The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1877-01-11
THE Galveston Chri.tian Adrooate.


after quoting at leogth, says that
The STATESMAN exercises relatively
the power in Austin that the INers
would in this city had it the confidence
OF its readers. In moral sense, it is
lar above the Galveston sheet. None
of It's proprietors gamble. The STATKs-
MAX, we believe, Is honest in the quo
ted matter above. We do not think
the STATESMAN on the right track for
remedies. l. justly counsels against
violence, and justly complains of the
inefhciency of its officials. But who
is responsible for it2 In a given case,
It is easy TO say what officers are inoffi-
cient, and who suffers thereby. In
I this case, perhaps, mayor, marshal or
police may have been derelict; GER
tainly Wilson, Matthews and Thomp-
soa suffered. But the underlying
causes are anterior TO this. There is
no use TO deny the truth: A correct
moral sentiment will insure an enforce
meat Of the laws.
We concur with the Galveston or
gan OF Methodism, and would pro-
mote the creation of that "correct
moral sentiment" Of which it dreams.
We would have human life made sa-
cred as in the laws eyes, and a mur-
derer's name b!eckened by infamy and
his neck by the rope. We see the
practical ruinous effects Of lawless, vio-
lent deeds every day in the conduct
Of strangers and in assertions of dis
tant newspapers. We see that Austin
has lost infinitely by the bloody work
of a single night. Everywhere it is
now known that even here, remote as
we are from Sodom ana GJmorrah,
designated on modern maps as New
| York, there was a horrible dance
house, in which whisky bubbled up
and blasphemy blistered human lips
and degraded women victimized the
insane and the depravcd. These
facts did exist. Our city's mas
ters recognized and sanctioned
the fact and that there was
| jealousy between this establishment
and others maintained by faro banks is
alleged. There came conflict, so the
story goes, between the two evils and
while there may have been no tcchni.
cal murder" death ensued. Such are
opinions entertained, and however ear,
nestly the Adcocqte may insist that
moral and popular reform must precede
the extinction of these evils we can
only know, in practical governmental
action, that the law must be more
vigorously executed. The press may
inveigh against vice dd nduSeam and
the pulpit rcsound with charming
homilies, but the laws, dealing practi
cally with what they see and toucl
and handle, are the only practical re
medal agents to be employed. The
AdU0cdtc'S field of usefulness is clearly
defined and while it may walk outsid,
of the church and preach by the road
side and in the streets, it has 20 mor'
special right to appear in our forum thar
we in it's pulpit. When we don th,
cassock or the shad-bellied coat of ou
neighbor, sprinkled and refreshed b,
froth from the sea alone, then he ma,
take up our sword of reform and in
wade the gambling hells and dance
houses. Meanwhile we may cooperate
each lu his proper sphere of usefulness
the one, promoting the activity anC
usefulness of the church; the other
the vigor and earnestness and courage
Of municipal governments that sadl'
need reformation.