Weekly Democratic Statesman. (Austin, Tex.), Vol. 5, No. 8, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 16, 1875 Page: 1 of 4
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THE STATESMAN.
TIIE IXAJL1VV
p -A 111 hod er7 morning except Moods.
THE WEKKT.Y
pobllbed every Thunday morniiiR.
Ail bu.lne curreapuiuiUittca conifoanl tt n etc
thou Id be dtroed to
JOHN CABDWBtln
Kmrin. Tia
TUB SABBATH.
"Remember the Sabbath day to keep it
holy." Thi is tbe Divine injunction given
to man amid tbe fires and thunder of Sinai.
It is Jehovah's awful command to the wea..
aud erring of earth. Thi morn the S-ib-bath
bells are ringing throughout the Chris-
tian world; the bells the deep toned
chorcb bells inviting the little children to
Sabbath school in every hamlef village and
city throughout the land where the word
of the merciful Father and the lore of tbe
Saviour ia taught. Inviting saint and sin-
ner to those sanctuaries where tbe way of
salvation is made plain and the glories of
futurity to those who love God and obey
Ilia commandments like beautiful visions
are nnvmled to fill the heart with rejoicing
and make glad the weary. How like Dead
sea fruits tuft ted but to turn to ashes on the
lips are the schemes the baubles the am-
bitions and tbe poor bitter pleasures of
this life beside the crowns the realms aud
the joys of eternity that are the inherit-
ance of "those who die in the Lord."
"Remember the Sabbath day to keep it
holy." Picnics junketings excursions
and all the worldly things that make na for-
get God and God's mercy are infractions of
the letter and spirit of the law. The mere
attendance upon church services ia not all
that ia required. For those who go there
to see and be seen the young men and the
old who go only because it ia respectable to
do so the young women who go to show
their pretty ribbons their lace handker-
chiefs and twenty dollar bonnets and to see
what that Sonhronia StuckuD has on. and
if Tabitha Gabbletongue wears that same
old blue silk are in no wise benefited by
what tbe preacher says. The seed thit
is sown falls on atony places and barren
tpots and it takes no root. The mind and
the heart are both unbent -fited. Tlie one be-
comes tilled with thing of the earth earthy
aud the other imbued with the vanity of
vanities bitterur.H covetousuuas and un-
charitableness. Such keeping of the Sab-
bath day holy mitkea the angels weep in
sadness while it tills the heart of the devil
with iflue and niken him lling double
shuffles of delight. The sume bells that
ring out ho gladly each Sabbath morn toll
in solemn notes above the funeral cortege.
"Remember the Sabbath day to keep it
holy." Ifouaton Telegraph.
We are affected even unto tears when
we remeuiler that the truly good man ho
wrote the above and who with touching
puthos pleads w.th bis hearers to "Remein
ber the Sabbath day aud keep it holy" ha
never in the course of his whole life kept a
single Sabbath nor refrained from its regu-
lar weekly violation. How thta Apostolic
man can reconcile his precepts with bis
practice we are unable to explain but tbe
fact is as we have stated. While he is thuH
thrill'tngly eloquent npon the soul-destroying
effects of Sabbath-breading he is and
boa always been a consistent persistent
Sabbath-breaker. None of the uncircum-
sized Gentiles whether Phillistine A male -
kite Moabite Ammonite Ilittite or Ilivite
has kept the law of the Sabbath less than be
The text of Scripture from which our
reverend brother of the Telegraph quotes is
commonly known as the fourth of the com
mands given at Mount Sinai to the Jews
and it goes on to tell which day the Sab
bath day is and hou it is to be kept holy.
As our saintly friund does not appear to be
very familiar with the Bible we will repeat
the commandment' to show how strangely
contradictory have been tbe teachings and
actions of this truly pious man : " Remem-
ber the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Si
days shalt thou labor and do all thy work ;
but tho sevenh day is the Sabbath of the
Lord thy God : in it thou shalt not do any
work thou nor thy son nor thy daughter
nor thy nifo-servsnt nor thy maid servant
nor thy cattle nor the stranger that is with-
in thy gates." Saturday is the particular
day assigned by this commandment tor
Sabbath observance and the children of
Israel to whom the command was given
have always so observed it and do to this
day by resting from work on Saturday
and holding their synagogue worship-
There is one and only one weekly Sab-
bath enjoined described or in the least
alludud to in the whole Bible whether He-
brew or Christian the Saturday Sabbath.
No other day is bo designated; ne other
day can be the Bible Sabbath. Does the
pious oditor of the Telegraph keep Saturday
as a Sabbath t If not then we grieve to
ssy that this truly good and venerable man
is a Sabbath-breaker since he neglects the
very thing enjoined by that commandment
the keeping of the seventh day Saturday
as a Sabbath. But the commandment re-
quires something more. "Six days sbalt
thou labor and do all thy work." Thus this
eloquent moralist is doubly a violator of
the fourth commandment neither resting
on Saturday the seventh day aa it enjoins
nor working on Sunday the first day
which it equally enjoins. In the course of
a somewhat lengthened editorial career we
have seldom been called npon to chronicle
a more saddening illustration of human
frailty. This eminent and holy mat actu-
ally quotes to others as binding a law
which he himself openly disregards and
violatM iu all its parts. Let him hence-
forth comprehend that neither Jesus nor
any Apostle nor any New Testament writer
enjoins Sabbath-keeping and that in the
Christian system there is no such thing as
Sabbath-breaking; for where no Sabbath is
to be observed there is no Sabbath to be
violated.
