The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-03-30
HOW THE STATESMAN SERVES
THE POWERS THAT BE.

1t is said by an ungenerous, un-
mannerly sheet that the STATESMAN,
as it always has done, serves the
powers that be at the state capital.
The STATESMAN was inaugurated in
1871, during the dark days that dis
graced Texas, during the admins
tratiOn of Radicalism, when the
best people of the state
were still entrusted to the
care of armed, legalized assassins
at a time when the most reckless
life insurance company would have
committed folly to make policy
ON the life of Democratic editor in
Austin. The STATESMAN was at
that time, as it is now, purely
Democratic, and as such it was
the bitter foe of Radlcalism
and of the Davis administration.
Through all these days it was war,
fierce war, and thus it served the
powers that be through the first
three years of its existence. Then
Coke was elected as the Democratic
nominee, and the STATESMAN was
his warm supporter through the
canvass. 1t did not take long to de-
velop the fact, that he was an arbitra-
ry and a dangerous executive, and it
became necessary, in the course of
honest journalism, Democratic
though the administration might
be, to oppose him in many of his
impracticable and personal pur-
poses, and the STATESMAN did not
hesitate to criticise his
official acts with severity suited to
occasions. 1t is a notorious thing,
that because of these criticisms
Governor Coke made an effort TO
break down the STATESMAN, taking
away from it the public print
ing, and making for himself
an organ at Houston, which
naturally enough died of the
sins it committed in giving but one
color to any state question. This is
how the STATESMAN served the
powers that be from the third to the
seventh year of its existence. Then
Hubbard became governor, and,
having made an earnest effort
in the beginning to be his support
er, the STATESMAN found the most
forcible public reasons in the end
to oppose him for gubernatorial
nomination, and it did oppose him
with zeal and this is the manner in
which the STATESMAN served
the powers that be in
the seventh and eighth years
of its existence. Judge Roberts
nomination was an accident of the
Austin convention, and when he be-
came governor the course of the
STATETMAN was shaped in this wise /:
We had misgivings as to his success
as governor, and it was determined
that endorsement would be given
not at once on the simple ground
that he was Democratic governor,
as was determined in the beginning
with both Governors Coke and
Hubbard, but that his acts as gov
ernor would be weighed, and that
we would endorse or criticise
them as they might require. His
course was carefully watched, and
as his plans of government were un-
folded and developed the STATES
MAN was found endorsing them in
the main, because of their generos-
ity and wisdom. Often we have
criticised the acts of Governor
Roberts, but generally he
has been supported, and we
now see no reason for withdra wing
such support. This is the way we
have served the powers that be in
the last named case, and when one
voice, asitwere, comes up all over
the state, agreeing with us in opinion
we feel that there is unison
with the popular chord, and this is
always on the side of reason and OF
justice. This is government of the
people, and the STATESMAN is just
Democratic enough to be of the
people and with the people.