The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-04-03
The Texan Democracy.

A good many republicans and Il
pretty heavy sprinkliDg of loose
iointed democrats in this state persist
in loudly asseverating their belief that
the democratic party of Texas is con-
trolled and directed by set OF fools
sodden, long-eared asses; but history |
plays the very devil with the theory.
Ever since the day when rugged old
Coke stood up in the state house, and
declared that he was elected by the
people of Texas, and by God, he
meant that their will should be re-
spected, the democracy of Texas has
been skillfully-and what is far bet
ter-patriotically handled. OF course
mistakes have been made, as what
human policy which never errs? But
in the main wisdom, forbearance and
and judgment have been displayed.
Under its fostering care Texas has
sprung forward on her career, and
without any serious drawback or mis-
hap, has accomplished as much as any
state in the west. Not that alone; she
has done more. When people north
are told that we are working the state
with one hundred thousand demo-
cratic majority, they Immediately re-
cur to the old legend about the men
of Texas with broad-brimmed hats
with snakes for bands, and snakes
in their boots, cavorting over the
/ rairies on their mustangs shooting
down innocent and unprotected strang-
ers. They gloomily point to this &C
copied tale and dismally shake their
heads in dissent when the subject of
progress is mentioned. They are in a
line with those other Gods heads who
could never be persuaded that good
could come out of Nazareth. 1t is
really pititul to note their discount
ture when you meet them with the
interrogatory: "Do you think that a
state controlled by mounted de5pera-
does, who only kill and make the earth
bloody and hideous by their human
butcheries and demoniac yellings,
could in a few short years, ten at
most, spring from being the ninth to
e the first cotton producing state. y
But when you go on and ask: "Could
race of dominating desperadoes push
the state from an insignificant producer
Of live stock, and in the same time
Place herself at the very forefront of
the stock producing states of the
world their discontinue becomes
more painfully embarrassing. But the
climax is reached when you point to
the fact that thirteen years since
Texas had but one hundred and sixty
miles of railroad finished and in oper-
alton, whereas she is now the sixth
railroaI state in the Union, having
seven thousand miles operating lot
only that, but paying. Point to her
beautiful cities, grand churches
magnificent schools, colleges, uni
versities, her culture and her ac-
complisli me1ts, and ask if all these
surprisii g results could have been
worked cut by race of desperadoes
bloody, d-handed fiends of murder
and they stand dumb and voiceless
before you.
We say it frankly, that if the de-
mocracy of Texas is handled and con-
trolled by mossbackIsm, bourbonism
w prejudice and narrow policies, sc
long as it works out results such as
these we want to see the party hang
on to the traits. The Galveston News
and few others of its apish followers
complacently sheer and turn up theil
noses at the plainly-clad, rough
handed democracy, which refuses tc
lay down its two-thirds, or any other
tried and approved rule under which
this surprising general result has been
worked out. The democracy can, and
probably will complacently smile at
these things as long as it is able to
ask "can you do better?" and to chal.
lenge on it. The fashion of calling
the Texan democracy to the bar of
ONOAJ WV JCuAo W llCd1 q
reprimand upon its mossbacEism, will
rapidly fall into disuse from this out
The press of Texas is power
full, there is no doubt of it
but when it proposes to defect
the party from the right, and urge
the Nervousness of such crimes as the
progress we have indicated, as induce
ments, the papers stand before the
earnest rudely-clad heroes of progress
as dumb and as voiceleSs as are the
stone gods of prehistoric people,
now and then dug from the deep dark
depths of earth.
The democracy of Texas knows
itself to be patriotic, and it is just be-
ginning to be quit of the idea so long
drummed into it by the News and
papers of that ilk, that it should strike
a bee line for the nearest insane asy-
lum. 1t is waking up to the comfort
able assurance that it is not hopelessly
foolish, and with every days further
experience of this comforting belief.
1t grows in confidence and activity,
and as it grows, the two-thirds rule
flstens and deepens its hold upon the
affections of the party.