The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-07-24
Apathy,

The present campaign in Texas is
together without a parallel in the
history of politics. There is absolute
y no interest felt in politics outside
# the expectants and few of their
devoted personal friends. A vast
lumbness seems to have seized the
masses of the people. If asked about
t, they say in listless and lack-inter-
st sJrt of way: "Oh WE'LL Ireland
will lie the nominee and 1 shall vote
ior him if / vote at all, which is IN
certain" With all the vast interests
upon the character of the
state government, the closness of con-
tact with the people and the
vast importance of the personal
presence of the governor in
the daily routine of bust
ness, it is passing strange that the peo-
pie feel and express nothing but an
apathy as deadly in its effects as a
wrong policy deter minedly followed
would be. There are causes for this
apathy. and remedies too, and we Will
briefly glance at them in their proper
order.
Ireland is vast failure, considered
in any light or in any way. He is
holding office upon majority far less
than any other democratic state Off
cial since the overthrow of republi-
canism. That was a sort of wet
blanket introduction to the people.
To that is added the fact that no mat
ter how insignificant and wrong-head-
ed he may be, party usage has pre-
scribed another term for him, and he
doesn't have to exert himself or take
risks. His objects are attained
for him and he need take no trouble
either to conciliate as a man or to at
tend to duty as an officer. The people
think there is no escaping him. They
know the power of the ring which
encircles Ireland, and they haYe de.
termined not to fight it. Hence they
don't care. They will stand another
two years, and then make an effort to
shake off the incubus. He has done
nothing since his Inauguration to at
taeh people, or to attract their devo-
ton. Personally he is cold and re-
served. There is no magnetism about
him. He is selfish and avaricious,
and has made the most of his oppor.
tunities to pick up fortune here and
there as the exegencies of the times
and surroundings permitted. 1t
will be remembered that when
Hobby with his fraudulent land GER
tificates was under the glare OF
official light, Mr.. Commissioner
Groos, when called upon as to the cor
rectness of the papers, ignored the
able Attorney General Boone. but said
to Hobby that if he would get an
opinion from Ireland favorable to the
issuance of the certificates, that he
would so issue them. Hobby went to
Seguin and came back with the re-
quired opinion" and the matter was
satisfactory. Afterwards it was dis
covered that this was the weakest and
most transparent fraud ever attempt
ed upon the state. Many people sup
pose that this "opinion" of Mr..
Iraland's was very profitable
to him, and they adduce some very
cogent reasons for holding the belief;
but we incline to the idea rather that
there was more of downright igno-
rance of law, of incapacity to examine
the matter and to arrive at a just con-
than actual dishonesty. In
deed, the A. s. M. college affair, the
fence cutting affair and others calling
for and demanding the higher quail
ties of executive ability, fully illus
trate the utter incapacity of the man
and direct public attention rather to
this incapacity than to a belief in the
existence of dishonest purposes. A fat
fee in the Hobby case may have given
a little point to the theory of
held by many people. We
would prefer, if circumstances bore it
out, to adopt the incapacity theory
We would see this deadly apathy
broken up. We would see the peo-
pie again manifest the usual interest
in the public affairs Indicative of a
patriotic desire to push the state and
its every interest to the front.
The remedy. or rather one OF a Sc
ries of remedies is, or would be, to
remove from the vast democratic as
cendancy in the state, the command
ing influence so absolutely exercised
by a few men. Wherever the people
turn they find this ring organization
directing and reaping the
fruits. No man can have even the small
lest political honor or position, unless
be can put himself in accord with the
leader, then all, and more than he
asks, is his. Merit and public service
go for nothing. They do not spell
against the dictum of the ring.
Hence the people become Indifferent
and apathetic to the last degree. Now
the remedy would certainly seem to
consist in doing away with the pot
ant cause of the apathy. Break up
The ring. Emancipate the democracy
from its power. That will set all
;hings right, and until it is done all
will be wrong. Remove the clamp,
md let the people of the counties feel
hat if they had man who would be
Useful in the legislature, in the county
they could elect him with
,ut reference to the bosses,-the good
Effects of such feeling would become
apparent. The apathy
md listlessness would promptly disap-
,ear, and a healthy interest in the
,ublic service at once exhibit itself.
dediocrity murders enthusiasm.
Ability and public virtue excltes in
crest and arouses the people. The re-
domination of Ireland will continue
he present apathy and give the indie
endent republican candidate chance.
he nomination of Ross, the old al
aide, or any other outside of the ring
Tould re-awaken the enthusiasm of
he people and restore the confidence |
the people in the worthiness of the |
erty and its fitness to continue in the |
|, 10 Of tho infaroota of Taxon