The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-04-03
GuberilatoriaI.

bent. When General Ross announced
that he would not be a
candidate against ireland, by COM
mon consent his name was no longer
connected with the present race.
Many regrets have been expressed at |
this determination on thepart of Ross. |
But the heavy opposition in demo-
cratic ranks to the denomination of
the governor seems resolved to bring
out man, and it is proceeding with
such skill and quiet determine
ton as to give promise of
active and stirring work ere
the ides of August approach. The
fact that Ireland seems to be the gen
eral favorite of the congressional COM
bination is perhaps one of the strong
est objections to him in the ranks of
the anti-administration democracy.
There is a very deep-seated feeling
that the national face of our public
administration should be totally sepa-
rate and distinct from that of the
state administration, so far as conven-
tions are concerned. 1t is the theory
that the incumbent, with the entire
patronage of the state government at
his back has advantages enough in his
hand without having a central bereau
in each congressional district pre-
sided over by the member, working
as personal apartizan of the executive.
There is also feeling that the office
of congressman given to any individ-
ual democrat should lift the member
above partizanship inside of the
party's ranks. This feeling is based
upon the fact that perhaps as many
anti-administration democrats voted
for the member as there were parti-
zans for it who voted for him. The
question of administration endorse
ment was not up when the present
delegation to congress was chosen.
and the feeling is now that the least
interference in state politics, or at least
in the gubernatorial choice, is i'm
proper, unfair and reprehensible
in every way. The common
instincts of common fairness seems
also to back this view of the case.
Perhaps the majority of the friends Of
a given member in his own district
may be opposed to the governor. 1t
would be manifestly not the thing
then for such member to become a
partisan for him. On the other hand
a majority might be in favor of him,
and it would be equally solecism in
democratic policy for the member to
oppose. Now we know that just pre-
vious to the ASSEMBLING of congress
last December, evidences of general
purpose to give Ireland a solid voice
from the congressional delegation
were manifest. The evidence of
of this will be forthcoming at the
proper time. 1t would not be difficult
to reach the conclusion from
starting point such an this. that cor
responding obligation was formed by
which the administration was ex-
pected to assist the members in turn,
should the short tenure people become
troublesome. Indeed, any other ex-
pectation would be very illogical. To-
gether, such elements of combination,
called by the rugged Saxon name of
ring, would become very distasteful
to the masses of the fair-minded men
who never hold the offices, but who
do the voting and bear the heat and
burden of the day.
There is no doubt but that his ex-
cellency has managed to array against
him a strong opposition. Besides
this fact another very significant one
exists in that, that he is not governor
of Texas by the usual majority, nor
does he approach it in any reasona-
BILE degree. Wash. Jones was able to
reduce the majority tremendously,
and it is now nearly certain that Jones
will again confront the democratic
nominee. To this is to be added the
ground lost during the late special
session by the change of front on the
grass question. This all constitutes a
bill of exceptions to his excellency
which it will be very hard for him to
meet. The usual enthusiasm for the |
is to be expected, and |
its noisy and vociferous nature de-
ceives no one so much as those by |
whom it is made.
Now the STATESMAN writes all of |
this without bitterness, and with no
other feeling or purpose than its I'M
selfish desire for the best good of the
party and to guard successfully
against one of those great indignant
upheavals of the popular dissent by
which the republicans in Kansas and
Colorado lost their states year before
last. They were situated as we are
now. Their tremendous majorities
rendered them careless of the feelings
of the people. They ruthlessly tram
pied upon the minority feelings and
these went over to the democrats, with
what result all can remember. With
Wash Jones to the fore, and in the
light of the shrinkage in the demo-
,ratic vote for Ireland, and also in the
light of the embittered opposition en-
rendered by circumstances above
briefly sketched; it behooves US to be
wary and watchful, and to be ready to
ink out of sight every feeling of per-
onal preference and prejudice, and
lct for this campaign solely for the in
erests of democracy, and permit per-
onal interests for the nonce to take
are of themselves as best they can.
To-. nn-o1