The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-03-15
WILL 1T COME TO THIS!

The STATESMAN. from the date o
its foundation in 1871, has been tru'
and earnest as an exponent of thu
principles of the Democratic party
Such adhesion to principle has led il
to give support to Democratic nomi
nees, and to labor at all times for the
success of Democratic. tickets. These
nominees have been selected because
of their supposed willingness to ad.
here to popular desires, and because
of their pledges to mould into the
body polite the doctrines set forth in
party platforms. The principle at the
bottom of all government, under the
spirit of American institutions at
least, is the greatest good to the
greatest number of people, antagonis-
tic to the monarchical idea that the
few must be favored and upheld, to
the detriment of the many. Democ-
racy pledges itself to keep in force
this American idea, and its nominees,
in accepting place, do so on the pledge
that they will strictly adhere to the
principles set forth in political
declarations, made in political
conventions, as solemn popular
pledges. The Democratic masses are
sincere in what is thus promised;
their purpose is to labor for the main
tenance and the perpetuation of
principles thus ennnciated, while
such pledges would ever be realized
were it not that unfortunate agents
are too often selected for their eXecu-
tion. Occasional mistakes could be
overlooked, but when errors are of
frequent repetition, when even pal
pable omissions and sinister purposes
mark the course of administrative
agents chosen by the party, the power
that creates must be and is properly
held responsible. 1t matters not
whether the party declare on all ques-
tions of popular nature, whether
every singular case be covered, the
spirit of popular and not of person
nj interest is understood to be
applied, and failure to comply
in one case is fully as reprehensible
rs in the other. The Democratic
party of Texas asserted its most posi-
tive influence at period when the
popular voice cried aloud for protec-
tion against personalism in govern
ment, through which the so-called ad-
ministration of public affairs had be-
come most offensive to the people of
the state. Thepopular voice spoke by
over one hundred thousand majority
in favor of establishing "a government
not tinctured with intense personal
ism, and Democratic agents seizing
the reins ofIgovernment, drove from
power the corrupt agencies that had
detied popular will, that had degraded
a government intended for the peo-
pie, and which had prostituted execu-
tive departments for the baseSt per-
sonal ends. The revolution that en-
sued under the new order of things
was notable, and had not the next
state canvass drifted into race for
the United States senatOrship, much
good might have been accomplished
for the people. A desire to CRAFTY
personal ambition re-engrafted per-
sonalism on the state government,
and, at a succeeding election, it was
shown that it had already had its
effect upon the popular mind. The
second election of Governor Roberts
demonstrated in even a more marked
degree the effect of a continued tend
ency to personalism in public affairs,
and his signal defeat for the third
tion of Texans to personal prediction
in administering the affairs of a great
state. What 1t was hoped to avoid by
the defeat of Gov. Roberts seems to
have been especially nurtured in the
nomination and election of Judge Ire
land. Nosooner was this gentleman in
Quoted into office than personal agen-
cies appeared to have surrounded
him with an impossible Gordon.
The STATESMAN does not believe Gov.
Ireland intended such development
should mark the beginning of his ad-
ministration; it does not believe he
would voluntarily have shaped this
result, because in his inaugural, and
in some of his appointments, he seemed
to be successfully battling with here
tofore unyielding personal nature, ap-
peared to be effectually repelling his
besetting sin as public man. 1t
really does not believe he prefers TO
make a martyr of himself upon
the altar of personalism, and we
do earnestly hope that tolls thrown
about him so early in his executive
career are not to perpetually en-
tangle. Yet they are now a fact
the world sees and understands, and
sadly do the vigilant agencies OF
Democracy contemplate the effect
The danger appears imminent that
Gov. Ireland's administration is drift
ing into a more decided form OF
personal government than has
ever been known before in Texas
Everything appears to direct this ad.
ministrative current into a personal
channel. and while the governor may
be taken onward in this current with
out proper thought of surroundings
by which it is urged, while it may be
falsely conceived that strict adhesion
to personal friendships in pub
lie matters is productive Of
the greatest public good, the
STATESMAN asks of him earnest re
tiection as to the future. asks him tC
halt before he is swept too far, tt
draw in his craft long enough to con
template the yawning chasm ahead
to assert a power for the peopl,
that may save him and his admins
tration from utter political destruc
tion. The STATESMAN was an earnes
supporter of Judge Ireland for nomi
nation, labored with zeal in his behal
for election, and was mortified tina