The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-05-01
The Trick of Division.

'dpIlOu Ol n MUG VI A1dIul. DIiSuO
md flashing as the wit undeniably is,
yet the attempt to confront the delib-
,rately taken position of the STATES
IAN is most lame indeed. The weak
less appeals most strongly to our
The only thing which re-
leems a weak cause from utter con-
,empt is a strong. fight in its behalf,
IN unfrank struggle for an Interior or
concealed purpose, rarely succeeds,
never in the west when it is uncov-
cred in time. There is hardly paper
n North Texas, which has not at
in its career advocated di-
vision, usually very early in its career.
We all remember that when the pres
ent management of the Herald went
in, it could hardly breathe for the ar
dor of its aspirations to split the
heritage of our father" square in the
and to build up out of the
northern half the model common
wealth of the west. We are not
with the Gazette's early
throes on this head, but presume they
were equally severe, but possibly
more artisticallY and prudently
At all events, its pres
ent raid is one of far diff
ferent order. 1t is dangerous, because
it is a flank movement, and it
may succeed, because the opponents
Of division do not realize the danger
which turks in the concealed purpose,
the disguised end sought. We do not
pay the intelligence of the Gazette or
of Fort Worth the poor compliment
of saying that they merely blundered
or stumbled upon this matter. The
adroit and dangerous battle the Ga
zette has made for the fell purpose so
far, puts that theory to flight and re-
flutes it gracefully ere the charge is
Then there is nothing
left but to examine the evident
purpose, and the means used to for
ward it.
Every attempt at division so far
has come from that section of
the state. Anything which fosters
or stir5 up sectional feeling
or purposes even when confined inside
the lines Of single political organiza.
ton, but feeds this thought, strength
ems, it may be, this purpose of ulti-
mate division. The Gazette does not
attempt to meet our statement of the
relative strength of the two sections
of the state assembled together in
1t is, as we said Sunday,
north Texas will have from twenty
two to twenty-Seven votes majority,
and she will use them without doubt
if the bare majority rule obtains. This
will constitute the first break for di-
vision. The democratic party Is the
state and its policy is the policy Of the
state. Its acts, even in nominating
are the acts of the state
only lacking the formality of legisla-
ton to make them binding and that
always follows promptly when the
succeeding legislature meets. The
wiping out of the two-thirds rule and
the adoption of the bare majority sub
stitute means something. 1t isn't
mere idle play. 1t is not attempted
for mere amusement and pastime. 1t
has an object. What is it? Alas !
we very greatly fear The STATESMAN
has already stated it fully and ex-
plicitly. The people of Texas, acting
in the capacity of a democratic nomi-
mating convention, are called upon to
say if they will subscribe to a policy
which leads in the direction of ulti-
mate division. Divided in the
way proposed by the Gazette
the first step is made. We divide
the political sentiment, and the act
the purpose follows
surely, fatefully. This is
matter which ought not to be laughed
at or phoo phooed out ofcourt. We do
not fear the result If once the people,
even of North Texas, are aroused to
the purpose of the adroit and skill
fully concocted scheme. We know
hose people well, and know that there
are many of the old heroes of the
early struggles against savagery in
that section, who would contemplate
the move with horror. But how are
hey to meet it when the purpose is so
,killfully concealed as it is in this
case ?
Mr.. Ireland is strong in north
Texas only because there is as yet
no opposition to him. A
half dozen men could be named who
we're either to be brought out in dead
would beat the sage of Sc
yuin and win a majority of the votes
from north Texas. His excellency is
200 astute and adroit to make the
mistake of writing himself down as
me only one and single favorite of
north Texas. AT present he only
holds his footing there by reason of
,he prospective advantages he will
nave to confer, or by those he has al
ready conferred. Let it be known that
/ mere majority would place this
in the hands of a north
Texas man, a home-ruler, as it were,
md take it home to their own door
,ards and would not the north Texans
,e asses indeed did they not reach for
tt They are not asses. On the con-
rary, they are shrewd, wide-awake,
.lert and nervy, brainy men. They
spire not only to party rule, but to
eparate state sovereignty, and they
would abrogate the two-thirds rule as
necessary first step.
The Gazette's declarations as to
What it would or would not do, were
he mythical state Oh Longhorn al
eady established, are very frank,
enerous, ingenious and touchingly
innocent and confiding, but we sub
nit that they are not arguments, and
ve don't have to pay attention to
hem.
Active Republicanism.
As usual the republicans are in the
eld first. From all parts of the |
United States come the clangor of |
A