The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-03-16
FRAUD ON ITS FACE.

The Bolton Journal, properly
enough, condemns the use of guber-
Material influence to secure sena-
torial position. 1t is recollected
how bitterly Governor Coke was
because of his senatorial
canvass while still governor, and
had it not been for about twenty
five members of the legislature, who
made the accession of Lieuten-
ant Governor Hubbard the
prime motive for support
of Coke, he would never
have been made senator. Judge
Ireland, whom he feared as an oppo-
nent, was appeased during the sit
ting of the Galveston convention
by a personal letter from Gov. Coke
to Ireland, in which it was said in
substance that he was pleased at
Ireland's desire to be U. S. senator
and that he Coke would do all
in his power to further his
election. Thereupon the Ireland
influence was won for Coke's
gubernatorial nomination, and he
became governor the second time
only to use his best endeavors to
secure the senatorship for himself.
Towards this end the friends Of the
lieutenant governor aided him,
purely to remove. Coke from the
Office of governor that Hubbard
might be governor. Had it
not been for the positive strength OF
Hubbard, the governor, even at that
time, could not have used his office
for his own advancement. The pop
ular feeling against such a conclu.
sion of the canvass at that time
was strong, and it is stronger
now than it was then.
1t is possible that Governor Roberts
could have used his official position
in 1881 to secure his election to the
senate, but he made the promise
during the canvass that he would
not do so, and like the Alcalde al
ways has been, he was then true Il
his promise, though his enemies per
sisted in trying to MAKE
it appear he did not in
tend to be. Governor Roberts
is again prominently spoken of for
denomination, and it is commended
that the masses will not be content
at any other nomination than his
The STATESMAN is satisfied that tn,
people of Texas, or at least nine
tenths of the Democrats of tn
state, do want him even for the thirC
term, and we are very free to say
that his reelection would be one o
the wisest conclusions that coulC
possibly be reached, which we ar
as fully satisfied, that were he made
governor the third time he woult
remain so, were every Democrat il
the legislature to ask him to take
seat in the senate. The journal
solicitude as to the course of tn
Alcalde in case of his reelection j
unnecessary. Governor Roberts, a
much as any man in Texas, knows
third election would mean that tn
people wanted him still as governor
and he would be the last man in tn
state to disregard any expressed POP
ular will, no matter what the persons
sacrifice might be. This is tn
STATEsMAN's estimation of the Al
calde, and, while the story is bein
circulated that Senator Coke
friends are DESTROYS of tradin
with him, we believe, as po'
ltively, that Governor Robert
would never trade with anybod
in any such canvass. If he shout
become governor again he certainl
will not use his position to deceiv
any candidate for the senate. To d
so would be 10 degrade himself i
the high position he hold
and to assume a characte
becoming the lowest pot-hous
politician. We believe that
reelected he would take NOR
pride in remaining governor O
Texas and carrying out the nobl
purposes of his administration tina
to have the highest place in the gil
of the people of the United States
Governor Roberts will nc
Use his position to favor th
candidacy of any one. Cox
may want it, but he will not get i
aud Reagan and Mills might ask fO
it, if they would, in vain. If GOV
ernor, he will neither aid nor OF
pose any candidate, and, when a
effort is made to have people b,
lieve that Governor Roberts bs
lately made any promises to Sen,
tor Coke's friends, the statemel
bears fraud on its very face