The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-06-26
BOSSisnn.

The pre-arranged predetermined
and reelection of John
Ireland is a sample of our Texan boss
ism which is going to become very
CALLING one of these days to the people
Indeed, we believe if ever the democ-
racy of Texas is beaten it will be some
grand all-preyailing protest against
similar ring policy to the one which is
pushing Mr.. Ireland to the front over
the protest of such large and intelli-
gent segment of the party as the one
which is now vainly opposing |
his reelection by every honorable
means within its grasp. Take
any Of the standards by which the
fitness of men is determined, and.
Mr.. Ireland fills none of them. His
mental training, as well as its range
and grasp, is sadly deficient. His ex-
cessive bourbonism has closed his eyes
to the wonderful advance going on
around him. His grooves are narrow
his prejudices bitter and uncomfortable;
his range circumscribed, and indeed in
all the essentials of progressive states
manship he is far behind the average
of his own party in Texas. When
we seek for the acts of his life upon
which his claims to political consider
alton are based, we find them not. 1t
would excessively puzzle even the
most devoted friend and admirer to
give one single intelligent reason why
he should have been elected in the first
place, and a shadow even of remote
reason why he should be reelected.
All that can be said of the first cleo
ton is that he had the geography on
the balance of the aspirants, and of
the second, that 1t is a custom, a rule
of the party to give a man the
second term, and yet his friends are
from one end of the state to the other,
laundering against another rule or
custom Of the party, which they pro-
poseto abrogate-the two-thirds. Here
Is consistency which is a jewel soiled
and tined in the worst way.
Is he to be renominated and elected
because he called the special session
If so,whereist the good it accomplished
Is he to be re-nominated and elected
because in his call he enumerated Ger
, tain subjects upon which Legislation
was desired, and in the message to thu
legislature he did violence to the cal
: and in a subsequent speech to tn
stock convention he went total
back on the messenger Is it becaus
he SO bitterly opposed the employment
of troops in the cause of law and Oh
der, and when a half-score of drunke
negroes over at Gauze were on littl
= jamboree, he made haste to summo
e all the military force c
the United States statione
in Texas to suppress the awfr
g rising" of the black poop le2 Whs
e are the grounds upon which b
! friends claim his reelection, and whs
s upon which rest his Mosaic claim t
l. be considered the man to lead tt
j. faithful out of the wilderness back
the sunny plains of the Jordan {
restf Is it because he is honest
. which we freely and thankfully col
i cede. Is it then so rare that we fin
Z an honest democrat that we take hi
, up with this single trait alone, an
nothing elsep We do not suppo
e that John Ireland ever sto
IS a nickle in his life, but do,
d that negative virtue point to hi
10 of all the men in the party
Texas as having the one sole al
rs solitary qualification for handling Il
D. gubernatorial reins.
D. 1t Is about time for the democra
s, of Texas, strong and invincible as
is, to pause awhile, and see if in tn
pushing John Ireland to the fro
W over better men, ADLER men, and f
" more deserving democrats, it is actil
" well and wisely in all respects. Is
- fair that the vast patronage of t
state administration is to be used
fe secure his triumph over 9th
g. equally excellent democrats just
a long as the predetermination of t
In the ring demands? If it may
this twice, why not thrice, or ev
10 oftener? There is a lusty kick again
q this arrangement.