The high-toned Christian of the Telegraph
baa been so intensely engaged during the
last year in the unprofitable task of reading
the Statesman out of the Democratic party
that he baa become rather rusty in religious
matter otherwise be might have learned
that ChritiniT- Jom vjx nrt a Ay
for religion; but it doe aotnethiug much
better; it requires that we apply religious
principle to the labor and rest and recrea
lion of every day. It teaches voluntary obe-
dience iu all the details of the business of
life to w4iat is understood to be the will
of God. The Heavenly Fattier desires of us
daily obedieuce instead of weekly cere-
monies and professions. If the daily life
ia selfish frivolous or vicious a Sunday cer
emony added to it will not help the matter
The thing needed la to rvform the daily
life and to tpplj ourselves trjr daj la the
week to the work of reformation. - The
Sabbatical ordinance of tbe Old Testament
were made for Jews and for Jews only and
to imit upon them now to please God
seenis t- a a 'much of blunder as the old
Jewish fashion of periodically setting hot
ore) and roast veal bw.xje him. - The New
Testament leaves' 'he ue-s of Sunday just as
much to the choice of each person aa those
of Monday. Therefore he who demands
or another special acta or rpeciat omlwiona
a the Christian duty of Sunday of who re-
bukes another for acts or omissions oa that
day which would be right on any other day.
makes of himself a one-horse Pope and seta
m a claim of lordsbi p over God's heritage.
So fax M the customary observances of Sun-
da are Rood accordant with reason suited
to promote me weii- "
let them be '.inued on those ground.
VOL. V.
Let ua keep such of the Sunday customs as
are salutary leeaute they are salutary ; and
of this sort are rest recreation tbe social
meeting of relatives and friends and public
as '"Mage for religious instruction. In
this way all classes can have benefit from
the common freedom each obtaining tbe
particular solace ha requires undisturbed
by the fact that other are differently em-
ployed. Those who want ceremonies f
worship can assemble for that purpose in
tbe churches; those who want rebgious in-
struction can meet for that purpose ; those
who want simply rest or social enjoy
ment can stay at home; those who want
quiet recreation abroad can seek it. While
if any one chooses to spend that day in giv-
ing help physical mental or spiritual to
the many wbo are in need he will have
made tbe best use of Sunday the
best use .whether he shall have spent it
in sawing wood for the sick widow or in
taking poor children out into tbe country
for recreation or in explaining the love of
God to one wbo has been left in doubt and
darkness by tbe preaching of some theology
of the lachrymose bilious and dismal sort
such as from time to time gives spells of
spiritual colic to tbe godly man of the Tele
graph. 1
NORTH
AND SOSJTH SOCIAL CON
BMTIONS.
The New York Herald says that " the
condition of affairs in the mining regior
ot Pennsylvania is deplorable. Murder
stalks red-banded through the couDtry and
men are shot down in broad daylight by
the agents of a powerful secret association
that rules over tbe Uvea of all the inhabi-
tants. Such a state of thinga is disgrace-
lul to our civilization and we are glad to
see that the frequency with which these
Crimea are committed is arousing a general
spirit of indignation among the law-respecting
portion ot the con muni ty. If the peo
pie will only take the matter earnestly in
hand they can cure tbe evil."
With this little paragraph the Herald dis-
poses of facts which if they affected any
of the Gulf States would give employment
to a corps of special correspondents. Grant's
intervention would be invoked and maitial
litw proclaimed. But those fellows knocked
on the head are only white men and the
only irreparable calamity that can befall an
individual is to be born white. Lamar and
General Gordon fall in with the passion of
the hour and would pave the way to uni-
versal blackuess or an universal haziness.
The Herald closes its brief but suggestive
article on the desperate condition of affairs
in wide districts of Pennsylvania with this
sentence:
" Besides this trouble among the miners
gives the speculators a chance to run up the
prices iaf fuel and so beat heavily upon the
poor everywhere."
Plainly enough if the murder of these
white fellows didn't augment the cost of
c ml the Herald would nsver have adverted
to the subject. The very next editorial
paragraph of the Herald is significant of the
fact that however terrible and deplorable
the condition of affairs in Mississippi soci
ety is in no bettsr condition in New York.
The Herald says:
" Murder in the slums of the city is be-
coming so frequent that killing must soon
be looked on in the light of a slight offense.
It is certain that the rough element of our
population no longer look npon murder as
anything more than a venial sin against pub-
lic morality. On the slightest provocation
the knife is brought into requisition with
the most deadly results. Something must
be done by the courts to stop this wholesale
covardly assassination."
The posthumous advantage arising from
generosity to newspaper men is well illus
trated in facts incident to Ralston's death.
Creditors of his bark and officers have sought
in vain to derogate from his worth and
blacken his name. Even George Alfred
Townsend does not forget "poor" Ralston's
generous boundless hespitahty and the
newspapers are building a monument to
Ralston more enduring and prouder far
than he dreamed of erecting even when he
proposed to beautify and enrich the coun
try and city he deemed his own and such as
was never reared save by mightiest mon-
arena. Ralston is one of the few debtors
who dying lives immortal in that he is
lauded as all others like him have been
cursed as infamous and simply because the
press will not be silenced and continues to
bed lustre upon his deeds and virtues.
Most men expect to die and they who
would live after death should not forget
the lesson taught by Ralston's deeds and
posthumous luck. Deal generously with
the newspapers is the one great lesson
taught by Ralston's life and death.
People are having a free fight on the
usury question. Wegive an excellent letter
on this subject this morning and part of
ita excellence consists in its brevity. Words
mean something and are worth printing
when "Josh" slings them around. 4 . Of
his philosophy others may speak. Another
correspondent writing of this subject says:
"The question is whether laws on the sub
ject should not be fised by the Legislature
and whether the Constitutional Convention
can properly do more than say that the rate
of interest shall be regulated by law. Dur
ing the next twenty or fifty years the neces-
aitiea of trade and abundance and scarcity
of money may be greatly different at differ'
ent periods and tbe .Legislature it any
agency of power changeful in purpose with
changeful necessities of the .country should
rrgulate rates of interest." We propose to
lot every body talk th chooses on this QUes
tion if they will only write as briifly and
sensibly aa these two correspondents
GEN. . W. MOMGAN SHE SOLDIER
STATESMAN OP CUIO.
In a private letter of the sixth instant.
Gen. G. W (Cumberland Gap) Morgan the
truest Democrat of Ohio sayt:
"Texas occupies a warm place in my- af
lections. I entered ber service as a private
soldier at aixteea. and held a captain's com-
mission at eighteen. I was personally ac-
quainted with ber leading soldiers and
statesmen sad nave never Knows s nooier
body of men."
