San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1880-08-07
The state orshe Party.

whether Governor Roberts will re.
ceive o two thirds vote in the Dallas
convention on the first ballot. It was
claimed on Tuesday that Of ifty.seven
counties Roberts had two-hundred
and five delegates and the opposition
thirty.six. In that calculation there
ia considerable error in several coun.
ties which have q divided delegation,
So faf. .Sthe tide seems to be entirely
with the governor. and the withdrawal
Of Mr.. Lang will 20 far to swell that
tide, as it aid in the Collin, county
convention case. Accurate calcula-
tions cannot, however, be made before
next Saturday, when Houston, San
Antonio, and North Texas counties
will be heard from.
The tide in favor of Gov. Roberts
must be allowed to be a very strong
one, but it requires food tide to give
a two.thirds majority. In case he
should not receive that majority on
the first ballot, his nomination is very
uncertain, since while the masses fav.
or him strongly very large portion Of
his support comes from the politicians
who, if the awe which he has inspired
by his success were once to be broken,
would desert him with q rapidity Of
detection that would startle the
state. Public sentiment is very
sharply divided, and careful
study of the nature of that division is
desirable at Dallas, both for the the
good of the state and Of the party,
Unlike the last convention, which
was divided on personal
preferences, the Dallas con-
vention will be divided upon certain
principles, on the subject of immigra-
ton. free shools, and public lands, and
all the obstinacy of human nature is
developed with principle to back
it. This distinction should not be
lost sight of. In Austin the friends
Of Gen. Throckmorton and Hubbard
made gallant fight for their tavorites,
but when defeated they acceded with
good grace, for nothing was involved
but personal preference. At Dallas
the minority, whether right or wrong
will place their opposition to Gov.
Roberts on their belief that his admin
istration is an injury 20 the state, it
will be matter of principle to them
and the obstinacy Of principle will
make their opposition something to be
wisely and judiciously managed.
We must not conceal from ourselves
the fact that in this state at present
the democracy is in state Of actual
division. The party is split on certain
grave questions, and it depends on the
discretion Of the Dallas convention
whether that split shall be healed or
made greater, With a platform which
shall concede something to the minor
ity sentiment Of the state and with the
cheerful acceptance of that platform
by Gov. Roberts the dissensions would
we think disappear in his election,
but with vague, or cut and dried
platform aud naughty contempt for
the minority, in cssA of his election
the division in the dem mocratic party
would, we think. become something
serious,
As to to the administration Of Gov.
Roberts, opinion is hopelessly devided.
His advocates and opponents are equal
ly honest, but also equally intense 10
their opinions. The admiration of the
one side which looks on him as the
savior of the state is not excelled by
the adherence of the other, which re-
CARDS his administration as public
disaster. 1t is to this last phase that
we desire to call particular attention.
The opponents of Gov. Roberts do
actually and sincerely believe that his
administration is a public calamity.
They believe that it is seriously injur.
ing the state. Whether right or
wrong it is now too late to enquire.
They dos believe and hence their
opposition is on principle and seems to
them to be patriotism, and they will
therefore be somewhat iotractable.
The terror Of a machine pushed by
eighty thousand majority is vast, but
it is not omnipotent aud especially is
impotent when pitted against principle.
The Dallas convention will there
fore be called upon 10 exercise an un-
usual degree Of discretion. and that
they will doso. is ardently to be hoped
for intimations Of deep and serious
disafcction are only too rife jast at
present. aud the party cinnot Afford to
hazard a1ythinz Just at present A