The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-04-10
The "OId Alcalde.'

The "OId Alcalde."
The pet name we print at the head
of this article is one known very
broadly all over Texas. 1t is not used
by the people derisively nor do we use
it in disrespectful sense. 1t is the |
patronymic bestowed in the infant |
days of the state when the Mexican |
population was in the ascendant and
when Oran NJ. Roberts, then young
man, held the official position of
alcalde" or justice of the peace.
Since those early days this now vener-
able man has occupied no second place
among his felIow-men and fellow
citizens of Texas. In every strait,
at every moment of public doubt, dis
quiet and apprehension it has been the
habit to call upon the odd alcalde for
help and it has never been denied. He
is one of those men upon whom the
country draws when necessary, and
the draft is never dishonored. For
many long years he has occupied the
most exalted positions within the gift
of his feIlow-men and to-day, in his
old age, he is as poor as when he COM
menced life. This is a loud sermon
upon the mate, unbending and I'M
besmirched integrity of the man. He
is neither dishonest himself nor will he
permit dishonesty in those who serve
with him in the public service. He held
the governorship for four years
and notwithstanding the clamors OF
those who differed with him in pol
icy Texas went steadily forward in
that wonderful career which has ex-
cited the admiration of the world. He
is intensely conservative, perhaps too
much so, but that is offset
by intense honesty of purpose
and conscientious attention to
the public business. His enemies
regard him as an old fogy, but
he always kept the states indebted
ness down to the minimum, and cash
balance in the treasury. We have diff,
fered with him in the past upon mat
tiers of policy; probably would do sc
again were he to re-enter public life
but at the same time we are able to dc
full Justice to the merits which are
his as public man, a public officer
and statesman.
} His enemies may say Of him what
they please, but among the people, thu
voting, law-abiding, tax paying PEG
, pie OF Texas, he is the strongest MAJ
, within her borders. They have conf
| dence in him. He fills the bill of thei
, demands. His devotion to Texas ant
/. to the democratic party is undoubted
= unquestioned. There has been som
, very serious complications among
the aspiring democrats Matter
q are much mixed, and by
!. sort of common consent al
: the factions tend toward the old al
: calde as possible last resort to secur
, that harmony necessary at all times
but particularly so during a presiden
tial year. In the minds of very man,
leading democrats the old alcald
> stands first as the most promising
hope OF compromise. Peace, har
mony and united democracy resid
in the very CLINT of his eye. Hi
record for four long years of officia
harrassments, and during one Of tn
most difficult periods in Texan histor,
as governor of the state. is a prouC
one for any man to have made. Hi
policy was severely criticised al
!, through by able, accomplished and de
! termined men, but when Roberts coul(
point to the cash balance and chal
lenge for the states unpaid papel
overdue, even hostile criticism becam,
dumb and voiceless.
1t is too early yet to cast up thu
chances of any man, or any set O.
men, but it would not greatly surprise
!, us If it would be found from thi
out till the end of the race, the ole
alcalde would be seen running necl
and neck with the nimblest nags il
it. We don't make predictions in thi
case, nor do we intend to do so, bu
there are those all over Texas who
feel confident that the old alcalde will
bear off the prize from the Houston
; convention.