The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-12-22
CUNNING, BUT NOT WISE.

Iuc w dsHluSIOL LOSt cdllS uOu.
George Washington Jones the Ma
hone of Texas. In an interview
Col. Jones said:
81 do not know that have deter
mined to become a candidate for
governor. Should l enter the field
as an independent and should the Re-
publicans and Greenbackers unite
heartily in nv support, | am certain
that L could carry the state by a
large majority. All that is needed
is that the movement should secure
proper send-ofr and be fairly
brought before the people. Surely
we can persuade the people that they
can emancIpate themselves from the
shackles of Bourbonism. Hereto
fore dread of Radical resumption of
power as the alternative of Bour-
bon rule has swelled the Democratic
majority. That dread of Radical
domination is gradually dying out.
Why, it is becoming a matter of
general remark that the admInis-
tration of Governor e. j. Davis, the
only Republican one, was the best
Texas has had since the war. 1t has
been ranked by leading Democrats
with that of j. Pinkney Henderson,
one of the best governors in the en-
tire history of Texas"
Now we are inclined to pronounce
Col. George Washington Jones quite
a cunning politician. We have
known for a long time that he
wanted to be entered in the guber-
material race, and therefore has
refused to allow himself to be put
forward as a candidate for rc-elec-
ton to congress. In fact he has but
little hope in the recarving of dis
tricts, in which he will have no
hand, that he will be left a strong
hold; hence he will not compromise
himself too fatty on the guberna-
torial point, until he sees what is
left to him upon which he may feed
his congressional aspirations. 1t
may be, too, that by these intima-
tions he may scare the carvcrs, and
force them TO leave him a nice
chunk of the choicest meat, from
which he may eat at pleasure, and
to his hearts content. Here
he is cunning, and again
he is wonderfully so when he hands
such nice "taffy on a stick" to ex-
Governor Davis. A sentence, like
the one Col. Jones speaks at Wash
ington, just now, may bring Mr.
Davis more prominently into notice
as fit for a cabinet appointment, and,
should he be thus honored, Mr..
Davis cannot forget the kind words
of Col. Jones and throw him off in
the future for genuine Republican,
should he conclude to make the race
for governor or again for congress.
Should Mr.. Davis become q cabinet
officer he could lend Col. Jones
most valuable aid, and understand
ing this the latter speaks most cum
ningly. Thus he poses beautifully
for the future, but with it all he has
not been wise, and yet this should not
damage his intent, for politicians
are seldom wise. Yes, he was un-
wise in the very utterances IN which
he proposed to make smooth sailing
over the perturbed bosom of Mr..
Davis. He says the Davis admins
tration is even now being generally
spoken of as an admirable one but
this remark was in Colonel Jones'
eye in more than one sense; it was
certainly not in his soul, for he says
at the same time. heretofore dread
of Radical resumption of power, as
the alternative of Bourbon rule, las
swelled the Democratic majority
in Texas. BY whom, will Colonel
Jones tell us, has this dread been
felt? Is it not by The very people
who, he states, speak so approvingly
of Mr.. Davis administration They
do dread Radicalism, and all they
know of it is from the administra-
ton of Mr.. Davis. Surely The in
terviewed, this time, was unwise.
He should have been more consider
ate; and, IN gaining reputation
for cunning, he should have made
better reputation for honest express
sion.