The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-04-24
A Note or Alarm.

THE STATESMAN is no alarmist. |
Neither is it nervous or fearful. 1t
has earnest and honest views on all
questions of public policy, and it does
not count noses before it announces.
A thing is either right or wrong with
it. Right it supports; wrong it OPP
poses, and the question of the rela-
tive strength of the two sides cuts
no figure in the matter
with us. 1t has been so with us with
regard to the two-thirds rule. The
principle is correct; its policy is sound.
We have never seen it attacked but
for some Interior and unfrank pur-
pose, and we felt perfectly assured
that time would develop the I'M
derlying causes of the late
fierce assault made upon it
in this state. or course the habit OF
opposing the rule has grown to be
chronic with the Galveston News.
That goes without saying, but we
have felt all along that there was
something behind the fierce assaults
of the Gazette and other alert and
able papers. We could see no ade-
quate cause for their earnest and per-
sistent warfare upon policy, a rule
which has stood the severest tests for
over half century. We have it in
the explanation which we gave Sun
day morning under the caption OF
what 1t Means" We have long
suspected such purpose. 1t is the only
explanation. The only reasonable
and common-sense explanation of the
persistent and fierce assaults up
on a rule which has grown to
be as much a part of
the general platform Of principles of
the democratic party as is tariff re-
form, civil service reform and econo-
omyin the public expenditures. Texas
Is an immense empire no less in terri
tory than in the mass of her produc
lions. Many alluring and plausible
arguments in favor of division may be
made. 1t would be worse than moon
struck folly to deny this. The discus
sion can never be choked off, nor car
1t be hooted out of court. We will bt
called upon often to meet it in the flu
ture, and woe be to the friends of indi
visibility if they are not better prepar'
ed than they would be by a reliance
alone. upon sentiment-the grand
sentiment which would preserve
intact to our children the imperial
heritage given to us by our glorious
fathers. This is indeed the iron age
Business considerations-and by these
we mean politics as well as business
rule everything these days. Before
them sentiment cannot stand for ;
moment. Policies planted alone upor
the preferences or the prejudices, with
or and shrivel up before business con
siderations as do the tender pets of the
parterre before the hoar frosts Of
| winter.
The numerical superiority OF nortf
Texas is known and conceded
If that section determines to urg'
that advantage and to stand upo1
it, we can do nothing but sub
NIT. The only safeguard tn,
other sections of the state would hav,
would be the blessed old, much dis
pissed and fearfully assaulted TIVE
thirds rule. These people know thi
well, and hence they bring horse, foo
and dragons to its assault. One re
pulse does not dismay them, They
rally like scared veterans and noun
the breach again and again. The
are adroit and guileful. They under
stand how to bring over the waveriIi
and the doubtful. They skillfull
force the neutrals to act if not as pos
tive forces, as negative breakwater
or passive Notifications behind whicl
they marshal all the forces OF
posed to the unity Of the state ant
in favor Of its ACKNOWLEDGMENT
There is not leading and active pol
tician in north Texas who does no
know that opposition to the two
thirds rule there means just that the
mean to control the convention IN il
interests. And not one of them bu
who knows that that step is but tn
entering wedge to that dismember
ment which would make Fort Wort
the capital of new state and multi
ply the opportunities for the poliJics
preferment for her people very vastl!
Are we ready to commence this work
Has the time arrived when Texa
is ready to part with the prestig
which her widely extended border
gives to her? Is she ready to say tina
the men of the Alamo, and of Goliad
of San Jacinto and San Felipe, wer
mere dreamers and enthusiasts
their sacrifices for Texas were bu
oblations to the cause OF destruction
and dismemberm emit.
We plead earnestly with democrat
to pause in their purpose of destroy
lag this, one of the most venerabl
ard conservative of the party safe
guards. We are not situated noy
so that we can safely exper
ment with matters of this kline
I Destroy the two thirds rule and tn
nomination made at Houston will
represent but meagre majority G
the delegates, and perhaps but a pitt
full minority of the democratic votin
rank and file. The provoeation for
race against the nominee by hi
nearest contestant will be strong, an
in the bitterness engendere6 by tn
circumstance, Wash Jones steps upo
the scene and is governor of Texas fo
at least one term if not for NOR
These are the things inevitably boun
up in this discussion of the two third
rule business, and it is folly to longe
ignore or deny it.