The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-10-09
A Republican Protest.

Sam M. johnson, q republican,
writes a letter to the San Antonio
Light, in which is presented what he
considers matter for serious import to
the republicans of the tenth congress
sional district. He says
We must remembar that the repub-
licans of this district held a conven-
ton on the 10th of September and un-
animously nominated J. B. Rector as
their standard bearer.
1t seems now that Mr.. Rector does
not consider the nomination to be an
honor and he did not so consider it at
the time ne was nominated. For days
before the convention met he had his
letter written refusing the nomination,
and in the hands of his law partners
at Austin, and yet he had his friends
put his name before the conven-
tton, and that convention gave
to him what of honors it was
in its power to give, and now he has
dishonored the members Of that con
vention by flinging back the gift as an
empty honor. So let it be. If Mr..
Rector does not care to put himself in
the position to take what the conven-
ton offered him, he probably can get
along without republican votes. He
certainly will so far as the western
portion of the district IS concerned, if
l read Alright the signs which show so
plainly. l think it very probable that
many of the republicans would prefer
to vote for the democratic nominee
rather than for Mr.. Rector; since he
has chosen to set himself up as greater
than his party, for l believe he claims
to be a republican still. Kut they are
not forced to do this, for
ehey can, if no better opportu-
nifty offers, refrain from voting, and
let Mr.. Rector elect himself as best he
can.
l think, however, that the republi-
can congressional executive commit
tee will find worthy man, who is not
ashamed to be republican standard
bearer, and who will not play into the
hands of the few federal officials in
this district, who are now and have
been continually using the power
placed in their hands to prevent any
organization of the republican party,
either in the state, district or county,
for fear, 1 suppose, that they might
not control the organization. l can
tell these gentlemen that they
and Mr.. Rector have reckoned
without their host, for so sure as
the 4th of March, 1885, does come
so surely will Mr.. Rector not take a
seat in congress, and he will not
control the federal patronage when
James G. Blaine is elected. 1t is, I
say, to be hoped that some worthy
man will be found who is man enough
not to be ashamed of his principles
and who will not put himself in the
position of seeker of patronage, but
who can stand boldly for the right
and go down to defeat if necessary for
the future welfare of his party. But
defeat does not, of course, follow for
the republicans throughout the dis
trict would rally around such a man
as the republican candidate, and
would everywhere help him, and 1
think there is enough disaffection in
the democratic ranks over the tariff
question to give the republicans a
fair chance of success.
There are republicans in this neck
of the woods, who do not hesitate to
say they will vote for Major Savers,
unless republican who does not turn
his back upon a republican nomina-
ton, for the sake of few so-called
democratic votes, is presented to their
favor. The position is natural and
proper, and the evidence indicates that
large republican vote in the district
will be influenced as we state. Judge
Rector drove away frcm him at least
three republican votes by winning
one so called democratic vote.