The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1880-01-15
THE STATE PRESS.

expected Of il with facilities at hand
for its editor to understand fully the
affairs of government. At the same
time il hss treated Governor II lbrris
with that consideration due q man IN
his position, who for third of a GER
tury has been acting the part of faith
ful public servant. Late investigation,
however, has convinced the editor that
injustice has been done in not properly
plscing before the public facts, that
when considered can not fail to secure
confidence for those now administering
the affairs of our State government.
With such facts 20 build upon the
Record says:
When Governor Roberts came into
power, he had no organized personal
party, and he had to form q distinct
party in favor Of the measures proposed
by him. A strong opposition was at
once developed, inside the Democratic
party. New questions were presented,
that had not been canvassed before,
and, naturally enough, the Democratic
party divided on these Issues; leaving
the Governor with but one portion of
his own party with him. and, of course,
rendering the measures proposed by
him harder of consummstion Though
there were majority of Democrats
with his Excellency, the Greenbsck
and Republican vote combined with
those Democrats who opposed him,
and defeated his plans. The Repu biz
can party, as well as the Greenbsck
party, beng numerically weak, the
Democrats thought they could afford
to divide. The opposition 10 the Dem
ocratic party was not strong enough t,
drive the Democrats toge,her-hence
the Governor found himself, in one
sense of the word, without a party.
Hence, it is too essy to perceive what 8
hard time he had.
Oar State platform, adopted at oul
last convention, and on which Demo-
Gratis were pledged to stand, demanded
that the bonded debt of the State
should not be increased; that taxes
should not be increased to more thar
fifty cents on the one hundred dollars
the frontiers must be protected, aud
the laws rIgidly enforced.
Now, the question was, how all this
was to be accomplished without in,
creasing our bonded debt aud witbou'
increasing taxatIonG
This was the absorbing question and
the perplexing question To the Cover.
nor, and it required not only tht
highest attributes of craftsmanship bui
q far-seeing financial wisdom.
At the time the Governor was Inaug.
urated there was deficiency Of S400,
600. From 1876 to 1879 there had new
CT been enough revenue to meet the ar.
nusl expenses by 500, 900, and some.
times more. We were sRen paying In
terest on a bonded deEt, created ain ct
the war, of 81, 900, 900.
The problem to the solutIoa of ali
these questions was settled in less than
twelve months. 1t was done by the
passage of good and wholesome laws,
that improved the workings of the gov.
ernment, and by curtaihng all needless
expenses; by increasing the revenue
from sources that would not increase
the burden on purmanent property and
by postponing the deficiency debt OF
$4G0, 600 until the surplus revenue
would gradually pay it off.
The Legislature at Its regular session
refused to do all these things, but, at
the called session it was done. The
bonded bebt has not been increased
and the surplus revenue has virtually
paid 5000, 900 of the floating deficiency
debt, and will easily pay the OF hel
$500. 900 in another year; the public
free schools are being taught as many
months in the year, with %, 600 more
children, as they were last year, with
a st ate normal sc hool added at an ex-
pense of 800, 900 less; the frontier il
we'll protected at an expense of $780,.
600 less; the judiciary is in good
working order; every warrant since the
first mouth has been cashed, saving al
least $100, 900 in the way of discount,
etc. 10000, 900 acres OF land have
been preserved and made subject 10
pay the public debt-three millions o
this being for the purpose Of building {
new State Capitol, and one million fol
a university. Twelve millions Of TIE
twenty-one millions OF the public
school lands already surveyed, are of.
fered for sale at 81 per acre, each per.
son being allowed to purchase three
sections without settling on it.
These are some of the fruits and
blessings of Governor Roberts admin.
istration, resulting In general good and
prosperity of the people.
The Victoria AdUOcdte says:
Gov. Coke presents his objections tC
Senator Bsyard's nomination this yea
in an interview published in the Waco
Examiner. After calling the Delaware
statesman "a pure and en- able man,
who is with US on questions atfectiU 2
the fundamental principles underlying
popular liberty and representative
government, "he terms him the ''cham.
pion of immense monopolIes grown
into power under the class Legislation
enacted during and since the war" Il
will require all great ability o: Senator
Coke to explain how one can be both
"a pure man." and at the same time
be the special champion of Immenee
monopolies." The trouble with
Coke is that he has never
fully realized the situation OF
the Democratic party In the approach
ing campaign. In fact, the experience
and teaching of the Ohio canvass and
it's sad defeat b las been wasted on him.
The plain truth is, that nothing else
will do Coke than to force again on
the party the defeated and repuditted
theory of "soft money" To this
skeleton the Senator from Texas un
fortunately tied his fesltg two years
ago, and he clings to it with q most
wonderful fatality and misjudgmsnt
The success of Democracy becomes the
important question of this year. Bay
ara can carry the standard to victory.
Can any other leader in the party do as
mucbl II not, the party should nom-
mate Bayard, despite the hsir-splittiDg
objections of Senator Coke.
The Dallas Herald Commercial is of
an inquisltiYe turn of mind. It wants
to know:
As the Houston Telegram is sppaT-
emily an organ of Governor C5ke's,
and as il comes out strongly and most
urgently for the reelection of Gen.
Msxey to the United States Senate in
1880, disposing of all other candi-
dates with breath, is it to be under
stood that Senator Coke urges the re-
election of General Maxey, and that
the Telegram is the exponent of his
views on the subjsctf
The Fort Worth Democrat says:
Senator Coke does not entertain q