The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-12-04
MALICIOUS FALsEHOoD.

The Austin correspondent of the
San Antonio Express, not its regular
correspondent, we are pleased to adj
NIT, gains admission to the columns
Of that paper simply to tell falsehood.
THE STATESMAN is the object of ma
licious attack. Because this paper
has given facts; because it tells of the
deficit that has occurred in state rev.
enue; because it tells that the once
comfortable cash balance, which
amounted in January, 1888, to
over 100000, has taken wings,
like prodigal riches, and
flown away; because we have not
kept quiet on a subject upon which
the public derives information, and
which the state revenue officer thinks
it proper to tell the truth about; be
cause THE STATESMAN has not remain
ed silent upon noted public question;
because, to sum it all up in simple
words, we have not deceived-not Ii
ed to the public-this correspondent,
whose ear marks are unmistakable,
whose utterances are by the
presence of falsehood, plays the
part of an inspired falsi-
fer, and thus imposes upon an unsus-
pecting agent of publicity to tell
what all who read THE STATESMAN
know to be utterly false. Vituper-
alton is INDUCED in, and the basis of
it all is made to rest upon declara-
ton reading as follows:
A few days ago THE STATESMAN
asserted that there is or. will be soon
deficiency in the state finances of
some 100000 or $4,000, and, by
implication at least, charged the as
sumed fact to the bad management
and want of foresight of the
governor.
1t appears foolish to reply to false
hood, and yet this Is not our purpose.
The STATESMAN does hot reply to a
thing so false, and notices it only be-
cause of the mischief making purpose
at it's bottom. 1t comes from a quar-
ter where falsehood is preferred to
truth, where misrepresentation and
malice are substituted for truth and
fairness. The STATESMAN, in referr-
ing to this deficiency, said:
A year ago the comptroller called
attention to the point that the state
was rapidly drifting into period of
deficiencies. Not long after the AL
calde became governor, tie "pay as
you go" policy was inaugurated, and
the cash balance to the credit of reye-
nue. was gradually augmented, until,
when ne retired from the executive
Office, there were $4,000 in cash on
hand to the credit of revenue. Other
sums made the cash balance in the
treasury about 100000. The school
tuDd has been invested, and the cash
balance to revenue has melted away
until not dollar is left, while the
comptroller announces def
cheney of $25O,OO0 exists, which must
be provided for. This sum, added to
the $4,000 already melted away,
makes $4,000, presenting "a con-
dition that is humiliating, though
by no means startling to any one who
has based his judgment on cold fig
ures, heretofore presented by the reve.
nue. officer of the state government.
After a calm and dispassionate re-
view of the situation year ago, Mr..
Swain said such deficiency as is
now apparent would be the result.
The idea was booted by other admin
istrative officers, and the legislature, as
sured that the probability, as present.
ed by the comptroller, was constrain-
ed conclusion, could not be
realized. Time has shown that the
revenue officer was correct in his