The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-08-07
That Ugly Rumor' About Siftings.

Editor Statesman:
Our attention has been called to an
editorial. in a late issue of your paper,
under the caption of AN Ugly Ru-
NOR"
In the article referred to, you state
that it has been rumored-and you
fear the rumor may be true-that
Texas Slftlngs has sold its influence
to the republican party tor sum of
money.
We quote from your article
"Ihey have a cartoonist of wonderful power
and exquisite humor. and it is proposed by the
Slftlng- management, so it Is said, to loan him
ana the columns OF that paper to Blaine for the
campaign, for the sum OF 900 This comes
straight, and the further condition is to prevail
Tn IT SlEtinRS Is TO print 90, COO copies extra,
weekly, during the pending Of toe campaign
IL seems to US that toe bargain is a cheap one
TO the republicans, and if they have not lost all
their business acumen they will close with the
proposition withO t delay"
You go on to express your regret at
our mercenary action ETC., and you say
that you will do what you can to pre-
vent the circulation of SiftingS among
the people Of Texas. If you had had
any stronger grounds than "rumor"
for your belief that Sittings had sold
its influence, then, possibly, you might
have been justified in using such
strong language in denouncing our
alleged course. We think, however,
that it was hardly fair to fndict, try,
and sentence us without evidence, and
without a word from the defense.
We are surprised to find that any. one
familiar with Texes Siftings would
give credence to such rumor. The
most noted feature of Siftings has
been its independence in politics.
In our comments on public
measures, and on public servants and
their acts, we have always commend
ed what was good and deprecated
what was bad, regardless of party. We
are thoroughly alive to the fact that
much Of the success of the SlftlngS is
the result of its independence and the
unprecedented views it has always
taken of matters political, and that all
of Its influence, politically, is due
to the same cause. Therefore, we
agree with you that it would not pay
Siftings to become the organ of any
party "for $4,000, or for any other
sum-" No trade has been made by US
with any representative of the repub-
lican PARTY, and there is just as little
| possibility that we can be subsidized
by the democrats.
1t is not the province of Texas
Siftings to take the side of either
party. We intend to sit high up on
the fence and throw rocks at the bold
bad men in both parties, and we shall
continue to pOinI out the weak spots
| in the measures, and rub salt and
pepper into the raw places in the men
of both parties. With the same pen
Gil we shall write one article on the
need Of reform in the republican party,
and, in another, point out the damaged
condition of the sore-eyed goddess of
democratic reform; while our archi-
median lever will, with equal impair
TALLY, drop on the republican sore
toe and knock the democratic mug
wump off the track.
Should we be found at any time adj
vocating something that may be in
harmony with democratic doctrines, it
will be because we think that thing
right, not because it is democratic.
On the other hand, if some person or
thing that accords with republican
principles is endorsed by us, it will not
be because he or it is republican, but
because we think that such endorse
ment is in the interest of good and
honest government.
Whenever Texas Siftings ceases to
be independent, when it sells its infiu-
ence, or when it advocates anything
that will not be for the best interest
of the good people of TeXas, to whom
we owe so much, then will cease to be
at the head Of its editorial columns
the name of.
Yours respectfully,
SWEET & KNOX.