hesitate to
right the wrong. But the idiots do two
stupid things.1 Instead of correcting any
error into which we may have possibly fall
len, they confess either guiltlness BY anger,
or sublime folly by threatening to withdraw
patronage. The Legislature failed in
this, and shall wretched little local gov
ernment, with its stipendianes, as impotent
as incapable of affecting public opinion,
undertake the task of controlling the news
paper by withholding patronage We
don't ask patronage" We give guid
pro Quo for all the money we get and have
all we need to make the STATESMAN worthy
of Austin, in its intelligence, taste, in the
instincts and prejudices of the people. As
Austin grows the STATESMAN will grow
with it, and the city and its newspaper will
live and die together. But the STATESMAN
will never live BY patronage" 1t would
surely die, aud would not deserve to live if
it accepted patronage 1t owes its exis-
tence to the Intelligent people of the city
and State, and asks nothing at the hsndsof
stupidity and ignorance. 1t conceals none
Of its opinions, and de6es the rabble and
any party leader who falls into error, and if
the STATESMAN pursued a less fearless and
honorable and independent course it would
nothave the confidence or approval of that
intelligent class fOrswhich il exists, whose
opinions and pToclivities and tastes and in
sslncts It accurately represents.
THE CONsTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
-GOvRaNOR COKE WRITES A LET-
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