The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-05-25
WHO Is TOO GOOD FOR A Leg
ISLATOR!
ro.tbe Editor Of the STATESMAN /:

To.the Editor of the STATESMAN
The true patriot is ever ready to
sacrifice personal interest for the
common veal. While he has a
preference in reference to what
capacity he would desire to serve
his country, whether as justice of
the peace, representative in the leg
islature, member of congress, gov
ernor, judge or private, lsw-ob-
serving citizen, yet, if he be
patriot indeed, he Is ever
ready to respond to the call of his
fellow citizens. He may have served
his country acceptably in either or
all of these capacities, and his last
service may have been rendered in
what is popularity termed the highest
and most responsible position, yet, if
in the current events, circumstances
combine to make it an 1mper-
alive public necessity that he should,
in obedience to the popular will and
for the public good, "step down."
instead of sup" in the general
though erroneous acceptation of the
terms, he does not hesitate to res
pond to the voice of the people. A
citizen may have the ability to serve
the common country faithfully
and efficiently as president of the
United States, and yet he might
be of vastly greater service to civili-
cation and good government by &C
cepting the humble lin popular APP
preclation) seat of representative in
the legislature of his state.
Our great men seem to ignore the
highest and dearest interest. OF
the commonwealth when they
turn their backs upon that
Office which, above all others, is
most intimately connected and di-
rectly associated with home inter-
ests and home prosperity-the office
of state representative. The people
are not so much interested in what
congress does as in what the legisla.
ture does. The people are not, or
should not be, SO much interested
in the question as to who shall be
the next governor, as in the ques-
ton what character of men shall
constitute the next legislature. The
governor is merely the executive
power, while the legislature is the
law making power. The governor
recommends to the legislature what
he thinks it should do, but the
legislature tells the governor
what he shall do, viz: execute the
laws which it enacts, If these laws
be conceived in wisdom and sound
craftsmanship, then the country is
fortunate but if they be founded on
lnexperience and ill-advised judg-
ment, then the country is most unfort-
innate, and in vain will the people
look to the executive Office
for relief. The governor is powerless.
How important it is, then, that the
people should call upon the very
best men, men of undoubted ability,
of unflagging zeal and unquestioned
integrity, to serve them i'll the legis-
lature. There are many men OF
this character spoken of, either for
the office of governor or for a seat
in congress, and Texas Is represented
by men of this character in congress.
Suppose all these should ignore
personal interest and for once make
a genuine sacrifice upon the altar OF
their country by conserving to serve
their people in the legislature,
Who could estimate the value OF
their mature judgment and sound
craftsmanship, in giving shape, by
wise legislation, to the future pros
perity of this state. AS be-
fore stated, the mass of the
people have but little interest
and less care in what con-
gress does, but they have an i'm
mense interest and great concern in
what the legislature does. If you
want this interest properly attended
to, then see to 1t that men possessed
of sense to discern your interest, Of
nerve to demand it, of industry to
look after it and of ability to secure
it, are sent to Austin as your repre-.
sentatives. WHAT NEXT?