The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-06-12
"WashsJones.

we write over this article, has grown
10 be noinconsiderable quantity in the
sum of Texas politics. Wash is Meth
er democrat, republican, a green
hacker nor an independent. He is a
rara avis, and owes his significance to
the fact that he has survived E. J.
Davis, Norton, DeGress, the Pattons,
Sabin, Tracy and even little Jimmy
Newcomb. Now, these patriots are |
not all of them physically dead, more's |
the pity, but they are most positively |
and particularly dead politically.
They are pensioned off and stuck into
obscure official pigeon-holes in one
place and another, at but a small
cost for storage to Uncle Sam.
Not so with Wash Jones. He
towers high above the pigmy crowd
as Pixies peak stands out in bold relief
against the clear sky ten thousand
feet above the foot hills. w ash is af-
ter something better than the con.
temptibly small loaves and starveling
minnows of the federal preserves.
Wash aspires to become a factor in
state politics, the head of state pol
icy and the director of the destinies of
two and a half millions of the richest
and most prosperous people on the
face of the earth. Taking Wash's own
legitimate following, taking the sore
heads, the FOUNDERS, and the hangers
on all over the state and fuse them
and place Wash at their head as
is now proposed, and the situation
at once becomes serious If
not positively threatening. We do
not relieve the situation or lessen his
chances, nor indeed do we increase
our own by belittling Wash Jones.
He is in many respects most remarka-
BILE man. Able, alert, bold of wonder
full experience, popular with the peo-
pie, broadly known all over the state,
and with warm and devoted personal
friends in all parties in every neigh
borhood, he is dangerous to the dem
ocracy at any time and under any
circumstances, but peculiarly and
particularly so, when under circum-
stances such as surround the party in
Texas to-day.
The desperate attempts to force
the democracy to accept John Ireland
as the permanent fgure-head of the
Coke system while so far it
has been mesurably successful
is destined inevitably to a wretched
ending. Already are the signs of re-
volt recognized in many places, and
in such numbers, and of such 1especta-
bility, that Wash. Jones is not IN
reasonable in claiming that his chances
are now as good as those of any man
Of any party in Texas. When such q
man as Judge Fleming, representing
such constituency as he does, de-
clares in public interview, that the
northwest is in open revolt, and he is
convinced that the twenty thousand
votes necessary to put Jones in, and
beat Ireland, will be furnished
by his section alone, II
means something. 1t Is ON
nous of evil. 1t is ominous
of struggle in the fall, not for thous.
ands upon thousands of majority, but
for mere existence. We are trying to
ignore the gravity of the situation
but it will force itself upon US in 6
thousand forms. 1t is a ghost of pos
sible, or rather imminent disaster
which will not down at the bidding Of
even the known and accepted exemp
lars of democratic theories, and thu
directors of democratic energies. WE
must face 1t, and face it like earnest
men who are resolved that we will
not accept defeat when a change OF
policy will restore the lines and insure
victory.
The wise surgeon never hesitates tt
amputate the limb when the life o.
the patient is put to hazard by {
vain attempt to retain it. Wha
with Governor Ireland's curious
course on the herd law question, anC
all the enmeshed misery growing ou
of the course pursued by the legisla
ture in extra session, and the Wild
prevalence of the fence cutting evil
the democracy is very sick, even it
existence is threatened. Now, wha
followsp What should follow? Plain
ly the diseased member should b.
Topped off. and the party be tendere,
a living, fair chance for its life
Wash Jones at the head of tn
masses of the faithful, at tn
head of the greenbackers, at tn
head of the Independents, and al
the head of the dissatisfied
democrats of which there are
Judge Fleming tells us, Il
his section alone, twenty thou
sand strong, with Ireland at the hea(
of sore, apprehensive and discovered
remainder, and there would be JUS
enough of severe gravity in the thing
to excite thevery livliest aprehensions
in the minds of the men even whC
love John Ireland vastly, but wht
love democracy more. 1t is all very
well and very noble for individuals tt
follow an individual and devote
themselves to destruction in his ser.
vice, but it is not the thing to do fol
the democracy to go down into the
valley and the shadow of death
simply that John Ireland may
have another term at the governor
ship which will land him safely at
the door of the senate about the time
Maxey's seat becomes vacant, and
when it suits Coke's purpose best to
have a southwes tern man in the
place, rather than one too uncomfort-
ably near the exact geographical CEN
ter from which his own central flame
is now shining so effulgently.
This is the situation and squirm,
and deny as we may, it is a threaten
ing one. We present it faithfully and
leave the people to chew the PROPOSE
ton and digest it as they best may.
Congressional Reflections.