The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-11-06
CANDIDATEs TO THEIR TASTE.

Some paper puts it that the republic
can party has been unfortunate in the
selection of presidential candidates
This is putting it improperly. 1t has not
been unfortunate, from the fact that
its candidates have been to its own
liking, and have been named because
of their fitness for carrying out the
discreditable purposes of a base and
discreditable party organization. Its
nominees have been disgraceful to
the people of the United States. The
first candidate was John P. Hale, who
afterwards was sent as msnister to
Spain and then came back disgraced.
The second candidate was John G.
Fremont, who engaged in swindling
railway bond scheme, by which
French capitalists were, through his
representations, swindled out OF mil
lions of dollars. His practices were OF
a nature somewhat similar to those
with which Mr.. Blaine has been &C
cused, and for which French courts
tried and condemned him as crlm1-
nal. and for which he would be now
serving in penal colony had he ever
again put foot on French soil. Abra-
ham Lincoln was purely accidental
nomination. He was great as well
as a good man, but great and
good as he was fatlity hung
about his exalted position and he was
the first of assassinated presidents.
Then came Ulyseus S. Grant. who
had grown distinguished alone be
cause of his brutal massing of men
for slaughter on battlefelds, where
they were met and decimated by in
ferior forces. Lifted into the presl-
Dental chair he became the powerful
tool of men and rings, engaged in rob-
bling the people. They have since re-
warded him with money and other
valuable gifts, and at fast he escapes
conviction for felony, alone on &C
count of the honors conferred upon
him. Graft and Ward robbed those
who confilrd millions to them, and
while one is now in prison as a felon
the other, alone through public NOR
LITIGATION at his disgrace, is at large as
free citizen. Had he not been presl-
dent no man in this country would to-
day have been more publicly con-
demned and disgraced than U.S.Grant
Next in the republicad presidential
line came Rutherford B. Hayes, the
recipient of the stolen presidency, held
in universal execration by the people
of his country as one who knowingly
accented the benefits of fraud. Then
comes the martyred president, james
A. Garfield, who, had his presidential
career not been cut short by
an assassin, whom he had
used for a proposed consideration, and
then failed to perform his part OF the
contract, would have contributed to
American history black pages of con-
tinued and shameless corruption
Chester A. Arthur, an accidental
president, has had more decency than
any of his predecessors. He is decent
enough to not enthuse in theleast over
the candidacy of James G
Blaine, whose record as public
man is besmeared from begin
ming to end with the blacklist
blotches of infamy. Base men are the
choice of the republicans for the pres
idency; they are suited to the ends
aimed at, aud hence are chosen. Tht
vice-rresidents have been weak anC
incompetent men, such as might bt
used as presidents of the senate t.
further legislation in behalf of job
berry. Republican houses have named
as speakers men of similar characte
for similar purposes. There wa
S uyler ColfaX, who was retired
from public life as the most leprous O
the credit mobilier gang; and Jame
G. Blaine, the jobber, tn
roper in OF innocence for tn,
, profit of rascals; and J. Warner
Keifer, who is now universally recog
nized, even IN his own party, as on
no better than the basest criminal
who has robbed and plundered any
body and outraged innocence. TIL
democratic candidates during the pc
Rod reviewed were Franklin Pierce
James Buchanan, Horatio Seymour
Samuel j. TildeD, Winfield S. Han
cock and Grover Cleveland for tn
presidency, while to the speakershil
democratic houses have elevated Mi
chael G. Kerr, Samuel j. Randall an,
John G. Carlisle. Comparison is lef
to the most critical.