The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1879-09-25
NEW rxxAS '. OLD Ttx4N.
Edition, Democratic Statesman:

Editors Democratic Statesman:
iasIe beea Il Rde rat ,.t sad i q1eu.iy
b. ~, qless:ocu: tel sih oi residence IN
C c,noecuun ~ilh f ness fSr public trust
ia Texas. the words "O.d Texan"
seem to be sufIicieI 20 put To rest any
aspirations Of person whose residence
has not had 8 duration Of ten or fl
teen years. We often thought this
rather q dangerous qualification, but
very recently We heard q conversation
IN reference to the present State and
nationsl Texas officials that provoked
Us 70 look into the voting strength of
old and new Texans. Toe converse
tion referred to was rStAer in praise of
the persistency with which old Texans
insisted on filing all places of profit
and honor, and the success which at
tended their efforts. The party named
instaneed the Governor, Lieutenant
Governor, Judges of the Supreme
Court, Comptroller, United States Sen
ators and CongreEsmel and district
judges, Treasurer, Secretary of Safe,
Attorney General, etc, and the party
grew very merry over the fact that, so
fars be knew, no newcomer was to
be found in an important Office Of any
kind-of political or Judicial chsr-
sctsr. We said not word, but thought
we would see il the newcomers were
helpless or only modest We Give below
the fficisl figures touching the subja ct
of population, and invite attention 10
the lesson they teach: The population
in 1850 was 212 500, in 1860 604 2l5.
in 1870 s1s, $40, snl the estimated
population in 1880 was 1900, 900.
Assuming that "'old Texans" date
from 1850, there is a d ference against
them of 1,7s7, ,403 l more liberality
is shown. and old Texsns date from
1860, then there is q balance of 1, S95,
7S5 against them. Suppose, however,
that the lines are extended and 1870
be the date from which we reckon,
then there will be of old Texans
187O Sl8 $40, and OF new citi.
zsns 1.'S1 421. The old Texans
of 1870, however, are not old
Texans worth cent aud the very
shortest time that can Ell ii lie man to
claim himself in the favored class
reaches to 1860. He then begins to
see when he can feel like asserting g
hiTself In a crowd of 604, 215, against
], 1886. 1S5, or over two to One-birring
natural increase. We hope that this
quasi ostrscism of new men may cease.
We think now it is more imaginary
than real. The old Texans aid a good
work in their tine, and they have been
honored accordingly, and should be
honored; bat once raise the question
practically, and the sadness will fall
on other cOnntenances. Y.
TIE writer of the above eommunica
ton is IN Texas to-dsy, because in his
own Southern State the offices were
so much given to new corners that the
residences of good men within its Inn.
its, in conse q 1ence OF bad government
resulting theIeirom, becomes almost al
impoeslbility and so it has been with
many of the States. Yet the same
character does not apply generally to
new comsrs in Texas. aI my of them,
1t is true, are of that class that has
bsukrupted Southera States, and,
when we reflect, q goodly number oi
the came sort have had much to dc
with piling debt upon Texas. In the
cases Instanced By thIs lstter-writsl
the Offices do belong to old aud justly
honored TexanF, bu. at the same
time we find lucrative Offices filed al
over the State by new comers. Almost
every lucrative position within the
gift of the people of Austin is held by
men who have been here less than ten
yearP, and while we would not be re.
gsrded as invi6ious and only indirectly
personal, we may be permitted to re.
fleet that but very lew men in Texas
have drawn more money from the public
crib in . given time than the gentle.
man who signs himself *" and even
then he will have to grow somewhat
grayer before he can boast of being an
old Texan, even OF 1870. We will be
mum as to names, but the STATESMAN
in this instance thinks it cau make d
shoe pinch on other feet than those
that have trod upon Texas dirt for Sc
many years.