San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1885-10-01
The Editorial Course ofthe Free Press =
Why II Speaks 0nt ON Questions OF
Public Interest.

ouiIor bobbihb UP III hihiooii "hhoo'
finds it incumbent upon him TO rise
and explain. In our case we feel that
such explanation may be the more
appropriate, because, since we came
to Texas, until within less than two
years past, we pursued a less pro-
nounced course than we do now, espe
cially as regards the great questions
Of Temperance ard other similar re-
forms. The reason will be indicated
by the statement of few facts.
We came here with the purpose Of
going into some other business, but
found it expedient to resume the old
vocation. But being stranger in a
strange land, we felt thatit was but pro-
per that we should not be in haste to
take an active part in public matters.
Our political position, it is true, was
decided from the first, and had been
for some two years before our coming +;
buta regards local measures and men,
or merely social topics, for the reason
given we had but little to say.
It was under this state of facts that
the first election on the question of
local option in this county came off.
We were known then as now, as theo-
retically and practically a temperance
man. Such being the fact, we then
thought that if we held the balance
even as between the friends and OPP
ponents of the measure, giving both u
hearing through our columns, announ-
cling our own position, but not actually
engaging in the discussion, it was all
that could reasonably be expected of
us. We accordingly pursued this
course throughout that contest. By
our present light we see clearly that
our reasoning then was more plausi-
BILE than sound, and that we failed to
do our whole duty on that occasion.
There were yet other reasons why
we failed to enter actively into similar
contests during the period referred
to, and for some years later. Our
time was fully occupied in the rath-
err doubtful contest for livelihood
for our responsibilities and our
self, while at the same time we were
overshadowed by the dark clouds of
domestic bereavement, so that Or
binary concerns became to us largely
subjects of indifference.
After having lived through this dark
period, however, and become almost an
" old settler" we could see no reason
why we should not have our "say
about matters of public interestin this
country, as we had been accustomed
to do elsewhere in former years, in
accordance with what we have always
recognized as the right and duty of
public journalist. And when, on the
night of the 18th of January, 1854, a
horrid murder was perpetratedin one
of our saloons, we shared in the gen
eral shock experienced in this commu-
nifty, and received an awakening to
the gigantic, all devouring evils of
this system of public drinking, which
has to large extent impelled us to
our subsequent course. Others, more
nearly connected with that tragedy,
nay become unmindful of the lesson
hen and there given-we can never
10 so. And we confess it is perfect
y amazing and astounding to us, that
my man, remembering that occasion,
IAN approach that blood stained
oar, without having that awful
icene rise again before his mental
'ision, and impel him to turn in hor-
or from the spot. And yet take
he country over, such scenes are but
very day incidents in saloon life.
The greater part of our life is in
he past and with a feeling sense of
Is many errors and shortcomings, we
now of no better way of making
mends for the past than by striving to
10 our duty better in the present and
uture. Seeking no Office, or other
Iorldly gain, why should We not be
rue to conscience and what we re-
ard the best interests of our fellow
FEATURES, by at least speaking "a
FORD in season.
In the path of duty alope is to be
ound that "peace which passeth un-
erstanding." Our venerable poet
Whittier. in one of his poems, gives ex-
ression to our thought on the sub
ct so much better than we could
urself, that we copy the greater por-
on Of it below: h,
THE REWARD. II
Tho. looking backward from hismNnbooi's
prime.
ses not the spectre q his missTeui time (; :
AMI, through The SHADE
4 furar.I IL. r.l.rta.l fhirE h.lirl