The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-04-12

Your correspondent has been close
reader of the STATESMAN for the past
few months, and has noted with
pleasure its heightened, dispassionate
course in discussing the issues Of the
day, especially questions that have
come up in the legislature. The
STATESMAN, like the best dailies of
the large cities, seems to have no
ambition to be an organ or
the mOuthpiece of a man; but as
pires to represent the people
and the best public sentiment of the
country. While protesting to be
Democratic paper and able to show
record to that effect, it is not so
blinded by partisan feeling that 1T is
unwilling or afraid to sound an alarm
when in It's judgement there is occa-
sion fer it. Positive newspapers like
positive men must make enemies, but
when they make them by fighting for
the right and for the interests of the
people they knock out" their enc
mics more times by large majority
than do their enemies knock them
out" a good newspaper does not de-
pend upon favoritism or the public
crib for support. 1t does not fatten
on smiles or recognition mods from
governors, congressman and mayors,
etc. Even if it did, there might
be streak of fat and a streak
of lean, for these same governors,
congressman and mayors might be
displaced in two to four wears by a
different set of fellows, who might
not indorse what their predecessors
and their organ had said and done
and demand right about" on the
part of the paper that could not con-
Sistently be done, i'll which event
another paper might be subsidized to
take its place. rhe patriotic paper,
that is useful and true to its party, Is
not the one that "goes it blind" but
the one that calls halt when its own
party is being led aStray. The New
York Tribune and Times, the mother
and father of the Republican party,
found it necessary last year to assist
in the election of Democratic gov
ernor in this state as warning to
machine rule" and corrupting in-
lluences in their own party, and
in many other states last
year we had similar illustrations.
1t is far better that party papers
should be at least independent on
questions that are of no concern TO
their party outside of the state, and
by being so they invariably gain more
than they lose. a man or politician
may now and then stop his paper if
it refuses to indorse him, but that
does not "bust" the concern. The
STATESMAN has quite a list of sub
scriberS in this city, several of whom
formerly lived in Texas and have read
it for years. One of them was the
other day speaking to your CORE
spondent about it, and remarked that
the STATESMAN had always been a
fearless. outSpOken paper, and
he thought purely demo
cratic - and Conscientious. 1t
has, ne said, fought many hard
battles, met with reverses, tusseled
with poverty received the ieers of its
enemies who would rejoice to learn
of its failure and suspension, which
they predicted; and yet, said he. the
STATESMAN is to-day an ADLER and
stronger paper than it has ever been
before. He then branched off on the
penitentiary question and remarked
that the STATESMAN, as usual, was
right and would come out ahead, re-
CARELESS of what the legislature and
the governor said or done. Your cor
respondent does not feel at liberty to
give the give the gentleman's name,
but he can say this that he is a man
of Weight and influence in Texas.
TRAMP.