The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1880-04-29
oIRoUms rANoEs ALTER CASES.

rANCES ALTER CASES.
Col. Lang bids fair to become the
great political camelion of Texas.
Some years ago he began.to cast long
ing eyes upon the gubernatorial chair. |
He looked at it, and concluded he
wouldn't it better than any executive
that ever sat in it, and better than 9TH
er men that might aspire to it. he
would hsYe liked the best in the
world, at the GALVESTON convention IN
1875, TO have played second I'D
die to Governor Coke instead
of Dick Hubbard, but the eagle Ora
tor" of Texas got hold of the thing,
and he held on to 1t like grim death
and Lang had to look to the future.
At Austin he made fair record, and
possibly he could have sspired success
fully, but in an evil hour he wanted
government pap, and accepted that
penitentisry commission, which, to-
gather with his grange position, gave
him $500 year, very good thing In
starvation times, and he ought to have
kept it. But 1t began TO appear that
the penitentiary job was not just the
thing for gubernatorial sspirant, and
be stepped down and out, and tried to
dust his skirts with the assertion that
it was not suited to his tastes. About
the time Col. Lang came to the concIu-
sion to take good pull at the govern
ment teat he hunted up reporter at
BRENNAN, and on the sixth of May,
1879, he made his opinions known
through the Galveston Neaos. In view
of the late pronuncismentos OF Col.
Lang upon Gov. Roberts and his poll
cies it ia not amiss to reproduce what
he declared at that time. He said 1:
Governor Roberts veto Is emlnently
correct. 1t gives an impressive earn
estness of an honest administration,
and shows an appreciation of his duties
and obligations to the people. He was
elected upon a platform of economy,
and he fully realizes the necessity of
reform. With directness of purpose,
he in the plsinest manner exposed the
true financial condition of the State,
and the legislature could not compre-
bend it. The responsibility was upon
it TO provide the necessary relief, and
if it failed it was but just that Cover
nor Roberts should place the response
bility where it rlghtfully belonged.
do not understand him to be OPP
posed to system of free common
schools. I think he only wants such
an economical system as the people can
bear without impairing the strength
and efficiency of the government. 10
other words, he wants such economy
introduced IN the common schools as
that a less proportion of the general
revenue will supply the same facilities
of education TO the same number of
children and for the same length of
time. The state cannot hardly sffOrd
to abolish free schools. There are too
MANY families in the state entirely I'M
allie to contribute anything to the edu-
cation of their children, and to aban"
don free schools will be to raise large
number of the children up without
even knowing the A B Cs. Common
schools must, however, be secondary TO
an efficient state government. The trst
| object of taxation should be the sup
port Of government. Debts and free
schools are secondary in confederation
and importance, and Governor Roberts
is but following the plsinest philoso-
phy of government when he so places
it in his veto.
Doubtless the propriety of vetoing
the appropriation for the payment OF
interest will be questioned at the first
presentation, and many will dread Its
effect upon the credit of the State.
have 40 fears in that direction. The
veto is an evidence of a stubborn dis.
position to prevent any further deti.
cieneies in the revenue, and conse'
| quently the contraction of any furthei
debts, and the quickest way to bank.
ruptcy and reputation is to overwhelm
the State with debta. There can be nc
depreciation of the States credit be-
cause she refuses to go further in debt.
The legislature will provide to meet
the accruing interest While specura.
tors in the States securities will seize
upon the governors action IN vetoing
the appropriation for the payment OF
interest and to provide fund for the
liquidation of the debt to run down the
States credit, prudent and sagscious
investors will regard it as healthy
symptom in the States financial man
agement. The veto, though plain and
simple in its composition, is remark
able State paper, perspicuous and for
chile In the enuncistion of true and
correct principles. 1t is opportune. 1t
is necessary that some period should
mark change in the States financial
system, and it is we'll now. The peo-
pie should uphold the governor in the
sincerity of his purpose to promote the
general interest of the country.