The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1875-12-09
HOW TON SCOTT WENT THROUGH
TsE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVEN-
TIDN.

ROW TOM SCOTT WENT THROUGH
THE COEsTITUTIONAL CONvEN-
TI0N.
1t was peculiarly astonishing how easily
and naturally the leaders OF the people, who
happened To be in Austin at the time, went
over, like lambs to the slaughter, when Tom
Scott's pretty railroad ring settled down
upon Austin and gathered in the turn-ups
of the Constitutional Convention. Old Ru.
baga MAS ,he first To wither in the sere
! and yellow leaf, aud then to flop. He it
~as sh became, with profoundly smazing
suddenDess, the spokesman of the great rail-
pay king and magn ficent land pirate Of
Texas. Up to tue time of the little meet
cheIDs we're present with the representatives
Of Tom Scott, there we're none SO poor in
AustIn To do reverence to the then cul-
minntipg follies OF the new Constitution.
Instantly the whole course of party leaders
was changed, and not only must tho Con-
stTution be accepted by the press and peo-
pie, but IL was agreed, we are told, to have
it's approval made test of party fealty i'll
the coming convention at Galveston. The
Neacs becomes cooing dove, and even
Though the ST. Louis Tom Scott Convention
leaves Texas out in the cold, coolly appre-
priating, AT the same time, thirty millions
of dollars of the property OF Texas, We must
approve the robbery of the State at the
same time that we assent to the abnmins-
ble stupIdilies called the new Constltu, ion
of Texas. fr
But was not the change of tone AMI TEN
per and purpose maryelOusY Was it not
even miraculous2 Four weeks ago there
were none so poor as TO do the new Consti-
tuition reverence. But no sooner had Tom
Scott, with thirty millions, kicked the
beam, than the new Constitution be-
came a marvel of beauty and political
periectibil ty. Even the DemocratI'; party
Of Texas is almost persuaded by the sweet
magical potency of Tom SCOTS ringing
influence to approve the awful work of the
blessed Rutabagas. And what results must
dow from it 2 Adopt the Constitution and
railway nlagnates secure an empire that
costs them nothing. Tney would build d
railway designed to aggrandize st. Louis
and Philadel phia, and 20 enrich the owners
Of bridge that cost twelve millions. The
northern tier of Texan counties derives
partial advantage from the scheme, but the
greater portion of the State is absolutely
Impoverished. T:aus-continental traffic and
travel is swept away from Texan towns and
counties and cities and railways into the
ravenous. NAV of St. Louis aud Philadel-
phia, and yet we are made to construct this
road by this new Constitution. Why was
not the condition pretixed to the renewed
lsnl grant, as often suggested by the
STATESMAN, that II branch road from the one
hundred aud fourth parallel of longtude,
the point of departure from Texas, should
be bu 1t through Austin and Houston tO
Galveston. Were not $50, 900, OOO, given by
Texas t. Tom Scott, enough to justify this
trifing bOon9 And yet the proposition
was unceremoniously kicked out of Tom
SCOTS convention in ST. Louis and the un-
restricted land grant was as unceiemoni-
ously thrust through the Constitutional
Convention of Texas by the Rutabaga chief
tain. The two concurrent events in the
| two concurrent conventions constitute a
curious chapter in the history of modern
railway progress. 1t is not strange that
St. Louis and Philadelphia controlled the
St. Louis convention, but amazes mankind
when the story is told Of the miraculous
course of events here in Austin, and the
straDgest of all wonderful events is the in
Simultaneous change that came over the
dreams Of many prominent men. Up to
the moment that Tom Scott achieved his
triumph in Texas, there was marked hostil-
ity of men and newspapers to the new Con-
| stitution. Many stood aloof and shook
their doubtful heads, and newspapers were
full of fierce condemnation; but Tom Scott
swallowed by the leaders, and the party
when convened in Galveston must be sup
piled with violent astringents, or even then
and there Tom Scott will &c through it and
4
aspect doubly pitifuL Its Constitutional
Convention was made partisan in birth, ex-
istence and acIi)n, and was a sublime stu
pendous failure To retrieve errors and es-
cape disgraceful calamities, it buys power
5y buying a railway ring, and to do this
sells The country, the people and their
property. Ii then reorganizss the party on
this scheme of corruption, in order to as
sure the acceptance of the follies and alb
surdities of Rutabagaism. Very many hon
est and wise people of Texas. those OF
them who are not candidates for Office or OF
KIN to candidates under the new Constitu-
tion, cannot be sold and betrayed and bam-
boozled after this fashion, and as a matter
of self-respect, will vote against the
absurd abortion of Rutabagsism.
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