The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1875-04-03
Some Timely Suggestions what is
Needed,

10 the Editor ofthe Dallas Horaldl
Now after the adjournment Of the
national and state Legislature, the time
IA most opportune to ask why these
legislative assemblies have been 80
unmindful of the wishes and wants OF
the people. Congress has not only L.
uOrcd, but deiled popular sentiment,
and the fourteenth legislature Will
hardly receive that credit TO which the
Gazette thinks II entitled for the pass
age of the international compromise
bill. Many still think that the COM
pany WIS entitled TO the whole origin
ii grant, or nothing Mt all. Perhaps
some of the politicians can eNpound
this little enigma Why IL IL that
while the value Of property In this
state has trebled ,sthe rate per cent re-
CURED to carry on the state govern
ment Is trebled, that Is, II Is in
creased ninefold. But the object of
this letter Is prospective. To bewall
the past in plaintlve jeremiads will
avail us nothing save in 80 far rs we
draw lessons therefrom to prevent the
recurrence of mis-legisation.
The remedy lies in the whole body
Of voters making study of politics.
Politics IL u science rs well as physics,
or optics or any other les, and there Is
no reason why politician should be n
more dispensible name than physician.
Through misuse the term politician
has become II synonym for knavery,
just MS charlatans frequently bring the
,,nltunl faaginn into IiapnniItn 'Hhn
word must he redeemed from the OPP
probrium attached to it, before good
government and honest legislation is
possible. 10 do this every citizen
must be politician. DO not startle at
this, fellow-citizens, for you can be
more of politician without being any
less good business man. | know that
the southern people have been coun-
seled to eschew politics. They are no
friends of the people who profler this
advice. 1t emanates from the crafty
brain Of the politician common ac-
ceptance), ard regret to perceive him
so extensively obeyed.
80 glozed the tempter, and his poison tuned
Into the ears of Eve his words make way,
She ut the voice much marvelllng."
Nothing would he more gratifying to
professional politicians than to leave
them to run the political machine
without being subject to criticism or
being calledupon to render an account
of their stewardship. Instead of hold
ing aloof from politics every citizen
should watch, scrutinize, and discuss
the proceedings of the state Legislature,
and also of congress. Knowing that
they were acting under the watchful
eye of their constituents, this thought
would serve as shield against the
Establishments of Nestibule Rex, or
king of the lobby, to those subject to
to such temptation, while the faithful
few would be encouraged to do still
better How many citizens, If ques-
toned, could tell anything about what
the forty-third congress or fourteenth
legislature, both just adjourned, have
done. Yet The HLRALD, with COM
mendable spirit, published full synop-
sis of the proceedings of both the nation
al and state legislatures. But how many
read these report? How many voters
are there who never read newspaper?
"Aye, there's the rub!n How dear to
the politicians heart are the non-read-
ing voters Of his district While dis.
cussing around the fire, after the days
labor, about corn, cotton and hogs,
there is no incongruity in introducing
politics. From politics to history is
natural step, and thus the subject may
be made entertaining and instructive
Eschew politics, forsooth, when poll
ties constitute the chief element of his
tory. The politicians of to-day are
making the history of the period. Pos
terity will assign us place in this his
tory, and it behooves us, therefore, to
rescue the politics of our time from the
obloquy which the science has incurred
by falling into the hands of "christian
statesmen" Citizens, we are about to
inaugurate new era in the history of
Texas. Put the best men to the front.
Honesty alone will not suffice; they
must also be competent. Your social
and intellectual status is measured ac-
cording to the ability of your repre-
sentatives. See to it, then, fellow cit
liens, that the coming convention is
composed of the assem- led wisdom of
Texas, that from their deliberations
magma charta may come forth worthy
of the fame and destiny of this empire
state of the south. TING