The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-11-30
RICHARD COKE IN THE UNITED
STATES SENATE.

NO man ever entered the senate OF the
United States at period when grand quail
ties of head and heart will encounter
heavier exactions than when Richard Coke
must represent Texas in Washington. The
broadest genius for statecraft will find,
when Congress meets, themes for elo-
quence su3h as Clay and Webster
and Calhoun never illustrated. Questions
involving the peace and integrity of States,
the maintenance of order, the rights of
States, and others appealing to the selfish
ambition of dangerous and powerful place
men and party leaders must be discussed
and determined, we would fain hope with
out passion, by members of the Federal
Senate. 1t is not the body of illustrious
statesmen who were gathered IN the Capitol
twenty-six years ago. 1t has not the bound
less confidence of the country. We do not
look up reverently to the Senate of our
time as when listening to unimpassioned
debates in which Silas Wright, Chase, Cal
houn aud Marcy and Webster and Badger
were participants. There are grave ques-
tions appealing directly to the worst i'm
pulses and instincts of worse classes of
the people than lawgivers of the by-gone
age ever encountered, aud yet Richard
Coke is the peer or superior of the greater
number of those now occupying the places
of dead statesmen. We have not perhaps
accurately measured his intellectual worth.
He has repelled men too violently, and be-
cause of his personal peculiarities he has
kept those who sought to define his abili-
ties at arms-length. He has certainly
shown himself, and we say it not in
derision or in derogation of his greatness,
an admirable "foolometer." He has meas
ured accurately the rise and fall of the ba
rometer of public opinion snd prejudice in
Texas. He abhorred and lauded the new
Constitution because it could be readily
amended, and yet be saw that the multitude
soAhated the old that it would approve the
new scheme of government, and on this
prejudice of the hour his Excellency dufted
on the topmost wave of boisterous popular
ity back into the executive. chair, whence
he was forced by infinite necessities of per-
sonal and local force into the Federal Senate.
Whether Governor Coke, when seated there,
will be simple partisan and brawlng, pas
sionate, sectional politician, like Logan, or
statesman worthy of the commonwealth
and of this pivotal period in the country's
history, is an inquiry about which men will
widely differ. 1t is proper for US to say
that while we have often condemned bis
foibles and never conceded aught to his
domineering, selfish spirit, the STATESMAN
is not disposed, when it speaks seriously OF
the man, to question his progressive and al
innate fitness for the lofty position he must
o,cuPy. He needs training and self-restrain,
and a tonIng down of arrogant self-asser-
tion. He must curb his passions and re-
strain his resentments and never forget the
Senator when impelled by passion aud hab
He must conform in dress and bearing Il
demands made by the opinions of the
country and by decent regard for the ex
actions of social laws and to the habits anC
| OOu0uCt Va oSSOCiatcS IN Ou4Cc. O1uA hOus
ton could affsrd to dress like Comancht
if he chose. and indulge the affectation o
q sombrero and wear his shirt upside dowl
with the slit unbuttoned; but these littl
eccentricities of confessed greatness woulC
be giarin vices Of conduct in commonplace
men, But Governor Coke is not common
place. He can rise with the weight of ex
actions made upon his intellectual resources
and he can grow in greatness and in populs
estimation with the years of his training i
the new school for genius into which, if
modest man, he would enter. at this hour
with infinite trepidstion- 1t is q gram
epoch in the country's history, and gran
acts and grand thoughts ara required At th
} hands of him who must stand before th
country and at the bar Of history tine politi
cal impersonation Of this vigorous. pro-
: porous and mighty commonwealth.