Very certainly the heroes of Texan history
never were lauded by a irenUemaa whose
own worth makes his assertions mors vain
able to tho fans of those whom o com-
meads and there would be a singular pro-
priety In having Geni Morgan address the
veterasa of Texas at their next convccMi m
at the Stats Fair la this pity. - - V J
v Govksxo Amu doeaat deny ths asser
tion ot Laited states District Attorney
Wells that Ames deliberately planned and
desired tee aiangnter or negroes six or
eight months . ago is Yickaborg Ames
thought it s good thing for ths party sad
if Grant's re-election require it there wiil
be tea thousand blacks pat to death before
the next Fresldntil elecftoa. ; ;-
Tin: woes of Borrow mow a
KOCTIIEBM STANDPOINT.
The condition of the Gulf States as af-
fected by the poverty of the people by
tbe impossibility of obtaining advances on
crops as in former years and tbe universal-
ity of petty depredations committed; by
hungry negroe these are facta that be-
get enmities and discontent thus giving
origin to collisions that will be continuous
and irrepressible. It is "also true that in
counties and towns in which the negroes
are absolutely omnipotent the white people
are impatient of incurable poverty wrought
by thieves invested with office by the s'.u-
pid blacks. In New England it is all very
well if the cx-planter'a estate is practically
confiicated by tbe ex-slave. It it quite
pleasing in New England that po.-erty is
made the law and comfort and decency tbe
exception in wide negro-populated districts
of Mississippi Alabama Georgia and South
Carolina. But it so happens that the whiie
people of these impoverished counties see-
ing no hope for themselves and that it is
quite impossible to make their own condi-
tion worse are more than willing to have
military masters substituted for thieves and
knaves placed in office by the blacks.
Therefore the evils of which Senator Al-
corn has been talking are perhaps incurable.
We do not know how tamely New Eogland-
vrs would submit if tbe descendants of
the negroes they sold .. the South were
shipped back to Boston to supplant GaS-
toua Quincys and other mayors of the
ancient captital or how well Boston would
be pleased if tbe very dregs of Southern
society were sent thither to shape the offi-
cial political action of Africans in posses-
sion of the Hub. We are much inclined to
think that Winthropa and Appletons and
Parkers and Lawrences would become ex-
ceedingly "rebellious" and ' that Governor
Gaston would be forced to call on Grant for
assistance in the maintenance of 'order and
quiet even in the patriotic precincts of Fan-
euil Hall. But it is ourtx that is gored
and not theirs of New England and there
is no help for Africanized districts of the
South save in tbe substitution of military
despotism for negro despotism and the white
people prefer bayonets to blacks. There have
been disturbances begotten solely for the
purpose we doubt not of precipitating the
President's intervention. State rights and
State freedom would signify nothing to
Bostonians if a negro rabble managed the
city making property on Washington and
Tremont streets valueless and investing so-
iety iu all its aspects with such disgusting
features that strangers entering the city
turned away in horror. . Would Boston
weep if Grant sent soldiers commanded by
white men and by educated gentlemen to
subvert the established black system in Bos-
ton? Why does not Senator Alcorn present
the plain facts and why should' Lainar and
Gordon go thundering vapid nonsense be
fore the million. Lamar has just reached
conclubions and asserted purposes for the
announcement of which eight years ago
Alcorn was proposed to be denied ad-
mission to a Southern city and now
Gordon and Lamar cling to the .vain
delusion that unity and peace ' would
be possible in Boston if Timbuctoo were
set up in absolute supremacy in tbe old
State House on Kins street. Mr. Attor
ney-General Pierrepont and Secretary Fish
need not go through the senseless forms of
consultation about it. There will and can
be and should be no peace in Boston. Let
the soldiers be sent forward at once. Let
the statehood of Massachusetts sacred as it
is in the eyes of those who were taught from
childhood to revere memories that Peter
Parley embalmed in our hearts wonderful
as were the deeds and w4sdom of the patri
ots of the venerable commonwealth let
them disappear that Timbuctoo may ravage
Boston and that savagery may supplant civ-
ilization and that the bfack may become
partially white. We pity Boston but "hu-
manitarianism" demands the sacrifice and
the troops must move upon Boston. . :
We have stated the facts as they are
save that "Boston" is substituted where the
word "Mississippi" should occur and we
speak of that which we do know that how-
ever terrible the calamity to other states
the sooner Missi sippi ceases to exist and
becomes in fact and in form a satrapy gov-
erned by military masters in substitution
for negroes and carpet-baggers the butter
for the hapless white people. They would
not bring down upon other communities
wo?s that befall themselves but when one
starwhether Massachusetts or Mississippi
is stricken from its place in the galaxy of
states the reign of darkness has begun and
the splendor of the heavens is slowly but
surely dimmed forever. ' We see to-day the
beginning of the end.
President Walker . of the Alabama
Constitutional Convention among other
things advises the restriction of the powers
of bounty courts to create county indebted-
ness.. The absolute necessities of counties
cannot be foreseen and their- deprivation
of power is as nowise as the same conduct
toward states by Congress The true pol
icy is to leave- counties free but restrict
suffrage in them to freeholders. This pol-
icy saves wide ' districts of Texas from
final desolation by blacks and towna and
counties everywhere from absolute ruin at
the hands of that wandering white rabble
which invades flourishing communities.
By this restriction of the elective franchise
inxuintjr and COruuratc clcctiovta tha aorth-
era counties give perfect security to tbe
southern and western and. the 'unity bf
Texas is made perpetual. If the north da
not save the south in this and in ths elec-
tion of a judiciary the - unity of Texas
avails ths Booth and southwest nothing
and tbe subdivison of the Stats becomes
inevitable. No constitution can long exist
operative over such broad domains sad
over people of suchwidely diverse habits
pursuits and interests that does not give
ail these remote peoples tbe broadest local
freedom. The .Constitution caaao. espe-
cially ia this broad eatpirs safely. lodge
ths legislative power of counties ta the
State Legislature oive inem on ine con
trary perfect local freedom bat suuec oaJj
those to govern coaaties who srs citiai
sad personally Interested ia their wll-bo-ing.'
