The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-08-17
WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT QUAR-
ANTINE.

WE KNOW ABOUI YUAN
ANTINE.
The STATESMAN delights to dwell
upon the fact that Governor Roberts
has expressed his determination to
consult its editorial department upon
the subject of quarantine. For
twelve years it has enlisted personal
energy and any amount of money in
aiding politicians in their ambitious
undertakings, and out of the long
list of those whom it has assisted in
elevating into position, there is but
this one instance in which its
worth has been recognized by at least
a governor of the great state
of Texas. 1t is distinction which
amply repaYs all expenditures. 1t
even fringes with golden threads the
tedious patchwork of twelve years
of close party service; it is the one
green spot that makes iourneying
delightful. after years of toll through
a vast Sahara of politics. We are
not vain of the distinction, but SIM
ply grateful for recognition which
again closely WEEDS us to hope, be-
lieving once more that in the vague
future there may be something SIM
liar to this, something to again glad
den the weary, another oasis. prob
ably, at the end of another decade
of travel over parched political dis
tricts, another governor to speak
approvingly. BUTT is in the line OF
quarantine that the governor pays
distinction to the STATESMAN
through Its editor. Truly we have
practiced quarantine in a political
sense well, and practice makes
perfection. The STATESMAN re-
CARDS the Democratic party as the
citadel of republican principles and
hence of American liberty. 1t has
cast its moorings at the port of en-
try to this citadel, and at the ene-
my's approach it has always been
ready for the conflict, and
has prosecuted the fight with vigor.
When the alien enemies came with
ports open and men at the guns, the
STATEsMAN's brOadsides have been
poured into them, and as a part of
the noble Democratic press it has
triumphed.
But the alien is less dangerous
than the citizen enemy. The latter
probably glorifies cause while
he seeks personal ends and profit.
Such the STATESMAN has been led
to know must be watched
with more zeal than all 9th
ers, and the only safety
of the party is to declare quarantine
against such enemy. Here, mainly,
has the the STATESMAN learned its
valuable lessons in quarantine; and
because of this honorable mention,
we may be excused from referringt TO
the record. In politics as i'll medical
science there are variety of diseases.
There is political cholera, which,
when it gets hold of party, takes
it off in spasms, something like the
Republican party is now dying in
Pennsylvania. Then there is po-
litical smallpox, in which
a party, covered with the scabs of
bribery and corruption, dies, as did
the Republican party in Texas many
years ago. Last, but not least, is the
yellow jack of politics. The dag
nosis of this disease is fondness for
Office with tendency to nepotism
and to third-termism, the most no.
table case on record being that of
u. S. Grant, who died hard in con-
sequence at Chicago in 1880. The
Democratic party is no stranger to
this disease, and there is at least
one notable case on record in Texas
The STATESMAN not long ago did
signal service for the party in re-
polling the encroachments of this
dreaded plague, and recognizing the
effectiveness of its service III defend
ing the Democratic citadel, Governor
Roberts does us honor even in press
bulletins. The distinction having
been won in special service to the
Democratic party, and not to the in
dividual, secures this marked recog-
milton, but we are content to bear
the laurels with becoming modesty.