The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-07-28

and others, would at once inaugu-
rate the work of undermining gov
ernment, whose props depend one
upon the other. like the frame work
that bears up millions of tons of
earth above the mine. The break
ing of one timber destroys the
equilibrium of others, and amid sue
cessive crashes the subteranean gal
leries become the charnel houses for
all that was life and vitality. While
the course pursued by Governor
Roberts was shaped upon the plain
definition of his duty as laid
down in the constitution. which
he has sworn to obey, and while his
motiye in refusing to join Governor
Foster is neither personal nor politi-
cal, but purely statesmsnlike, the
STATESMAN deems it not inappro-
pirate to reflect upon this proposed
thanksgiving from other staud-
points.
The STATESMAN is disposed to go
little further than Governor
Roberts in refusing to agree upon a
day "for thanksgiving and praise to
Almighty God for the blessed de-
liverance of our president and Tor
this great evidence of His goodness
to this nation" Is there not bias
phemy in this expression, and,
if there be not blasphemy in it,
would it not be wise for some of the
other governors to amend the rea-
sons by adding, "and for His great
goodness in seeing that he was
elected president of these United
States" If the great Director
of the universe has had
anything to do with saving
the life of the president he had all to
do with the assassin's bullet, and
the pam and trouble at the White
House, including these Bliss-full
press kilograms, and the rivalry be-
tween Alopaths and Homeepaths
was ordained, and Guiteau and
Garfield are both victims of an
irresistible intent; and if this thing
be a matter of divine direction, may
not the influences that elected Mr..
Garfield, even to his trading with
Conkling and taking the benefit of
Brady's gains in the canvass,
be charged to- this same Supreme
Director. IF the dispensation of
Providence has directed one of
these things it has directed all, and
we poor sinners who voted against
such direction should repent of the
sin of having thus opposed Supreme
will. The ridiculous nature of these
propositions may be demonstrated,
when it is surmised that Providence
directed the evil intent of Guiteau,
and that his shot was fatal, but that
God demonstrates His goodness TO
this nation" by working a miracle
i'll his recovery. Or it may imply
that a mistake was made, and that
on due reflection it was discovered
that it would not do to let Arthur
become president, and that hence
the recovery was fixed upon.
For this we are to give thanks to a
special Providence, with which the
"Old Alcalde" interferes. We are
prevented from thanking Providence
that Mr.. Garfield abandoned the
pulpit and the saving of souls to be-
come politician and an adherent of
a great party of immortality; that he
quit preaching and exhorting sim
ners to repentance, that he
might assist in overturning
the most sacred institutions
of this country; that he descended
from the pulpit where the Great
Book lay open, directing him to the
right to the position of a visiting
statesman in the south, tampering
with election returns and per-
verting the will of the people.
Laying aside all constitutional
grounds for his refusal, has not
Governor Roberts insulted the pub
lie feeling by not fixing a day for the
people of Texas to perform religious
rites in commemoration of the .Di
vine dispensations in favor of Mr..
Garfield! Divine dispensation should
have seen to it, that when the plan
was fixed upon to make Garfield a
saint, the constitution of the state of
Texas should have been amended SO
as to make the "Old Alcalde" high
priest.