The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-01-04


There was much talk in the press,
especially the Stalwart Republican
press, after Arthur's advent into the
white house, about his
UNsECTIoNAL TENDENCIES,
his fondness for the south and south
ern men, and what he would do for
that much-ignored portion of the
great republic. Arthur himself has
been very profuse and generous in his
conversation with southern represent
atlves, and lost no opportunity to de-
nounce the existing order of affairs
in the federal government whereby
the south is maltreated, and fire.
quently expressed his hostility to sec
tionalism and his desire for speedy
administration reform giving her
equal representation in the cabinet
and in the various departments of the
general government. But the cold
TACT is that the south has been
more ignored in the Arthur admins
tration than in any other; even more
than under Grant, for then confidence
was placed in Radical politicians at
the south and they were given posi-
tions in the cabinet and possessed con-
siderable influence. evil or otherwise,
with the administration.
After Grant both Hayes and Gar
field recognized the fact that a proper
and complete administration required
that fast and populous territory like
the cotton states required representa-
ton in the cabinet. For months after
Garfield's death, and while Arthur
was slowly one by one collect
ing his cabinet advisers around
him, the talk of a liberal
policy towards the south and a south
ern man in the cabinet was common
among politicians and in the newspa-
pers, many even supposing that more
than one man from that section would
he given a seat in the cabinet. 1t was
foregone conclusion last winter that
eX-Gov. Davis, of Texas, would be
given Secretary Hunts position. But
the cabinet was finally completed and
the south again left without a single
voice to speak for her interest in the
presidential ear and with but a limited
number of her sons acting as consuls
and in ministerial positions abroad.
Arthur has so far
REVERSED THE POLICY
Of the Hayes and Garfield ad-
ministrations that appropriations
for and questions concerning
the welfare of that section
are no longer considered by the gov
eminent. Concessions to the south
are not granted with the understand
ing that that section is an important
factor in the makeup of the Union,
and what is done for her concerns the
country as whole, but are granted
with the appearance as if her requests
were only those of conquered terri
tory whose interest were of secondary
importance and not the Just demands
Of powerful portion of the country,
embracing population in round num-
bers of 100000, producing 100000
bales of cotton and other agricultural
products to the value of hum
dreds of millions of dollars
and having a coal area alone of 10000
square miles, with mines of iron and
other minerals and enormous forest
possessions. Arthur's policy should
only serve to make the Democracy at
the
SOUTH MORE SOLID,
For to have cotton states divided and
degraded by Mahoneism can only
weaken their influence at Washington,
as matters now stand and will continue
to stand if the stalwart wing of the
Republican party procures president
in 1884. The stalwart portion of the
Republican party is controlled mostly
by men distinguished for their vehe-
mence and partisan zeal, similar to the
abolitionists of ante-bellum days,
and like them ardent and uncompro-
missing haters of all things southern.
Texas alone has an area of 274,000
square miles-larger than France and
many of the other leading nations of
Europe, and possesses in her borders
600 square miles OF coal, larger
amount than Pennsylvania, and hav-
ing a soil and climate possessing un-
bounded possibilities. Why that vast
territory
SHOUED BE so IGNORED
at Washington, while small and insig-
nifcant states have great influence, Is
blast on our institutions and a
disgrace to a republican form
of government. We have suf-
fered hypocrisy and cant and
clap-trap friendship long enough
at the south, and it is the crying need
of our politics and the duty Of our
public men 40 see that the cotton