The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-02-28
POLITICAL RUNBLIyGs.


deep are expressed in several of the
congressional districts, and if there lie
anything whatever in signs, several
of our veteran congressional place
holders will have rough sailing in the
future, if indeed they are to sail at all.
From Culberson's district we have
rather pronounced expression of dis
satisfaction with the strong feeling
"Old Dave" has so emphatically spoken
during the present session for Ran
dali. In fact, so widespread is this
that Col. Culberson has frequently
said at Washington this winter that
he would not enter again for the race.
He Is entirely too conscientious man
to hold the position alone upon his
well deserved personal popularity. He
1magines that representative should
be fully in accord with his constit-
uenis, at least, in the fundamental doc
trines OF party faith. He is unfortun-
ately high tariff in his views and it is
well known fact that his district is
one OF the most pronounced for free
trade In the state. 1t would be a
severe wrench were he to sever the
connection between himself and the
people he has served 30 long, but bet
Ter this than that the tariff heresies
should take root among the people.
We would regret to see this severance.
but then we acknowledge in advance
that our grief would not be ineonsol-
able. There are some principles which
rise Infinitely higher in Importance
than mere men, and this free trade, or
tariff reform principle is one of them.
Congressman Wellborn IN in the
same boat with Culberson, although
lacking in the essential of
candor for which the latter
is 80 noted. Mr.. Wellborn, though
not without certain ability, lacks by
many degrees being the peer Of Gull
berson, and his district is quite as pro-
nounced as is that of the other in its
devotion to the great democratic dis.
tinctive policy of free trade. Mr.
Wellborn, as did Mr.. Culberson. voted
for Mp. Carlisle, but 1T was under pres
sure. His constituents were both per-
slstens and emphatic in speaking out
their minds to him. Culherson said
before he went to Washington that he
would vote for Randall. Wellbcrn
said he would make up his mind
when ne got to Washington He
made it up, but the letters and teie-
grams he received from home had
good deal to do with the result. He
has an able aud powerful opposition
IN his district, ana his attitude to-
ward the speakership matter has
served to crystalize it and so
organize and arrange this oppo-
sition that he will find the next
nominating convention as difficult as
Bay of Biscay navigation or Cape
Hatteras in gale. The political roses
are not blooming too thlckly on Well
born's pathway this seasoa. We do
not discuss merits in all this-we SIM
ply announce facts, cold, stubborn. un-
complimentary facts, for which we
feel not the slightest responsibility,
and, we confess it. not the slightest
regret. Wellborn has become as near
"permanencyR in congress as he
ought to be, and he could be retired
now without doing either his district
or the state an irreparable injury.
Mills is knightly gentleman, a
good man, and has done good service
for the party. He is a pronounced
iree-trader, and in this he has an i'm
measurable advantage over either
Culberson or Wellborn, and yet there
is strong feeling in his district that
1t has A91e quite as much for him as
he has for it, and that other equal,
deserving men in it ought to have
recognition. You hear the phrase
rotation in Office" ofteaer in Mills
district, perhaps, than in any other. |
Indeed. it is a good old-fashioned
democratic phrase, and it is music il |
the ears Of both the staunch old sd- |
herents and the newer aspirants, a. |
well as their friends. 1t will produce
results, sooner or later,
Reagan has not accomplished his |
pet interstate commerce measure.
Indeed, the Adams bill has about !
taken the wind out of his sails, at |
least it has given him such a "set |
back" that four terms more would be |
necessary to enable hin to retrieve
the ground lost since Adams forged |
to the front. This makes a serious
situation for him, and 1t will be curl
GUS to note how the adpoit represents
tive will gather his legs under him
for another leap. He may be able to
do it, probably will, but he is just in
that uncomfortable condition where
the least lack of the usual adroitness,
and the Reagan "fat will be in the
fire" to moral certainty. By common
consent, Maxey is to be retired. A
pure. incorruptiple man, and 3 good
senatorial representative, but the YER
dict is rendered and he retires. coke,
but it is long time ere his place is to
be reflled, but the signs are even thus
early, that the stalwart Wacoan will
be given breathing spell.
Ah! the air is filled with vocal
of the coming storm
which will force the old ships to seek
a safe anchorage, at least for season.
Younger men are coming on. They
are becoming clamorous for recogni-
ton, and their claims are pressed by
the almost universal sentiment that
fair play is jewel which even Texas
ought to regard. On this ground, On
,hese grounds we assert that the polit-
cal rumblings ara already ominous of
some very remarkable as well as pro-
political changes, and they of
hat nimble order which does not con-
luce to long drawn out agony,
A
DORSEY'S POWER.