The Waco daily examiner. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 187?-1888, 1885-11-22
Political vices.

1t so often happens that people Of
fer for political positions who are I'M
fit in every way for the proper dis
charge of the duties of the office to
which they aspire. This is unfortun-
ate, because it licenses those charges,
aud invites that discussion upon
which so many of the vices of the day
are predicaied. Many people who
oppose the claims and aspirations of
ambitious men, Imagine that IL is their
peculiar mission TO hunt up and ex-
pose real or imaginary faults. In do
ing this there is small regard paid to
truth, reason or fairness. The worst
that can be said is always the best in
the eyes of these patriots. 1t is plain
to be seen that the standard of public
taste, honor and policy are all vastly
lowered i'm this way. There seems to
be no exemption, from president
down to beat constable. All are
served alike; all are fed out of the
same spoon. Now, If any one can
point out a single advantage in all
this, over the simpler and purer
modes which ought to prevail,we will
submit. A candid, frank and truthful
discussion of qualifications, fitness
aud personal or party claims, seems TO
us to be all that is required, all that is
needed and all that can be done. We
believe in making these inquiries ex-
haustive and comprehensive, but
they should cease before becoming
untruthful and abusive.
In this state we have commenced
already, and long since, the canvass
of the political character of two dis
tinguished gentlemen for the position
of governor. The EXAMINER has
strongly urged the claims of Gen. L.
S. Ross. We have done so because we
have known him for a great number
of years. We know well the simple,
manly dignity, the unsullied honor,
the true greatness, the reach and
grasp of the man. We know
his integrity, the fearless bravery,
moral and physical, which has held
him far above the adroitness aud
trickery which so often underlies the
aspirations of other men. There is
no scltishness in Ross. lie is of the
true Chevalier Bayard stripe. His
career from boyhood through stir
ring aud changeful times, and ming
ling in changeful scenes, this fearless
man of the people has Kept himself
unspotted and clean. We know all this
well, know it from intimate
personal acquaintance, know it by
general report aud know it by
perusal Of the broad page of history
on which his deeds are recorded.
Hence we are deeply panied to find
Texan newspapers which must GER
tainly know him nearly if not quite
as well as we do, busy in attempting
TO blacken his name aud be-little both
his services and his character, and
only because they have some favorits
to urge before him. This exhibits q
vicousness which we are panied to
see. If there was one word of truth
in 1t all, il would not matter so much
We oppose Col. Swain, gentle
man OF high character, and a man o
both honor and ability. We do so on
ly because we think Ross the bette
man OF the two. We have been cour
teous and consideratc, nor do W,
m an to be harried into the revers,
course by the unjust and untruthful
) assaults upon our man by the Swain
papers. We believe we have the best
and the strongest man, and it is un
necessary, and we wouldn't do 1t /
I IA