The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1880-02-19
Estate REFORM AND THE OLD
DAVIS ADMINISTRATIVE

| forth by an interview with Col. S. II.
Russell, published in the same issue of
the Neus. regarding the political situa-
ton. The Ners thereupon becomes
the champion of tx-Goyernor Davis,
as it has lately done on several occa-
sions, and il so far mlsststes history
that we feel called upon to make cor
reclions. 1t says: "No personal de-
Hunciation of Governor Davis can dis
guise the fact that he and his adminIs-
tratIon were odious in Texas only as
the rule and the name of his party were
| odious." The STATESMAN is as positive
in asserting that it was Governor Davis
himself who made his party odious.
1t has often been asserted by Republi-
cars and many Democrats, that MIR. Dav 8
had it in hispower to popularize his
party in Texas, which ne did not do,
and we ali remember how the bare
name of Davis secured over one hum
dred Thousand majority for the Demo-
cratic party in 1873, many Republicans
| refusing to vote for him because he had
utterly destroyed their political hopes
in Texas. Again the Ne,cs says:
"Governor Davis great mistake, it has
been generally understood, was in sur
rounding himself with the presence
and influence of coteries without either
intellectual or moral elevation, and
prone to all manner of official, legisla-
tive and policial abuses" Might not
the NesoS, instead of excuslng Mr..
DAVIS for this condition of sffairs,
have stated, what it certainly knew,
that respectable Republicans often re-
monstrated with him for keeping, as
Col. Russell says, his "Sianese JIM
miles," and others like them, about
him, both of whom he warmly de-
Tended 20 the last, while one of
them, the sweet-scented Davidson,
fled in consequence of his own sense
Of guilt, and still hides away from JUS
tiee In foreign lands. Again the Netcs
says: Equally frivolous appears the
charge that Gov. Davis alone is respon-
sible for attempting to hold the state
government when defeated by Gov.
Coke. That policy was encouraged
and supported by both Republican
Senators from Texas, by the Supreme
Court cf Texas, and apparently by the
rank and file of the Republican party
in Texas" The history of this oppo-
sition with armed force to the lnaugu-
ration of Democratic administration,
selected by over 100, 200 msJority, ls
so well known that we are surprised
the Netcs would have the hardihood to
attempt to deceive the public IN regard
% tiIefnOto. 1t is not even admitted
that the Supreme UUurU I"'vr
ofholding on tothe government by phys
icaI force, though its justices were the
creatures of Mr.. Davis, owing their
appointment to him and expecting to
fall with him. But when it is charged
ttat the two United States Senators,
Flanagan and Hamilton, supported
Davis in his attempted revolution, the
poorest informed in this most disgrace
full passage in our States history knows
better than to believe this assertion Of
the Ne,os. Mr.. Flanagan was violently
opposed TO the movement, and
Hamilton was the bitter political
enemy of MIR. Davis, and recognized
the fact, as above stated, that DAVIS
himself destroyed his party in Texas.
| This gentleman lives to assert the falls
ity of the charge that he Joined in this
revolution against the expressed will
OF the people of Texas, and it is unjust
to quiet gentleman, who has left
the political arena, to say that he
took any part in aiding and abet-
ting Mr.. DaYis in his effort to pro-
duce anarchy in Texas. Nor was this
effort supported by the Crank and
file" of the Republican party in Tex
as. Let the Ne,os ask Judge Sabin
aud Ex-Governor Pease, and other
leading Republicans, now in Calves
ton, if they sanctioned such course
and on their denial it must admit tha
it has grossly perverted facts. Thi
wretched sttemp. at revolution was the
work alone of Mr.. Davis, and his nice CO
terie of officeholders in Austin. But th
milk In the cocoanut is reached when tn
Meas says: ''Gov. Davis, if he di'
drive his party into obscurity, spokel
of By Col. Russell, may prove valua
BILE factor IL shaping the destiny of tn
State" The Ne,ss thinks that sine
Mr.. Davis may still be able, which W
doube to control 80, 900 or 10000 ne
gro voters m Texas, that he is ''valu
able factor" TO be used in breakin
down the Democratic party. Col. Rus
sell, as shown by his interview and b
his practices, Is also earnestly oppose
to the Democratic party, but he is oppoI
ed to it as Republican, and not as FL
sionisr, from which latter class q
good people should forever pray to b
delivered.