The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-10-21
TO THE POINT.
THE REPU EN- DENT
COALITION IN TRAVIS
COUNTY,
To the Statesman

The political situation presents the in.
teresting spectacle of a combination be-
tween the heretofore powerless republican
minority and ''tongue of dog and toe OF
frog" element which, in the absence OF
appropriate descriptive terms of classifi
cation in the political nomenclature, has
called itself independent.
An independent is a hybrid, cross be-
tween tickleness and ignorance-a putrid
"Reminiscences.
An ordinary republican is a man of fair
intentions, pleasant exterior, and a man
of some domestic virtue. He adheres to
the doctrine of his party because its prin-
ciples were promulgated by the genius of
a wise leader, and the government has
been seen to survive even amid the ex
IRENE Interpretation Of it's dogma. He
spurns the idea of compromise and plume:
himself upon his connection with u
party with history. A republican of this
type would deny relationship with So
called one, who would in ignominy and
slavish adherence coalesce with any indie
pendent movement.
We do not believe that in the race for
county officers that the Independents have
one single orthodox, republican or demo-
crat III their ranks.
1t is childish drivel to excuse apostasy
with the emphatic asseveration that one
has always heretofore voted the demo-
cratic or republican ticket. Then, per-
haps, apOs5asy could not be charged, but
now spite, envy, cuwardice, venom, the
sweet invitation to hold a petty Office, has
converted the pure and untainted member
of an honorable party, and his tenets are
pronounced from the mouth alone.
Independents have a perfect right to
become members of new parties, but
we deny that under the armor of consist
ent and constant republicans or demo-
Gratis they have right to march beneath
false banners.
Independents have the civil and relig-
ious right to form a new party, and call
it by any name which may be its choice,
but what charm has the old tried names
for a political sect, which, in the hour of
need deserts its party to gain victory
by harmonizing two elements which have
always professed inimical differences
Call yourselves Independents, but do not
hope to hoodwink the credulous by pre-
Tossing to be free from change of prin-
ciples. "Tell the truth and shame the
devil" Run your campaign on it's merits.
What sort of a republican would Roscoe
Conkling call DeGress?
How would Allen G. Thurman knit his
majestic brow to give apolitical name to
Ed Christian? He certainly would not
call him democrat.
There are democrats enough in this
country to elect their ticket but it will be
necessary that they shall ignore the i'm
portunites of those candidates who are
liberal in dispensing smiles and whisky
and promises. The present crisis warns
us that our party is beset by enemies
whose daggers are keen, and welded by
Italian hands. The foe turks behind Sc
cret ambush, and stikes in the dark De-
serters, whether they fled from their
country in the deadly search of civil con-
flict, or have been purchased by the gold
of federal Office since our happy recon-
struction, are to be watched, convicted
and then spurned.
Democrats are democrats, and indie
pendents are nondescripts. There is no
mistaking them.