The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-04-10
Funny Work.

Funny Work.
There is an interview between ;
representative of the Galveston
News and Lieutenant Governo
Martin, in which Mr.. Martin
frankly admits that he would
be a candidate for governor if he wa!
required by the convention to MAKE
the sacrifice. This IS made the pretexf
for a flood of remarks in which Mr.
Martin fares indifferently well at the
hands of the photographers. AS We
look at things we can not see that
either he or his chief have just cause
for complaint in anything yet done OF
said by the papers regarding the
candidacy of either. Gov. Ireland is
the first officer of the state placed
there by the free unbought suffrages
of the people. His every public act
his political purposes and his present
plan for denomination. or future polit-
ical course is public property, and as
such, may be fully commented upon,
and examined in the strongest light
which it is possible to procure. Hold
ing the Office of governor by no means
lifts man above this, the common
fate and experience of all who aspire
to wear honor by and through the pub
lie favor. Nor does the fact that Mr..
Martin holds the second position in the
states service sink him out of reach
of the first as many of these astute
politicians endeavor to teach. Mr..
Martin is an old resident of Texas
he is an honest man, and one who en-
joys the confidence of his fellowmen,
his old friends and his neighbors and
all else who know him, to remarka-
BILE degree. He is above the common
average in intelligence, and he has been
a lifelong, consistent and devoted
democrat. With record such as this,
why should he not aspire to be gov
ernor, or at least what heinous sin
lies in his willingness to be reelected
president of the senatep Does the
objectionable reside in the fact that he
is opposed to the administration of his
chief? Is that a crime which di-
vorces a man from the public
confidence and destroys his hopes
of future political promotion
Do the friends of Governor Ireland
propose to coerce or bulldoZe? Are
they not strong enough to be fair and
to treat reputable democrats fairly for
simply standing upon their reserved
party and personal rights? We warn
them that it is long while from now
until August, and many things are pos
sible. Nay more, many things are
probable, and one is reaction which
may sweep the Ireland combination
from it's pathway like frost work be-
fore the ardent rays of the sun.
Mr.. Ireland is afflicted with a COM
mon i'll, one which aspiring politicians
often encounter. 1t is indlscreet
friends. Self-appointed mouth
pieces which go off half
cooked, which are always on
the rack and enduring intense agony
for fear some one will tramp on the
tail av me coat" This vicarious ag-
ony is very touchingly charming, but
it is at the same time very uncalled
for, and very injurious to the hopes
of the governors denomination. Gov
ernor Ireland, himself, has fixed his
own political status, and not all his
his indiscreet followers can do in the
way of intense agony and devotion
can prevent the very strongest lights
from being thrown upon the leading
events of his administration, or the
policies he has inaugurated and
urged. An intelligent and capable
constituency will pass upon their
merits, and if left alone, they will be
inclined to do so with a considerable
bias in his favor. But, honest differ
ence from his policy can never be
choked off by dragoonery and the arts
which so often stand for devotion, but
when examined are found to be the
merest semblance of care for the Off
cial well-being of his eXcellency.
Governor Ireland has committed
grave faults, as what human being in
such position but would. We misread
him if he means to have them covered
mp, and to sneak away from any res
possibility which can justly attach
to them. He has done many good
things and these capable
candid and fearless constituency
will give him full credit for. The
balance will be fairly struck, and he
will receive at their hands just the re-
ward he is entitled to. 1t is all the
merest folly for the Post to go into
spasms every time a man or a paper
presumes to oppose Ireland. Mr.. Mar
tin is entitled to quite as much consid-
Grafton at the hands of the party as
the governor is, and he will receive it.
too, no doubt. This can not be shut
off by the modes in use now.
The effort to laugh Martin off the
track will be dismal failure too. Mr..
Martin says truly, in some sense he is
representative of the agricultural
masses of Texas. How truly this is
the case may be understood by recall
ing Mr.. Martins long record as far
mer, as man and as politician. So
much is this the case that we more
than wonder at the 1ndiscretion of the
governors friends who seek to array,
through Martin, the farmers against
the administration, and we strongly
suspect that there is treason to his ex-
cellency in this thing. 1t is too un-
utterably stupid for sane men, and it
can only be a deep scheme of the
Posts to get even for something =
perhaps that commissioner business.
A Severe ReprOOf.
The bloody shirt spirit, which was
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