Restrict suffrage in local elections ia
Texas and the best populations of al ths
old States will be attracted and the worst
repelled and then municipal IreeUom may
be oeriect.
' Thk Hockdaie Mieqer says th big
casta of ths TcUgrapk flopa abool md lt2ni
with ths Statksjca ia iu claws." ! may
bs so. bat if teas tho Ttteyrmpk Is liks ths
ifeaenger mtn. It has mors genius In its
lia thkn its head-" It's th beat-heeled
rooster is. ths Stats..' ; . .. t i
SIH6IK1TIG STATESMAN
AUSTIN TEXAS THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 1G 1875.
HAUPER A
FOB
BROS.' "QCKEK CALL
A CONTENTION.
IIari-tr'$ Weelfy discussing the negro
conspiracy in Georgia says tbe negroes
have been "mor inh-iaanly degraded !
oppressed and ' contemptuously mistrusted
than any class1 or rare They v ere slaves
more wretched than any aav those of
Dahoiuey victims of a slavery more mon
strona than any other and yet were- docile
and harmless.' Do not the Harpers know
that they only saw the institution in the
South as described by Mrs. Stowe and by
those Who made bread and money and won
office by exaggerating every:eyllAIdeBf4
of Ttnr-T-TT.'nn m. roa d
j e
no greater social crimes or evils came of it
than are incident to slavery in great manu-
facturing establishments of New England.
Jesus Christ lived in the midst of dmJol-
slavea and though the WneJdy before ns
states that "God has no attribute that could
take sides with the slaveholders n Be surely
when He assumed the shape of God on
earth manifested in the flesh so attribute
that condemned slavery or proposed its ex-
tinction. The blessed ' "Weekly is not only
infinitely more' philanthropic ' and' senti-
mental than our Savior but refers to the
"unspeakable .dread"' of the Georgian -ex-slaveholder
when he "thought his victims
the f reedmen were about to settle a long
accumulated debt ot vengeance." It hap
pens n the contrary that no Georgian
ever deumed himself responsible for the existence-
of slavery. ' He found the institu-
tion created by Boston and Providence a
good Dutchman now and then importing a
cargo Oi ?groes established for him
and he never knew how to get rid of
it with Safety to both races. That
was the great difficulty and nobody
believes that the sword successfully cut the
Gordian knot. Recent events in Georgia
And in three or four districts of Mississippi
where blacks as in the Georgia district
outnumber the whites as two and even five
to one show .that Iincoln'a scheme of beni-
ficence as put in operation may prove ruin-
ous alike to states and races obliterating
at last all traces of American freedom.
Not only did the Dutch and Harper &
Bros' fathers fasten slavery on America
and not only are they responsible for all
crimes and enormities of the system and we
only for personal wrongful acta of each of
us who were slaveholders but when Harper
& Bros and their shrewd but exceedingly
good fathers the New England and other
slaveholders found the Africaa slave trade
a property profitless and hired help"
cheaper because only needed on New Eng-
land farms two'or four months each .year
thev enacted prospective. emanciDation
a.ws and before negroes tastd liberty sold
the last of them to Virginia; .Maryland the
Carolinas and Georgia. They topk gold
and we Sambo and as usually happens the
Yankee got the better of the bargain. This
is an old story and there is another as full
of truth which the Harpers should print now
and then. They are good Methodists exceed-
ingly devout and love . to print the truth
and would not do gross wrong "' to their
Southern white fellow-countrymen in order
to pander to tbe prejudices of Radicalism
or of that ghastly wing bf the church mili-
tant of which in the" South' they' and
Brimstone Brooks of Arkansas are admira-
ble impersonations. ' In order to induce the
good Yankees Harper & Brothers' fathers
to assent to the abolition of the SlSye trade
we of the South gave them an extension of
time in which it might be prosecuted" and
gave: them the coasting trade and shipping
bounty and navigation acts. " The Harpers
should read the journals of the convention
that made the Constitution and of the first
Congress and not rely for facts affecting
this question upon New England-made or
Harper-published history alike full of ab-
surd falsehoods.
But we were only going to show how
deftly that editor for the Harpers places
the negro leader of the insurrection beyond
the reach of possible suspicion. ' No sooner
was he accused say the Harpers than he
wrote: "I desire to set myself right all
must obey tbe law" etc. and' thus in the
Harpers' eyes Kivers is acquitted. J t is
nice. . uur courts sbould see how it was
done. It was "conclusively" done
these (jodly men the Harpers and "white
men" they continue "would do well to
ponder. Such rumors have always been
improved by the whites for the wholesale
slaughter of negroes." Such allegations in
the face of plain facts evolved before the
courts last week in Georgia show how ut
terly regardless of truth are these great
publishers. Negroes . swore in court to
the. details of the awkward plot to
murder rob and destroy and even
to appropriate the women of; the country.
Rivers was a leader in the scheme so the
negroes thought and the poor creatures
only needed a capable leader. ' The Har
pers say it was only a "queer call for aeon
vention." Tbe darkies cannot pay their
poll tax and therefore cannot vote and
plot death and desolation sad fire and
sword and rape and ruin and the. Harpers
call it " a queer call for a convention"
Well it ia all over. The whites conducted
themselves most generously and wisely
and temperately. 1 bs negroes are oa trial
before tbe ablest judge ia ths United
States Herschel V. Johnson and we bope
that all will bs acquitted and that there
may be no mors plots; sad that Grant and
tbe Harpers will let as have peace. 1 Mean
while it would bs wise for Coffee to issue
no more " queer calls for conventions."
IBI VStlB
nine indictments pending against a number
01 our professional and cosiness men. mat
this tax. is unjust" few wiil deny;' For
instance in the case of a lawyer the ille
gality is almost palpable. He Is a sworn
officer of the court and has been so regarded
for centuries. .At the command of the
court he assumes the cares and the responsi
bility of representing a moneyless client.
