The Waco daily examiner. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 187?-1888, 1882-06-22
wANTED--A DEMOCRATIC LEAD.


Err
Is it not high time for democrats in
this stute to come to some. definite con.
clusion respecting the gnbernntorial
succession We are on the very thros
mold OF the safe convention, and yet,
strange to say, the rank and file OF the
party manifest an ind ference to this
question that savors Of lethargy. This
is an abnormal phase OF state politics,
ana its existence Is significant and sug-
gestive. Political questions. to appeal
with force to the popular mind, must
not depend entirely upon what people
term "the machine in politics. Thoy
must be to certain extent individual.
ized, and OF personal nature. can
didate may be competent in the literal
sense OF the term, and yet, il he il not
en- rapport with the popular mind
OF his party, his candidacy hangs
like pail over the party orsaniza ion.
This is precisely the situation in Texas
to-day. Gov. Roberts, for reasons salts.
factory to himself, has announced that
he aspires TO no further honors ut the
| hands OF the people. 1t must be con.
| tossed that his announcement WIS u sur.
prise. 1t was hardly anticipated 10y the
general public, why it wn- surprise
or uuanticipated, need not he discussed
here. Suffice it to say that Gov. Roberts
il on record, OF his own volition, aud
that his action stamped into the ground
| the nsinuatiop, SO often made, thut he
desired to engraft "bossism" into the
politics OF this state. Then followed tn,
announcement, affirmed later by himself
that Judge Ireland aspired to the favul
OF the pnrty, ns Gov. Roberts auccossor
That was nearly two months agu
Judge ireland, OF course, has Iii
friends and admirers, M has every Othe
man. These greeted the new aspirnn
with joyous zeal and proclaimed his fit
mesa with enthusiasm. But with tn
masses OF the party this enthusiasm ha
I found no response. There were som
= who accepted the contingency out q
t indifference; others because they doem
G it polite to do 80, and still others 9TH
i latest to acquicsce) because they lack
rallying point to make "A stand nguinf
the Ireland movement. And thus TIA
matter stands to-day. A listless apath
pervades the party and the word gue
y out TO the country that Judge Ireland j
to have walk-oyer to the gubernatorii
u char This tacit nrquiescencc, in on
opinion, il unreal. II we are mistake
v and IT il real, 1T is Rn unhealthy SYM
NJ tom, that does not bode goo
/. to democratic prospects IN TIA
,r stnte. Judge Ireland's candidacy
n beyond the Limited circle Of his fr'cud
Il and admirers, has evoked no enthusiasm
whatever, no party zeal or activity
Thousands Of democratic voters hay,
!, barely more than heard his name. He
l has made 10 little reputation aB publ,
K man TINT thousand of people wondc
he is seriously considered ~ candidate
TOR Governor. Thousands Of Il mocrutH
who do know him, are not prepared tC
concede that he IL the man for the emCr
gency, Is it possible that this state o
affairs is to continue that the party If
to 20 into the campaign with leader
unknown by many, distrusted by other
and uncared for by more2 IL the high
est Office within the gift Of the people oi
30 little value thnt Judge Ireland, the
| r,ly Iar,.Arut all 10 kp anAb
ing it, can reach out his hand and take
it. while the party look on with
indifference IL there no such thing ns
the office seeking the man. we he
gin to understand now why the opposi-
tion-republoans, gTcenbackors and
! independruts--view the situation with
such complacency. With the demo
cratic majority reduced (ns 1t Inns BEEN
apathy OF the present year cheers and
stimulates them, The democracy needs
a leader who has a public record whose
| capacity and fitness have been tested Ia
public life, who can inspire the rank
and file OF his party with vigor and
activity who il en- rapport with the pro-
gre sive spirit OF the times who will
make tho canvass aggressive and per
sonal, and command support us much
from his personal efforts md fitness M
the mere fact that he is the democratic
nominee. Time iH passing, and il the
people mean to call man to lead them,
rather than be ordered into line like on
listed soldiers, it il high time they
should think and speak out.