The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-08-07
Is 1t Inevitable?

Even those papers that oppose most
strenuously the nomination of Gov
ernor ireland for reelection, by the
Houston convention, seem tacitly if
not directly, to admit that there is no
probable escape from this political
calamity. 1t seems to be an admitted
fact that the democratic party, and the
great state of Texas, is governed by a
junto of political tricksters and char
latans, of whom Governor Ireland is
by no means the least. That, like the
Tammany cabal, this Texas clique
propose to divide the spells of office
among themselves, and depend upon
the simple voters to cast the necessary
ballots to place them il control, and
to keep them there indefinitely. That
because of their compact organization,
bound together by all the selfish con-
siderations which hold men together
politically, there is no way for public
opinion to express or exert itself to
defeat them. Taking this view of the
matter, it is unavoidable for a good
democrat. enc who believes in a gov
eminent of the people and not Of
junto; by the people, and not by John
Ireland and Bill Burgess; for the
people, and not for cabal
Of political tricksters and spoils-
men, to consider what his in
dividual duty is, or will be in case the
action of the Houston convention YER
lies these predictions.
If democratic voter believes that
John Ireland was paid for his in
f1uence and actions in procuring the
enormous land grant and exemption
from taxation for the International s.
Great Northern railroad company;
that he was paid for his advice to the
land commissioner in the Hobby land
fraud case; that he was interested fin
ancially in endeavoriDg to continue
the penitentiary lease; that he saerifc-
ed the interests of the state in order to
favor the lessees in appointing Bra
han, the brother-in-law, and Goree
the particular friend and lobbyist for
the lessees, to settle the states vast
and conflicting interests with the said
lessees; that he disgraced himself and
brought ridicule upon Texas by weak.
ness and imbeciiity in the Gauze affair
and the Louisiana eXtradition cases;
that in his vaccination message, and
his speech to the stockman's conven.
ton advising the killing of the fence
cutters and promising them politica.
pardon and abrogation in advance
ne showed his ignorance of the
plainest principles of law in
the one case and the greatest
contempt for it in the other; that his
appointment of DR.. Wallace to al
expensive sinecure as superintendent
of an asylum that had NJ
existence; that in favoring tn,
withdrawal of $4,000 in bull
by the trustees of the Agricultu
raj and Mechanical college fund, h,
showed the utmost disregard for thu
states funds and the peoples interests
That his positions at different times
upon the stock and fence questions
the reduction Of taxation, the univer
sity question, the railroad and LAND
questions, all show the unmistakablt
indications of diminutive demago
query rather than the breadth of com
prehenSive craftsmanship. We in
quire in all candor If sound, homes
and conscientious democrat who be
lIeves all this is true, can fail to en-
compass his defeat at Houston if tina
Is possible to fair, manly and honest
means. Such an one may throw tn,
responsibility upon the convention
for his nomination, and possibly vot
| for him, but he cannot fail to oppos
with all of his power. the nomination
, We might ask, because it is al
open question, does a good citi
zen owe more to his part
fealty, than to the demands of patriot
ism, the interests of the state and O
society generally? Should party tie.
be stronger than our obligations t,
society? Are there no virtues OF
moral considerations which rise highe
than political considerations? Shall
an independent manhood cringe unde
the party lash, and virtuous indig
nation stand abashed before the
brazen effrontery of a few dozens O.
demagogues and political reprobates
Let some man who has. never We
scratched ticket answer these ques
tions, for they must be answered i
John Ireland is nominated.
We have endeaYored thus plainl,
to group the situation in a homel,
way, and in way to bring this mat
ter plainly to the minds of all honest
conscientious democrats, to the enc
that they might oppose this Outrage
at the inception, at the door, as il
were. The convention is the chosen
field, the proper place to make this
fight. and it must be made there il
our Judgment, to be make with any
hopes whatever of success.