Should he refuse to fifrthis office of char-
ity ne 5s in contempt of court and may be
fined or nissame may be stricken frors
therollof attorneys. I a his esse or that
of s physician it finally resolves itself into
s tax oa braias. ; Ia ths ease of a merchant
the injustice Is not obvious. J He invests so
much capital in the enterprise before Turn.
After investing this capital ha . proceed
to manipulate' it as bis liaterest may
dictate.' Now ifc quesUoa" naturany- oc-
curs why should this merchant be forced to
pay this extra tax while the farmer is per
mi t ted to pursue his avocation jratrsrs
melod I . There is no rasa who would sot
oaaaidsr it sa tstraga to fores a farmer to
pay a bonus for the privilege of cultivating
the soil ; bat a alight reflectios will thsw
that aa equal la justice is dons whea the se-
en pa tion tax is forced from those who rep
resent other walks ia life.' t : .
I C RANT'S
DECENCY-IT
PCIm
IS WONDER
It was thought since Grant's daughter
had uedded a lespectable English gentle-
u 1 b would "Te TOen the
LMteu s:aieawas at least respectaoiy rep-
resented in London ; but the Emma Mine
swindle and the book on poker and vulgar
instincts of the American plenipotentiary
Gss. Schenck induced the London Sutur-
daf'IietUtt only s few days ago to say that
thia. "honorable position was one of the
fey ..in the American service generally re-
served for gentlemen." But Schenck is
- "0 - "u P"1 01 WQO n" Uls
hs countrymen abroad. The Preai-
v.. J -
dent had a preacher and brother-in-law at
Copenhagen or perhaps at some German
court whose coarseness and assumption of
unnatural dignity made the country as
represented by the vulgar boor absolutely
barbarous and brutal. These facts justify
the? World in saying that no other President
has ever shown in his appointments to high
public office so cynical a contempt not only
of political considerations but of the good
opinion of - decent men. President
Grant's acts and ' his associations are
open to the general observation of
mankind. . A President who began his
career by driving through Broadway in the
carriage of a scoundrelly speculator and by
visiting places of public entertaiuient as the
guejstof James Fisk Jr. and who constant-
ly (tomes and goes in the public eye atten-
ded sot by statesmen or men of acknowl-
edged eminence either in public or private
life but by personal favorites and by dull
persons of whom nothing is known but that
the
are "rich" and delight in vulgar osten
tation has justly exposed himselt to the im-
putation that he keeps men like Gen.
Schenck and Mr. Delano in office not be-
cause he believes them to be calumniated
men of integrity but because he does not
really care whether they are or not. Within
the circle of his own family connections
President Grant has put persons into high
positions of whom it is impossible that he
should not have known them to be disrepu-
table and unfit for the public service. The
miserable blockhead Kramer whom he sent
to Denmark ; the ignorant sottish and stu-
pid Hudbon whom he inflicted upon Cen-
tral America; Casey the intimate of drunk-
ards and. gamblers whom he made and
keeps (jpllector at the great port of New Or
leans; these are all men so nearly connected
with bim that he cannot possibly have been
in any doubt as to their qualities and their
habits before he commissioned them in the
name of the country they have disgraced.
Wjiere a man is urged upon a President for
public appointment by political leaders
Ho after receiving the appointment
asked Tor him turns out to have been al
ways a blackguard the fact that in his of
fice he behaves like a blackguard cannot
always be fairly charged as an offense
against the President who appointed
him since it is morally impossible that
the most painstaking and conscientious
President should have direct personal
knowledge of the qualifications of every
man whom he puts into a public position
But iu the instances which we have cited
President Grant not only knew more about
the men whom he appointed than any of his
Ministers or advisers; he actually was the
only person connected with this govern'
mcnt . who knew anything about them.
They were his own people. He went into
his own house woke them up from drunken
dozing under his own chairs and tables and
clapped them into high public offices to
waste the revenues and disgrace the name
of the American people. They were not
forced upon him by powerful political ' in
fluences. They were not even forced by
him upon the political party which used
his military reputation to keep itself in
power. They are his own personal con
tributions to the "civil service" of the
United States. Who can wonder then at
the absolute indifference with which he re-
gards the discreditable and dishonorable
conduct of other public officials not of his
own personal household? It is not only that
he shrinks from applying to the nominees of
his political supporters and advisers tests
which his own creatures could not for a mo
ment bear. He really cares nothing what
ever about the matter save so far as the
public clamor provoked by the official mis
conduct of his appointees may annoy or in
jure himself. The moral fibre of President
Grant in other words is so coarse and worn
that it gives no response to acts involving
only shame for the American nation and
damage to the public interests. He "re
serves" neither "high" ports nor low in
the public service for "gentlemen" because
he neither knows nor cares what those
things are which constitute a "gentleman"
nor sees any reason why such things should
be expected 01 a puouc o nicer in any
branch or station of the public service.
A trusted correspondent of the New
York Herald baa "interviewed" the wit
nesses and principals in the negro conspir
acy case in Georgia and the Herald is com
pelled to say that the plot to murder the
people destroy their homes and appropn
ate the women of the country did exist and
was agreed to be executed and yet the
Brooklyn Union and Harper's Weekly and
many papers of that ilk would make it ap-
pear that it ia the whites alone and not tbe
blessed blacks who are culpable. But this
isn't the question. Red and white men
cannot be collocated in peace ; can blacks
happened in any particular instance wbeth
er the negro or' white man struck the first
blow. The facts are that famine and want
ire abroad in the Gulf States and discon
tent lM-grts crime and outrage and thefts
and these are annoying and often suddenly
avenged and causes of quarrel ever multi
ply and the two races should be separated.
We confess it ia the case of the red and
white races aad it is eves more necessary
ia this of the blacks and whites.
Ex wood Fishxti the prophetic thinker
said in Brown's Hotel ia Wasbingtoa the
day before Lincoln's first inaugurstioa aad
ia the apartment thea occupied by Senator
Lane of Oregon that "in freeing tbe negro
the Taion and Constitution would be de
stroyed and ths white man enslaved." Mr.
