San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-02-25
TRUE FRIEND TO TEXAS.

friend, but the kisses of an enemy are
deceitful." The Houston Post Is cor
daily commended to this saying in
passing criticism upon the motives
and utterances of the LIGHT. The
Post denies the statements made by
this journal concerning the condition
of the cOlOred voters in Washington,
Fort Bend and Wharton counties, but
the denial is made in the face of testl-
mony sworn to before the courts, and
is not accepted as valid. So far as
the LIGHT being mo friend to Texas
is concerned, the work of that journal
Is upon record. Outside of the
coun ties mentioned the colored
voters of Texas are so far in the
minority that any position they
might take would avail little,
and there is no Interference.
The Post can stir up no feeling
against the LIGHT by crying political
incendiarism against it. aud declar-
ing that its editer is a northern man,
recently arrived at the south, whose
knowledge of political matters is very
limited and whose prejudices do not
admit of his forming an honest
opinion. The years spent at the south
do not figure, but if they did the
editor of the LIGHT could show
residence in North Carolina, Tenn
essee and Missouri as well as Texas
covering more years among the south.
ern people than the Post has any
knowledge of. That matter does not
count. The LIGHT has alwas conced-
ed to Texas, outside fits black belt,
far greater freedom of expressed OPP
inion than is accorded in any other
state; and, in southwest and west
and northwest Texas a liberty that
leaves nothing to be desired. All
the same, when the LIGHT was chal-
lenged to name n single county
in Texas in which there was sup
pressed ballot or where cOlored re-
publican had not absolute liberty, he
named three. Now, because the
LIGHT will not retract, the old cry of
being a northern man is raised, and
ignorance and republican prejudice is
charged, and the intimatiOn made
that only by southern clemency is
the LIGHT permitted to express its
opinions. This journal is not preju- |
diced against the south. 1t believes |
IN southern possibilities, in southern |
progress, and that the great body of
the southern people are inclined to
consider the situation rs fairly as the |
difficulties of the race problem will |
permit. But, this journal speaks the |
truth, and it can afford to and it can
not he dragooned into servility. The |
personality of the Posts article con-
Germs no one. The years spent i'll the
south have taught the LIGHT editor |
that it must expect just such at
tacks as are daily made upon |
it in Texas, 50 long as it |
expresses an opinion at variance with |
the general run of democratic senti-
ment. The Post is kindly reminded
that it is not the expression OF ali
opinion by the LIGHT that will hurt |
} exas and prevent her development,
but the very facts of which the LIGHT !
complains and which are telegraphed |
to the northern papers by the press
correspondents of Texas, not one Of
which kilograms has ever emanated
from the LGHT office. When the !
Post charges the LIGHT with SANDER
ing southern democrats the Post per-
mits its prejudices and antmosities to
override its truthfulness, and when
it says that the freedom of expression
INDUCED in 10y the LIGHT III Texas
would imperl mans life at the
north, the Post simply displays its
absolute and unqualified Ignorance of
that concerning which it speaks.
The LIGHT speaks always the words
of truth and soberness on matters
municipal and political. 1t is
not the LIGHT that is furnish
ing political capital for Ingalls, il is
the record of political intimidation i'll
the counties referred to, which has
been sworn to before congressional in
Vestigating committees and In the
courts--it is this which makes capt.