The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-08-07
Machine Politics.

we nave seen The workings OF the
machine in national politics. Its alb
solute sway, its imperious laws and
its unbending purpose to make every
thing subserve its selfish ends have at
last thoroughly sickened the people
and such a protest has gone up as was
never before listened to since the re-
publican party grew up out of the
ruins, hates and disappointments of
the dying and dead wings. The I'M
comfortable power OF rcpublicanism
swept before it everybody and every
thing. The stronger currents at.
tracted and held the weaker powerless
in their grasp. 1t was the power
of organization, the result of intelli-
gence and force directed to one end,
although that end was in and of itself
a bal one. The ultimate effect is
seen in the general revolt against the
party all over the north. Men who
have grown gray in the harness, old
republicanism, are to-day working
with might and main to accomplish
the defeat of Blaine and to elect
Cleveland. This is a mighty change.
1t was wrought by mighty agencies.
But the most powerful of all these
was and is the dragooning, unreason-
ing power exercised so ruthlessly over
the bone and sinew of the party.
Men were content to toll on, fight on
through the heat and burden of the
day, but when it first dawned upon
them that they had become but the
voting and money-contr1buting ma
chimes of close corporation seated at
Washington, to trade and traffic in
the honors, offices and contracts of the
government, human nature could
stand it no longer. The tremendous
dissent with which Blaine's nomina
ton was received, Blaine, the chief
of the compact, was and is an
earnest voicing of the popular
disgust at the modes used by
the leading influences in the
party to control and continue
the grinding of the machine at the
expense of the patriotic manhood of
repubicanism. So far has this been
carried that by and through it alone
they have been brought safely to the
very threshold of defeat. Their sins
have found them out. Their chickens
have come home to roost. The dark
days have overtaken them.
Is there not in this a lesson for the
Texas democracy Let us glance
briefly at the situation. Our tremen-
duous democratic majority represents
the generous confidence of an unself-
ish, an honest and a devoted people. |
They are disposed to continue this
just as long as it is de-
served. or as long as the leadership |
Of the party acts fairly in the |
application of the power it gives, no |
onger. 1t even suffers itself to be |
abused little. But this great gener-
JUS body of patriotic people will not
'orever consent that the power they |
AVE delegated to the leadership be
lsed in pushing the fortunes of few
)old and audacious men who have
swept to the front of late. There are
en- or twelve men in this state who
lirect the councils of the democracy
md, per consequence, the fate of the
tate with absolute certainty. Note
he confidence with which
hey announce that Mr.. Well
'orn is to have another term
Without opposition. 1t may be that
Or. Wellborn deserves it and that he
5 the best man in the party in his
district; but were he the worst, were
e untitled in every sense, it would
nake not the slightest difference, he
you'd "get there all the same. This
the ring pure and simple. 1t it
Tere the ring only in his district it
Tould be a comp lratively innoxious
fair. But when we understand that I
ne policy is the Jesuit Of an arrange
tent which includes every senatorial
nd legislative dist lit, the governor
alp and the several places in the state
ADMINISTRATION, We stand appalled,
nd Disguised b fore the selfish ]
reed, of the beneti i,ries and mana I
ars, the supine atquiescence land
old lack of intess t in the masses of
lie people. Che Texas machine has :
1ne too far. The day of revolt is
early here.
The men opposed to such arrange e
ent are sound, true democrats. They I
e devoted to the tenets and usages
the party. But they refuse to L
and by forever and see these .disre- s.
.rded. thrown aside or briefly worn
viii to suit the whims, caprices b.