Fisher mapped oat the course of events with
almost perfect accuracy fnra that boor to
this. - His prediction will be wholly veri
fied when Grant and Amss two rods sol
diers caring nothing for amass riht or
freedom sad co-operating is ths scheme of
coBSolidatiag ths Union strike down
Steele State. Mississippi is doomed.
must either be negro-governed or a milita.
ry despotism. Some people prefer ths relga
of the miUtary tyrant.
JCDGB REAGAN AND TUB PR ENS OP
TEXAS.
Judge John Q. Reagaa made a most sen
sible and thoughtful speech yesterday as
admirable aa brief. It was literal truth as
every journalist of the country worthy the
name must confess. The distinguished
gentleman said that " organs" had become
f little value and were little esteemed and I
hethex aet ap to promote the aims ot a I
party or of s chqne or ring or any Individ- I
ual deserved little confidence. ' Tbe M-ple I
presume that these organs are paid for ser-
vices rendered and declarations of policy
and opinion made by an organ are mere
copies of decrees issued by their masters
or by the ring or clique which the organ
represents. Independent journalism does
not involve independence of yirty but of
party leader. Parties we must have.
These must subsist while people
iffer in reference to the theory
of the American system of government.
Our theory is that of the original Jefferson-
ian Democracy; but inside the party as
thus defined by this leading principle the
Statesman is the organ of no man or set of
men in or out of Texas. Therefore the suc-
cess of the Statesman. It is denounced
with the utmost bitterness by men who have
been accustomed to have "organs" do all
their dirty work and serve them with profit-
less but unfaltering fidelity. But the peo-
ple approve the very facts and incidents
and peculiarities of journalism which the
whippers-in of the party and officeholders
are apt to condemn. If the paper be true
to the principles and philosophy of govern
ment in which liemocracy consists the
masses of the people ask no more. Beyond
this they would have fearless independence
and capacity and boldness to assail any
leader or condemn any act of personal sel-
fishness or personal ambitionhowever great
the idol guilty of the crime or blunder.
The people never questioned the Democracy
of the Statesman because it disapproved
the policy of Judge Ireland. The circula-
tion of the Statesman still grew apace;
but party leaders howled and their hired or-
gans growled and we were formally extru
ded from the Democratic church by an
'organ." It was bmtum fultnen in the ears
of the people and independence won popu
lar confidence. Sensible intelligent gen-
tlemen personally attached to Judge Ire
land and life-long Democrats differed from
us in opinion and adhering to the Judge
were pleased that a newspaper had . the
courage to tell what it conceived to be the
truth in defiance of the clamor of placemen
and of organ-grinders. Judge Reagaa is
right. An "organ" doea not deserve popular
respect or confidence and cannot secure it.
The fortunes of the Statesman in this city
and throughout the State demonstrate this
fact. In truth Democratic newspapers in
Texas having that independence which has
marked our course as we have earnestly
and honestly sought to shape - it are the
successful newspapers of Texas.. It would
perhaps be invidious to name them but re
cent events have made them quite conspic-
uous and illustrate as well the truth of
Judge Reagan's declaration that "organs1
are undone and their day ' is1 past.' . The
people prefer the unbought unrestrained
ll . it l. " " - 1 J 1 -
uuucsi ii UMBiaikcu upiuiuus auu uccitua-
tions or an untrammeied newspaper press.
THE CSCBV CODE.
A valued -. correspondent . writes
from
Washington county .as follows:
"If the Convention -enacts an usury law
there will be a revolution1 in farming and
real estate and the establishment of facto-
ries in Texas that has never been known
before. Until this is done -our State will
be a stranger to anything of the kind.
Give the country a stringent usury law
if you desire to see the country and the
farming interest prosper instead of individ
uals. Should the Convention fail to make
such a law the farming interest will lan
guish until it will be only1 a question of
time as to wbo will be tbe owners of this
county. ' There are numbers of farmers in
Washington county (though one of tbe
best farming counties in the State) who are
anxious to dispose of their farms and move
to town and embark in tbe business of
banking. The farmer does not make more
than five or six per cent per annum
on his investment; tbe banker two
and a half per cent per month is the
price he charges for the use of his money.
This demoralizes the f aimer when we ought
to encourage tbe farmintr interest. Ihe
price for the use of money should be lim
ited so that a farmer could borrow money
to invest in farming with some bope of be
ing rewarded for his labor. - When this is
done there are numbers of enterprising men
in the country that will go back to their
old avocations make a usury law not al
lowing tbe collection of any debt by law
with the rate of interest above six per cent.
per annum. Old and prosperous States
have such laws.- Ia Tennessee and Penn
sylvania six per cent is the highest rate
that can be collected by law and most of
the older States with but a tew exceptions.
fa little higher) are tbe same. So long as
the moneyed man can lend his money at
tbe present price just so long will the State
of Texas know nothing of manufacturing
establishments otherwise there will re ac
tivity in Texas land and real estate and
manufactures - that has not been known
since the absence of a usury law. All
Christian nationa have fixed by Uw the rate
of compensation for the use of money.
DCBSCRIBER.
Thk principal stenographer . of the Red
Cloud agency investigating commission lost
the trunk can tain ins the largest and most
important part of the testimony taken be-
fore it and at a very great expense. Itdis-
appeared somewhere betweaa Kansas City
and St. Uwm. na laat Tneadav'a train
Wbea the commission raw m w uiumr
ton it will have to commence operations in
the absence of most important evidence
Delano evidently seems wilbng that the play
ahall go on bnt U more than willing that
the principal character shall be left out.
Fifty days have been spent ia vain and un
less something is contrived to stop a renew-
al of the matter another long period will
e lapse ere we will be able to get at the same
facts. Of course tbe people believe the tes-
timony "lost" was abstracted by some pimp
of Delano
The Statesman will not be led into aoj
diacBsaioa of the printing qneatioa. Effort
baa been made by iaoeado to draw it into
such s position bat we have teamed to re-
gard inch s matter as this as a private one
of insofficient interest to the eeneral onblie
a i.ki. . i. ..i it ii
be thus treated bv anyone toaaected with
the paper.
A Chicago special to ths Dallas Comma--
ial says that Mrs. Judge Nortoa was thrown
ander a train while walkisg oa ths Lsks
Her left arm was eat off. besides
j beia tajurvd internally. Two ears passed
I over her. Bbe will recover. -
NO. 8
THE COST OP THE CONTENTION.
