The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1874-06-18
GOV. COKaSS SPEECH AT WACO
HE PLUMES HIMSELF on HIS
ACHIEVEMENTS.

GOV. COKa2S SPEECH AT WACO
HE PLUMES HIMSELF ON HIS
ACHIEVEMENTS.
From the Waco Examiner we extract the
following very remarkable report of Gov
ernor Coke's speech upon his arrival at
Waco on the sixth instant. We say re-
markable, because we could not believe
that it was correct until we received an
answer, which is appended, stating that it
contained substantially what he said. Here
is the Eraminer's report: ~ Z
This brought him to the ''printing mud
dle,p with reference to which he now for
the first time expressed himself publicly.
Standing at the Capitol as the guardian. of
the peoples money, he had discharged this
trust, which had been thrust upon him con-
trary to his wishes, with an eye single, so
help him God, to the peoples good; had
contracted for the printing at a sGcing Of
500, 600 or more, as compared acith the cost
last gear. And because he had dared to do
this, needless alike of 'sthe sugar pJstms Of
Speech" a1d the impending broadsides
of newspaper calumny, and mindful
only of a faithful discharge of duty, he had
been assailed TIL n0so, has mouth had been
closed on the subject He could not enter the
frGg and looking in silence. he had seen
almost the entire press of the State follow
the lead of the two defeated aspirants that
had sought to crush him because unable either
to bug or bully him and for time it did
seem that the very people would be alien
ated. from him in whose interest he had iu-
cured this opprobrium and abuse. But
now, thank God they and the press all
over the State had come to under
stand the facts Of the case, and with only
two or three exceptions, a universal
commendation is the result. 1t was to
the Country Press that he had been indebted
prior to his election, and it is to them, and
to the unbOught and anpurch0sdble masses, the
highest aggregation of human wisdom and
patriotism, that he now, with confidence,
looks for support.
Several other subjects of gravity and in
terest were discussed, but though our re-
port spins out considerably, we find it inn
possible to convey any adequate conception
Of the speech. A master effort in all re-
spects, it was received with an enthusiasm
and appreciation which none, perhaps,
could so fully feel as those who knew him
OOooi OuO HOlS ShOOAo VI VhO mani AeiOhoAN
Coke.
We are surprised at the above in every
particular; surprised at the taste of the
man who could, under all the circum-
stances, make such statements; surprised
because he had sent word to one of the pro-
prietors of this paper that he wished to be
on friendly terms with this Office; surprised
because the facts as we understand them viii
not sustain the allegations. We will take
up the report of the speech and reply to
each assertion. In the very outset, the
Governor says that s'he now for the first
time expressed himself publicly" What
did he call the statement of the Printing
Board which was said to be FOR the infor-
nation of the people of Texas2 Did not
the Governor in that undignifed document
express himself publicly, and SO far lost
control over his temper as to use language
unbecoming the Governor of great State
like Texas? Does he disclaim any public
expression in that document, which we
have on fleQ Will he say that that state
ment was not an authorized declaration for
the people of Texasq Will he say that his
Secretary of State published it without his
authority. If the Governor did not write
it, he must know that the maxim Of the
law says ''that he who does anything
through another does it himself" And as
he was the head of the Printing Board, that
document was and win be taken as public
expression of his views and feelings
He says again, that he ''had contracted
for the printing at saving of $50, 600, or
more, as compared with the cost last year. y
Here again, the idea is conveyed that
the STATESMAN Office received $105, 600
for the public printing last year,
when the truth is that this Office only re-
ceived warrants up to the meeting OF the
Fourteenth Legislature. of $44, 900, and af-
forwards to the amount Of $1S, 600 all for
work, ETC., up to the twenty seventh day Of
the session Of the Fourteenth, making total
Of So, 200, a large part Of which went
to pay for the DAILY STATESMAN and contin-
gent work done for both houses. And We
call particular attention to the fact that the
above amount aoas not money but DEPRECATED
warrants, which have been rendered, up to
this time, almost valueless by the financial
policy Of Governor Coke. Not receiving
money, and having to haveit to do the work
for the State, we were compelled to 5orr0p
at hsaVy Interest, and have thSs lost what we
would have gained il money had been paid
US. II S105, 900 were paid out last year,
this Office did not get it or the benefit Of it,
and it WOuld be just as fair to charge the
money lost on the Lunatic Asylum to the
STATESMAN as to hold that the disposition
Of the public printing had saved the State
$50, 900. If corrupt administration paid
it out to Others. there is no rule Of law or
ethics that could charge it against the pub
lie printer. But, says the Governor, he
''darsz 70 do this, needless alike Of the
sugar plnms' Of speech and the impending
brOadside Of newspaper calumny." This IS
altogether too mythical for q Governor who
deals 50 sssArlg with facts. Who offered
the ''sugar plums" Of speech Whose
dulcet strains were charming his Excel
lencg to such a degree as to make him rise
from lis chair, thrust his fingers through bis
hair, stamp his foot, and sag, o1anat an
On ny mellIs and dare do right REGARDLESS
Of Jour ss1n Pians 81 speech But how
did ne Governor know that there Were