The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-09-14
NO.. Z
An Abuse OF Privilege.
TH0usf0n Post

| Parlles III Austin, W90 used, or al.
lowed to be used, the printing mate
rial and machinery of the state for
the purpose of publishing a partisan
document of a bitter character in the
| Democratic interest. The matter
has come up before the printing
board, and as the charges were
made by a stalwart Democrat
and the facts fully ac.
knowledged by the parties i'm.
plicated, there is no necessity to touch
upon the evidence. Itis a confes sed
fact that Gen. King, the adju aut
general OF the state, being desirous
OF publishing a campaign document
In favor of the Democracy, and moi
wishing to incur the usual expense.
upon the advice of Capt. Bowman.
secretary of state and member OF the
printing board, induced Mr.. Moore.
expert and clerk of said board. to
print or have printed this circular at
the government printing office, with
government material and govern
ment labor-he (King) paying only
the cost of material used,
thus saving himself the ex-
penditure of $21.40, at the
cost of the state. The document re-
terred to is signed Democrat" and
is neither more nor less than a yio-
lent partisan circular. whose chief
point is abuse of ex-Gov. e. J.Davis,
and, we believe, of the press. Ii does
not concern the Post to inquire why
the matter was prosecuted by the
proprletors of the STATESMAN; but
the fact that they did so. and did il
with energy and boldness, is compe-
tent to show that, though staunch
Democrats, they were incapable of
countenancing so flagrant a breach
OF public morals and decencv.
Through their action in unveiiin0
this back-kitchen job the public have
an opportunity of knowing how af-
fairs are carried on at beadouarters.
and of judging whether the charges
made by the Independent press of
the looseness and partially, not to
say corruption, that has invaded the
administration circles, are true or
not. When the facts of the case were
fully ventilated before the board
when the parties implicated, seeing
no possible escape from the odious
position in which they were caught,
they made the best possible defense
by confessing the facts and pleading
no intention of evil. Officers of the
government confessed that they had
used the power of government
to further their private ends and to
sustain a political party, but that it
had never occurred to them that
such action was indecent and an
abuse of the privileges of their of.
lice! The treasurer condemned the
transaction as political blunder."
The attorney general washed his
hands of the job and branded il with
his unqualified disapprobation. The
venerable treasurer-While iudors-
ing the subject matter of the pam.
phlet--declared that che never was
so surprised in his life" (evidently
lntlmatlng that as an upright
officer he scorned the proceedine).
Secretary Bowman made the point
that he did it as an individual
and was responsible. The people
will decide whether it is competent
for an officer in a responsible posi-
ton to transfer his responsibility
from the public officer to the private
man. General King professed his
ignorance of the rules of the board
and merely wished to get his publi-
cation cut at the smallest expense.
After consideration the board de-
clined to do more than express a
mild disapprobation of the affair
and to ccnsure Mr.. Moore for his
what shall we call it?-indlscretion !;
also imposing the fine of $21.40
upon him, being the actual loss
the state sustained by the transac-
ton. The administration view is
summed up in the treasurer's idea
this discreditable affair is only a
political blunderp Heaven save
the mark-a political blunderl The
board, by its action, declares that
the state was actually defrauded
of $21.40. And, therefore, in the
name of common sense and common
honesty, we would ask if the princi-
pie is not precisely the same as if
the swindle had amounted TO
81 ,4OOP Let the people answer.
This is entirely apart from the fact
which the encouragement seems to
feel keenly-that the employment of
government property for partisan
purpose is prostitution of the adj
ministrative function and a gross
breach of public and representative
decency!aA political blunderp Yes,
it was a political blunder, but an
Insignificant one in comparison to
the whitewashing of such an offense
by the administration. The action
of Col. Wash. Jones in refusing the
purse, made up by friends, that was
offered him in Washington to carry
on the campaign in Texas, shows
well in comparison with this piece of
jobbery. Col. Jones declined the
offer with thanks, saying that there
was enough corruption in Texas pol
itics already without any help from
abroad.