The spirit of economy and reform that
has abcady and very properly manif.: od
itself ia the Convention indicates that the
expense of forming a new constitution wQI
not be so great by far as has leen contem-
plated. The saving in the cutting down
of the per diem of mem'oers and officers of
the Convention alone will be' alwut 30-
000 allowing sixty days for the seaaioa.
Counting all the clerks doorkeepers pages
etc at ten members and the entire body
therefore as one hundred the per diem of
the Convention amounts to $500 a day
or 30000 for sixty days. The printing
stationery and incidental expenses will
in all probability not exceed $20000 and
the mileage much less than 1 0000 mak-
ing as a sum total for a sixty days' session
less than (00000. Still many enemies of a
Constitutional Convention prated about an
expense being entaile i upon tbe State in
consequence of one aggregating hundreds
of thousands of dollars. The people can
rest satisfied about this expenditure of
money for agieatdeal more prospectively
is to be saved. .
THE NEXT
MPBAKKR
BOISE.
OP THE
A Long Branch correspondent of the St.
Louis Republican says :
'I learned yesterday that Randall was
Blaine's candidate against the field. I ex
pressed some surprise whereat my infor
mant rejoined: 'When the force bill was
under consideration Blaine actually selected
Randall as the man to lead the filibuster
ing of the opposition and then assisted
bim to the utmost limit ot bis ability under
the rules. Cox tried to get his oar in from
time to time but Blaine kept him sup
pressed and gave Randall full swing oa the
floor and the benefit of frequent hints and
suggestions both in and out of the chair.'
'It is very natural that Blaine should de
sire to do what he can toward naming his
successor; for as any one knows' who has
any parliamentary knowledge whatever it
is almost within the power of the Speaker
to say wbo shall be the recognized leader of
the minority in the Houso and Blaine's po-
sition as the natural' leader of our minority
in the next House- is by no means so per-
fectly assured that he can afford to iguore
the advantages which would result from the
occupancy of tbe Speaker's chair by an obli-
gated friend."
Titk following is an extract from the
"Secret Circular" said by the "Organ" to
have been written by Judge Alexander.
Its statements are wholly true:
"Thus far one of eur editors at Austin
of the Gazette who unfortunately owing
. . 1 . . . U . I XT T 1 1 I
10 ins ibcui tuai. ue is a new .cngmouer oj
birth that he shared the public printing of
the Thirteenth Legislature with J. P. New-
comb and with him held a Lunatic Asylum
commission under Governor Davis does
not have the weight to which he is justly
entitled wss impetuous as on the circular's
becoming public to threaten a prosecution
in the United States Court 1 Evidently be
took the common law view that the great-
er the truth the greater the libel and by
i i J 1 l . l .
ins rusnutJM uuiiutieu uy implication ids
truth of the circular though thereafter he
obeyed its direction and maintained a dig
nified and persistent silence. .
"Another the Statesman almost as in
discreet though in the opposite direction
boldly charged that it was a mere jeu d e
prit or pleasantry and was written by a
Republican and by so doing greatly i al
: i r . n .i '. . . 1 . .. . J
1 . ..
i tQ guide.
Ir anybody wants to know why the free
school system is not popular in Bonham
they will find an exposition of the mystery
in tbe statement of tbe Enterprise to the
effect that tbe establishment of a negro
school within the corporate limits a few
years ago brought several families of dark
ies from farms in the country to town to
educate their children and now to give
Bonham special privileges on the free school
question would bring the rest of that
population to the town. We don't object
to the cost of educating a fair share of the
peripatetic darkies who pay no taxes but to
have the whole colored population of the
country drawn into the town limits is rather
rough on corporation tax-payers. Then
too such a mass of negroes may be inducted
into the place that they will gain control of
the offices and ravage and destroy till Bon-
bam becomes desolate. This evil may be
provided against by tbe Convention which
may restrict suffrage in corporation elec-
tions to tax-payers.
The Belton Journal says : "If the good
people of Galveston will have sense enough
it what would answer perhaps just as
well can get money enough to push the
Galveston and Santa Fa road now graded
thirty-five miles and ironed six through
rapidly to this place they will not only
have one of the best paying roads In tbe
State bnt also a road which will redound
more to the interest and prosperity of Gal
veston than all others in tbe State put to-
gether." This is true enough ; but it is even more
important that the ownership of this road
remain with the builders and that it be
built as Gen. Bragg designed at ths least
possible cost per mile. Then It would be
enabled to reduce rates of freight charges
to a minimum and to the extent that it
competed with existing lines would render
services of incalculable value to the whole
population of Texas. -
Thk Statesman has never hesitated to
condemn any public act of any public body
or individual whenever it disapproved such
conduct. Some montbt ago wbea it was
said that grangers at Sherman were about
to nominate two stupid people for tbe Coa-
vention and that these Sherman grangers
were warring on lawyers as a class tbe
I "Tlnnl --.nvl ncfa alleged con
duct as it deserved and in this alone and
with reference to these specific fact alone.
has it disapproved tbe gran gen' conduct.
We state this because the Telegraph has re
ferred to tbe paragraph sad s secretary of
a grange has spoken of it. lie is an honest
gentleman and ia our position would have
done just as the Statksmas did or sacri
ficed his self respect.
Thk action of the Convention npon the
paper question is one entirely satisfactory
to tbe Statesman. In fact it was the only
coar open to be pursued after the na-
reaeoaabie eHort mads to lorce tne uouj
isto a narrow-minded policy of extreme par
tiality. Ws earnestly express the hops that
the Convention will drop such questions for
good and keep Itself clear of any disagree-
I able handiinz ot tbe public printing. Let
I it devote itself alone to the work expected
of it that of making glorious Constitu
tioa for a great people.
Sexob Ixda. Cortina's lawyer died sud
denly. Tbey say bs was poisoned. Cor-
I tins is sti'J la prison sad subjected to soli-
j tery connaemeat. He is suspected now of
complicity wtut the murderers I Inda.
