The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-02-23

The Dallas Times never says a
foolish thing, and oitenest it gives
expression to something that is wise.
Ii now says:
Several papers In the state, prOmi-
nent among which is the Brenham
Banner, seiZes on the death of the
jefferson Democrat as a text from
which to preach the Democratic
press of the state a sermon. These
papers declare the demise of the JEFF
terson paper TO have proceeded from
a strict adherence to Democratic
principles and the championing of
the Democratic party. They say
that no "crgan" can live, aud the
death of the jefferson paper proves
it. The whole truth is the Jefferson
paper died from The death OF the
town i'll which it was published.
| Jefferson has been going down since
railroad building i'll Texas COM
menced. Her signs of decay fright
/ ened her business men into emigrat-
/ ing to other points in the state. Her
! local trade amounts to no more than
| that enjoyed by any crossroads viii
! lage. OF course the town could not
support paper, and the Democrat
died. Politics had nothing to do
with the funeral. 1t came to its end
/ as other enterprises of Jefferson
went up the flume because II was in
an unhealthy location. But to 60
back 10 the assertion that a strict
Democratic paper cannot prosper i'll
this state. Such honest papers are
called organs" The whisby-washy
sheets apply this name TO them be-
cause they think it severe and cut
ting. 1t is generally supposed when
a paper is called an "Organ" that
the coup de grace has been
delivered and all things are
ready for the funeral nf-the
I ru1 rrIars OF Democratic p aper i'll
this state are great. They are forced
to fight for existence agai INST power
full Independent Journals like the
Ne,rS, Post and Herald, which be-
sides their heavy bank accounts, are
backed up by the Democratic ad-
ministration. Hard as is the fight,
Democratic editors can make it.
But it Is discouraging to see those
very men who have been elevated
to power by the Democracy, turn as
soon as they are located i'll their
seats from their friends and feed
those papers whose boosted mission
it is to break down the very Democ-
racy which has made them officers.
Under such discOuragenents the
Democratic papers have fought.
Some of them have dropped in the
fight disheartened and disguised.
A Democratic state administra-
ton and Legislature foster the
Independent press, court il because
il is an enemy, and ignore the
friendship and work done by
the Democratic press. The people,
though, the great mass, are opening
their eyes to what that press has
done. They are beginning to re-
member who fought for them in
the days of '68 TO '72 They are
counting up the number of Demo-
cratic papers which resisted the
railroad rObberies OF the TranscOn-
tinental and International, and the
independent papers which counte-
nanced those rObberies. They are
/ Iduudiiy iCaiiAlhS thal. hau IL hOl
been for Democratic editors, imme-
diately after the war, who stood be-
tween them and the Radicals and
Independents, Texas would have
shared the fate of South Carolina
and Louisiana. The people are
awakening, and the Democratic
press getting stronger. 1t will con-
tinue to do so Till the "organs" will
be musical. even to the state officers,
and the Independent press will curl
up and fall on the Democratic side
OF the fence, as the most profitable
side.