The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-07-21
AND now some long-wiuded edito

AND now some lOng-winded edito
rails, from thoughtless or fanatical
sources,may be looked for, condemn-
ing Gov. Roberts for not joining
with Gov. Foster in his call for a
day of thanksgiving and prayer for
the presidents recovery. Yester.
days STATESMAN presented the cor.
respondence passing between the
Ohio governor and our own straight
up and down "OId Alcalde," and IL
is valuable enough TO be repeated
COLUMBUS, Ohio, July 10, 1881.
To o. NJ. Roberts, Governor of Texas, Austin,
Present indications strongly encourage
the hope that the president will recover
| from the effects or the horrible attempt
| on his life. 1t must occur to all that il
would be most fitting for the governors
| or the several states and territories to
issue proclamations setting apart a day
TO be generally agreed on for
tanksgiylng and prayer to Almighty God
for the blessed deliverance of our presi-
dent and for this great evidence OF his
goodness TO this nation. If this sugges-
ton meets your approval permit me to
name the governors of New York, Penn
sylyania, Kentucky, Maryland and Ohio
as committee to fix on a day to be so OBJ
served. Please reply.
tSigned) CHARLES FORSTER,
Governor of Ohio.
To Governor Charles Foster, Columbus, Ohio:
My failure to answer yours favorably is
not on account of my want of sympathy
for the president, but because do not
deem it consistent with my position as
governor, 10 issue proclamation direct
ing religious services where church and
state are, and ought to be, kept separate
in their functions. I doubt not the peo-
pie OF Texas have as strongly wished and
Will as devoutly pray for the recovery of
the president as any people in the United
o. NJ. ROBERTS, Governor.
Governor Roberts sympathises
with the afflicted president as ear
nestly probably as any governor of
any state, but this has nothing to do
with the case of Thanksgiving and
prayer suggested by the over-zealous
Gov. Foster. The honesty and cour-
age which Gov. Roberts displays in
his reply is worthy of the highest
admiration. He knows the duty of
a governor, and the constitutional
power belonging to one, and when,
in case like this, he calls a halt
and prevents this folly, into which
we have held the country is drift
ing, the act is less IN
which must have its weight among
all thinking people; while their
verdict must be "well done, good and
faithful old Alcalde.'" In the name
even of common sense, what has a
governor to do in directing the
religious conduct of his peo-
pie? Governors, in many in
stances, attempt to do it, but the
act Is an empty farce and a re-
Election upon the sense and dignity
fthe executive. This reply of Gov
ernor Roberts shows how closely he
clings to constitutional government,
refusing, when appealed to by the
zealot, to add his influence
in placing church over state.
Had Governor Roberts conceded
in this religious movement
among governors we could have
pitied his weakness and decline, but
when he talks in this style it may
be known that he still enjoys that |
vigor of intellect which had
its parallel in Andrew Jackson,
and which Texans may be assured
has preserved in their state that |
strict construction of the powers of |
which must some day |
be called into play in the preserva-
ton of the republic.