THE STATESMAN.
OAILY DEMOCRATIC STATESMAN.
g' oavj on jumr ......SIS Oft)
Stngtoeopy ux month
aiiMeotrM uuuib k
WEEKLY DEMOCRATIC STATESMAN.
-mlneopy.on rmr f In
l ;erC mix Booth . 1
ISTh tx)r nta are soecl.
FAT Til En WELL.
The Decatur Guard says "Iu the voice
of Texas and s new deal and clean sweep
as demanded from bottom to top." What's
the use when the same men would be re-
elected f Tne only evil we fear Is that tho
rage for "reform" will be too violent. We
want capable men to hold ths offices of
Texas and think the honest people willing
to pay a fair price for honesty and first rate
ability! Sam Houston lost money by serv-
ing the State as Governor and so has Gov.
Coke lost heavily pecuniarily ; but fame
and honor make up deficiencies nnleoa
children be robbed when death comes to
greatness. Subordinatebflice-holders how-
ever must have fair and adequate compen-
sation for their toils. It costs more to live
here than on a farm and siycly an honest
gentleman would not proffer a premium to
roguery and incompetency by proffering a
mean pittance instead of a decent salary
to fitness and honesty.
A private letter from ex-Gov. Stockdale
to Hon. E. D. Linn states that "if the
Convention doea not realise the hopes of its
friends it will be a great misfortune. I am
sure that .if the spirit which governs the
delegation from this district prevails the
Constitution will be all that could be hoped.
So far as we are concerned we tire not only
ready to adjust fairly its provisions in view
of other interests and notions th in our own
but ws are willing to work faithfully and
all the time to make the instrument all it
should be. There are no doubt greater
expectations uwn the par of some than can
be realized. Many seem to regard humaa
government as omnipotent capable of cur-
inc all evila. Of course tbey will be dis
appointed. But as far aa conflicting views
and interests can be harmonized into an ex
pression of the general wisdom of the peo-
ple I think and hope and pray that our
work may prove successful."
When a journal known not to be an
"organ" does speak kindly and approvingly
of an office-holder is worth something to
him; but the causeless vapid senseless
ever-recurring laudation and horrible adula-
tion of an "organ" is disgusting to decency
and common intelligence. Judge Reagan
bears a good head on his shoulders and has
thought to some purpose and kept his eyes
open while toddling about through this
rugged world. . Other party leaders shsuld
learn what he is prepared to teach that a
good cause never needs nn "orgau" while
good newspapers exist.
Under technical rules of law governing
courts the Georgia negroes charged with
"conspiracy" etc. have been acquitted.
The New York Herahr reporters evoked
rtnany confessions from many negroes show
ing the designs of the worst blacks to have
been infamous but the Herald now sayt
editorially that "there was no general in
tention to murder or commie violence."
This is no doubt true. The masses were
blind dupes of designing knaves as in all
political acts of these good people.
Thb Comanche Chief reproduces and ap-
proves a very laudatory sketch of the life
and deeds and virtues of Hon. James R.
Fleming a member of the Constitutional
Convention. . He was a Confederate soldier
at thirteen and remained threugh the war
a follower of Gen. Forrest. Peace restored
he became a lawyer and stands foremost
among lawyers for thorough integrity and
sound practical good sense.
In Jasper county they confine jail-birds
all in one room that has no window. Men
are not entitled when accused of crime to
have access even to the air of haaven. Is
the State to suffer such things to bet
Should there not be a prison inspector f
Men are murdered outright by jailors of
Texas and these jailors are helpless vic-
tims of tbe thoughtless folly of those that
constructed these horrible denit.
There are counties densely populated
that support and need public schools.
Sparsely populated and new counties can
not. If those wbo paid expended taxes
tbe school question might te solved by
transferring the matter almost wholly to
the several counties. But they who dance
should pay the piper and those who pay
should expend taxes even in matters of
schools.
A PABAonApn is going through Texan
papers to the effect that tbe school asylum
and university lands have been placed on
the market and are now in process of tale
to aid settlement by actual settlers. In the
present condition of the money market if
for no other fact the sale of these uni
versity lands if begun should not go on.
In fact this land sbould not be sold at alL
The Democratic party is gaming strength
everywhere on the financial question. Even
in New York City bankers and merchants
are' changing their tack and confess tbe
absolute impossibility of specie resumption
as provided by the present law. Every
where the prospect of a Democratic triumph
in tbe next presidential election grows
brighter.
Jndge Edward Dougherty ermtori!y re-
moved the Brownsville clerk of the district
court A. Lavicke who voted for Ford
Murphy andCardis the independent ticket
while the Judge was for the nominees. Is
this true! Such is the story that comes to
us aad CoL Ford will be apt to inquire into
tbe facta.
The Corpus ChrUti GazetUitji tbst "tbe
result of tbe election in this district has not
been officially ascertained as yet but enough
is known to. render certain tiie election 01
tbe entire independent ticket by majorities
ranging from 500 to lowo.
says that s private letter from Col. Joba 8.
Ford states that he will leavs for the Aus-
tin Convention by tbe next Morgan steamer.
"Our delegate lion. Joha B. Murphy will
not leave ontil bs receives his certificate of
election."
It isn't best for as editor to have cliques
and rings and placemen to control bim.
His position is judicial aad he should
know professionally neither friends nor
enemies sad have no entangling alliances.
4 Oca f: correspoBdeat "SuUscriber' is
mistaken. Tbe "conventional' usury law
prevails in Tennessee and when no rate is
fixed by sgreementsix per omt. is collect-
able. The Cleburne Chronicle complains of ths
intolerable burdens imposed npon tbe judge
of thai district. He occupies ths wool-
sack ten months and travel two months
each year.
The lste overflow f the Mississippi cov-
ered more conntry.Iinflaltely oa paper than
oa land.
The Sothiterm Jtdet will appear regu-
larly daring ths session ofth Convention.
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Weekly Democratic Statesman. (Austin, Tex.), Vol. 5, No. 8, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 16, 1875, newspaper, September 16, 1875; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth277543/m1/1/?rotate=0: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .