The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-07-03
What Has He Donea

What Has He Done2 +,
Usually when a man receives the ,
endorsement of the people by election
TO high Office, and the further endorse
ment of reelection, it is because of
some great and valuable services rem
dered, either in peace or war, to art,
literature, or by the rapid de-
velopment of statesmanlike fitness
to govern the people and control the
policies of the state. In the first in
stance, Governor Ireland had done
nothing TO entitle him to the distinc-
ton of being governor of Texas. We
search the records of that
period of time stretching between
his advent into Texas. and |
his first nomination in vain for men,
ton Of his name in connection with |
great events, great sacrifices, or great |
services rendered. 1t is needless to
say we find them not Nothing but
mere geography. Mr.. Ireland is an
honest man; for this he deserves
praise, and the confidence of the PEG.
pie. To his credit, be it spoken, that
he was honest when many around
him were making fortunes by meth
DDS, which, though crooked and queer,
were yet tolerated, if not approved.
He did none of that sort of
work. We admire him for it,
although it is not the negative
virtues which call out The affectionate
confidence OF the people, as
a rule. 1t is true great war had
been waged, and during the troubu-
lous days when the mad waves of pas
sion were slowly subsiding and law
and order were being painfully
evolved from unfavorable conditions,
do we find Mr.. Ireland standing
among the cool heads advising and
counseling patience and obedience to
the powers that were then governing.
Not so, indeed; but do we not hear of
him as counseling other policy, resist
ance even when all earthly probability
Of usefulness had ceased. Was this
the course of a statesman, a man fit to
control, lead and advise the people
We trow not. Naked he came into
the public service, and naked
he will go out of it, If one can only be
: properly clothed by the record of
good acts performed or wise theories
urged. Since his election, since his
, term commenced, what of either a
, wise or even tolerable craftsmanship
has he done, or projected upon the
policies of Texas? When he stood uI
and told the people to hang the fence
, cutters wherever found, and if they
2 were to be punished, executive Gle
3 mency in unlimited quantities should
: be forthcoming, was thai
l craftsmanship? Consider that thiI
3 advice came from the chief executive
e officer of the state, a man sworI
| to execute the laws, not
7 to break them, and sci
e the blind mob and the gov
e ernor prerogative Of pardon above
g all law. What is there in such dec
: laration as this to entitle him to the
honor of reelection?
e Where do we find the wisdom O.
y the advice he has from time to time
4 given the legislature? Where is al
the enormous sum Of money left il
the treasury by his predecessor
What stately buildings for the use O.
q the public, what great public i'm
q provement, and what grand colleg
O or other necessity or adornment of tn
r state represents in any shape the "casl
4 balance" so carefully nursed an,
n cared for by the old alcalde, and turn
q ed over in shining piles to the sag
4 of Seguin? 1t is not to be found AN,
neither did Treasurer Lubbock light
r skip over the convenient Mexican
q border with it. The people will pain
q fully repeat this interrogatory mex
n year when the nineteenth legislature
# to meet the yawning deficiency,
Il compelled to add materially to tn
: rate of taxation. 1t will then be to-
q late to groan. Ireland will be govern
or again, and the keenest misery
after that OF paying the increased rat
will be that his reelection seals tn
g lips of complaint, and it is read as
|. popular endorsement of the very polio
which created the deficiency. VIII
s will then dare complain? If any die
s his excellency could point back t
!. the singular unanimity with whic
v the people called him out an
a the overwhelming vote at the ballo
g box, and exclaim: 1 did it, it is true
s bat with your full and free consen
in the first place, and in the SECOND
with your subsequent almost unani
y nous endorsement and approval.
Where are all those broad intelli
gent views and policies one has
. right to look for in the governor of
u state like Texas-an empire in wealtl
of production as in extent of terrific
$ ry. When we look for them we al
o confronted by such narrowness o
S views as would exclude from gu
J state university the youth of othe
t states who would come here to EMO,
e the lavish means furnished by grea
s Texas. Such incoDceivable mar
l rowness in man who is gov
2 ernor by the consent of an intelligent
: and progressive people is astounding
r Respect for their liberal views if fol
: nothing else, ought to have prevented
g him from going on the record in such
l a way as to place blotch upon The
2 character of the state for hberality
and sound policy. The people have
5 hitherto tolerated these idiosyncracies
: They are becoming tired of them. 1t
may not now be immensely popular
! for the STATEsM AN to point out these
, errors, but the time is near at HAND
, when the people will universally ap
, plaud the devotion to the public good
which alone induces it to attempt to
stem the current against mediocrity
and inefficiency, that change and i'm.
provement may result.