A DEMOCRATIC STATE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9093, 18 April 1891, Page 5 (Supplement)

A DEMOCRATIC STATE.

Texas (says the Now York Tribune) is a typical Democratic Slate. If the people of the North wish to know what Democracy really is, and what spirit would govern if that party could control, they should consider what Democrats in Texas think and say. A few days ago, in the Texas Legislature at Austin, there came up a bill to provideforthe purchase of text-books for publis schools throughout the State, and a senator moved to strike out a provision to give 35c for a history of the United Slates. Senator Si mpkins moved that there should be parchased only histories " written from a Southern point of view," and said it was a shame that ijoutheru children should be taught that their fathers were traitors and rebels. Ex - Governor Lubbock followed, declaring- that the histories used in schools taught his children that he was a rebel. Senator Crawford answered the objection that the amendment would injure the Democratic party at the North, and said : " The holiest affections of hia soul encircled the principles which Jefferson Davis espoused, and if Democratic success had to be purchased at ths expense of Southern honour and by disgracing the sacred ashes of Southern heroes, democratic success could go alone with the Colorado river, which was being dammed." Senator Stevens,nevertheless,tlionght a pro-Southern, history might be distasteful to immigrants whom tho State was anxiously inviting.

. . . But what has the nation tq say of those who propose that its children shall be taught that its government is based on tyranny and wrong ? It is not possible that children, educated as this Texas Legislature would have children educated, can feel anything but hatred for a Government against which their fathers deserve honour and veneration for lifting the standard of revolt. No people have any right to tolerate such slanders of their heroic defenders, living or dead, as these Democratic legislators demand for the purpose of hiding their disgrace and crime. Nor can any nation ever look for manly and devoted service from its sons if it allows them to be taught that citizens and subjects who take up arms against it are more to be honoured than those who uphold its authority with their lives. . . ■