The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-11-22
DEMOCRATIC PAPERS AND COR
CANS"

little money, and less brains, enters
into an undertaking for the benefit OF
one or more persons, who allow him
to use his money for their benefit, and
then leave him to starve on political
glory. A case is in point in Brooklyn,
where for long period of time the
Eagle has dispensed true Democratic
doctrines, but has failed to endorse
tricksters and demago CUES, calling
themselves Democrats. In the last
seven or eight years the Democratic
majority in Brooklyn has fallen from
about twenty thousand to less than
nothing, Republican mayor having
been elected in 1881, while this year
Carr carried the city by majority
about 1900 against Maynard. The
cause of this decline of Democratic
strength is traceable to boss and ring
rule, and to nominations secured
through trades and for unfair pur.
poses. To the credit of the great pa
per, be it said, the Eagle has refused
to indorse the acts of many men
elected for foul purposes, and when
their acts as officers demanded con-
demnation, it has freely extended it.
Satisfied of their corrupt purposes it
has once, or more, opposed certain men
on Democratic tickets,a and has secured
their defeat. For this these would
be office-holders are trying to induce
somebody, or some persons, to start an
"organ," that will be contracted with
in advance to indorse every bad man
Of them, and every bad act OF theirs,
should they ever Jecome what they
so much desire to 5e-the keepers and
manipulators of pu&.t funds. The
contemplated newstep9r is to be the
"organ" of these men and, such as they
may associate with them, and the peo-
pie are to be made to believe it Is in
stead genuine party organ. There
are two sorts Of party newspapers;
one represents principles and eschews
men, the other represents men
and attempts to make their principles
appear as those of tbs party. A pure
Democratic paper is one that
believes earnestly in the principles
of Democracy, and which would ap-
ply those principles to government,
making administrations thereby bet
ter and people consequently more
happy and contended, producing re-
spect for law and more of order and
peace in communities. The other sort
of so-called Democratic paper is that
which labors merely for the sake of
selecting certain men to Office, who
want it for their own agrandisemelt,
who care nothing for Democratic prin-
ciples, and who disregard them when
in office. To the first named class the
Eagle belongs, as does THE STATES
MAN, and though the people may
be temporarily deceived and led
in opposition to true Democracy, it
will be seen in the end that principles
win. THE STATESMAN has earnestly
labored in behalf of pure Democratic
faith, and when it fails to subserve
principles, underlying pure Demo
cratic government, instead of being
the subservient tool of men, it may
then succumb to a "want," but not till
then. No party deserves to succeed,
unless its principles be sound, its
methods clean, and its candidates ca
pable and honest, and above personal
schemes that are unfavorable to what
the people desire. An earnest Demo
cratic contemporary, the Baltimore
Day, says: mo matter how large a
party may be, an oft-recurring depart
ure in methods, principles and men
will cause it to wear away and in time
disappear. Temporary success may
be achieved, but the inevitable re-
action will take place. The exFe-
rience of Massachusetts, Democrats
with Butler and Virginia Republi-
cans with Malone has been anything
but satisfactory to the respective par
ties in those states, as well as the al
lance of the Maine Democrats with
the Greenbackers in that state" The
baleful effects of a departure from
party principles were last year shown
in the Seventh Congressional district
of Texas, Sc discord, years ago
sown in the old Sixth district, through
so-called Democratic attacks upon
Democratic principles, having germi
mated and grown and produced
fruit. 1t pays best to Away;
sustain principles that are sound
in the long run they are SURE
to win, and those who abandon
them, while they may temporarily
succeed, in the end must go down. II
is the duty of an honest and earnest
Democratic paper to raise its voice
whenever the party leaders show
disposition to leave the straight path
1t is often troublesome to know JUS
how far to go and exactly what steps
to take, but it is never difficult to see
when the time arrives for decided &C
ton. Opposition may appear il
these Organs" that represent men ant
not methods and measures, but ulti
mately triumph comes, and the peo
pie, no longer blinded by per
sonal partyism recognize the worth 0
the true party paper. One such news
paper does more to advance the inter
ests of the Democratic party than an,
half dozen personal organs, no matte
how ably edited they may be. None
wasted upon such organs j
thrown away, while that which sus
tains the advocates of principles is lik
bread cast upon the waters. Tn
'long felt wants" always descend int
early graves. They are too utterl
too too for the people, who sustain tn
papers; they depend upon individual
who squeeze the lemon dry, and the
discard the rind.
OF all the exchanges received q
this sanctum none present a neate