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

lie scrutiny. The suggestion
to hold day of thanksgiving and
prayer, to be agreed upon by the
governors of states, and then to be
ordered by a central committee,
came from the governor of Ohio.
Governor Foster is probably very
devout christian gentleman he may
occupy an exalted membership in
the church, and, being the special
and intimate frieNd of President
Garfield, he very reasonably feels
that he should thank Providence
for the preservation of the
president. Governor Roberts felt
deeply aggrieved that the at
tack was made upon the person of
the president, and he expressed Lis
regrets privately and publicly, while
he is also thankful that the assassin's
bullet did not cause the death of the
country's chief executive. Governor
Foster belongs to school which
teaches that all power should abide
in the head of the state. Governor
Roberts belongs to one which holds
that the powers of the head of the
state are limited, and that it
is dangerous to infringe in any
manner, shape or form upon those
powers which are not delegated.
He is governor of the state
of Texas in only one sense-to see
that the statutes are constitutionally
made, and to enforce them to the
best of his ability. Beyond this he
has no power, and he is strong in
the belief, and Texans ought to be
proud that they have such a gov
ernor, that to exceed these powers
would be usurpation. "The custom
prevails everywhere" say the NAL
contents. Such a custom does prevail,
and the governor who assumes to
himself the prerogative of fixing a
day of prayers religious Offering
simply makes an ass ofhimselfby fol-
lowing a custom. The governor is
a civil officer, not religious one as
we'll, and the conduct of our relig-
ious system Is left to the bishops
and officiating ministers. A gov
ernor has no more right to order
prayer in the churches than the
STATESMAN, and the moral and re-
igious standing of this paper
is by no means second to
that of Governor Roberts. The
custom, presenting precedents for
such action on the part ofgovernors,
is an evil one in governmental
sense, and since it is in this sense
alone that the people of Texas,
christian or runchristian, have any re-
lation to Governor Roberts, he must
perform the simple part of a civil
magister, feeling, though there may
be ten thousand precedents for diff
ferent action than his, that
such officious mockery of that
which is holy would i'll become him.
Were all governors to do that which
is right, they would hereafter make
the uniform action of Governor
Roberts a precedent, and we would
see no more of this mOckery of
church-wicked old sinners, in
a religious sense, calling upon the
devout and holy to pray when it is
known the former never pray.
But while this mockery should
be particularly offensive, in a
christian sense, it bears insig-
upon the case in ques-
ton, the plain proposition to con-
slider being, whether Governor Rob-
erts is in any sense the director of
spiritual affairs in Texas. He is
not; has nomore to do, as governor,
with church conduct than the presi-
dent of a Jockey club, or the MAYOR
of a city, and when he has the
to say this, and do it,
he deserves the endorsement of all |
honest and fair-Ininded men. IF
christian people desire to thank |
for the recovery of the
president on their bended knees,
hey have the opportunity to do so
and nightn theirdevOtions,
Ind this would be effective prayer.
f ii be desired that the churches act
N body in such prayer, the church
masters, probably, have: the au-
hority to order such devotional ser
rice, and while they probably have
lot such power in all church or
it is supremely absurd
o assume that governor shall or
Ter such devotion. Yesterday the
Mortal remains ofa well-beloved and
aithfnl state officer were consign-
ID, to the grave. 1t would be more
in a social sense
or the governor to order religious
ervices in this honored officers
all over Texas, than for
i'm to tell Texans to thank God and
ray. because President Garfield did
lot die; and yet were he to do such q
hing he would be pronounced
1it subject for the lunatic asylum.
Roberts is an honest con-
Ititutional executive, and no simple
of long-standing folly
,ould induce him to assume a role,
which he knows does not be-
ong to .him- Church and state are
swo distinct organizations, and they
'hould remain as distinct as Oonr
law directs they shall
be. Let the church people pray, but
ct them pray by order of the church