The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-03-03
ern0r made OF the conimissiong WHY
this very first step In its organization
was to pervert it for the benefit of
HIMsELF AND ms FR1reDs.

/ Il
HIMSELF AND HIS FRIEN Us.
Who thought of Horace Chiffon
as United States senator before
his appointment by Governor
Hogg? Who contemplated Ia
in this state such a contamination of
political affairs anterior to its happen
ing? There was no vacancy in the
senate. The. seats from Texas were
hlled. And yet, by some hocus pocus
not yet Ineligible toobservant minds
distin9ui citizen of the state
VINO had been honored with this high
ana dlgnliied Office, stepped down and
out and took much humber position
and the governor appointed his friend
even before the vacancy had actually
occurred in law and before the people
of Texas were aware that q vacancy
existed. l dislike to draw compari-
sons, my fellow citizens, between the
public acts of Democrats and Republi-
cans, especially when such COMPARE
son is IN detriment to my own party,
put my mind involuntarily turns to a
similar condition of affairs which eX-
listed in the most intense Republican
state of the union. [ allude to Ver-
mont. A distinguished senator from
that state who had served his con-
stituents faithfully for many years in
the United States Senate, for reasons
satisfactory to himself, resigned his
high office about the time of Judge
Reagan's resignation. There was no
haste by the governor of Vermont in
filling this vacancy; he took his time.
liz was supposed that q distinguished
gentleman who then held cabinet
position at Washington, Mr.. Proctor,
would be the immediate recipient of
the honor. But yet there was delay
in making the appointment, and this
delay passed from days into weeks
and from weeks into months until
there was a clamor among his friends
to know the reason why. 1t was sup
posed that the governor of Vermont
had some sinister motive in with
holding the appointment of Mr.. Proc.
tor. And yet, after the eXpira-
tion of many months, congress not
being in session and there be-
ing no pressing eXigency demanding
that the vacancy be filled, the COVER
nor of Vermont rendered Mr.. Proctor
the appointment with substantially
this statement: ~ have always been
your friend and have always wanted
to appoint you to the senatorship, but
this appointment was trust reposed
in me by the people of Vermont to be
exercised for their benefit and accord
ing to their wishes. / have delayed
rendering you the appointment in
order to
ASCERTAIN THE WILL
of the people of Vermont. And now
after making thorough canvass o.
the state L ind that the public vii
COMFORTS entirely with my personal
inclination, and take much pleasure
as your friend in comforting upon you
this high distinction" Shade o
Thomas Jefferson! What q compari
son this lofty and patriotic action of {
Republican governor bears to TIT
action of our Democratic governor il
Texas. Why, the latter has deal
with this high trust as if he supposed
that the office of United States senate
. was his personal chattel, % playthin.
to be passed to his friend as an.
other gift with total disregard for tn
, wishes of the people of Texas. Now
believe in standing by my friends. |
is part of my religion. l have n
recollection of ever having turned m.
back on either friend or foe, and hop
| never may. And this inclination
upon the part of the governor of TeXa
to stand by his friends is, under prope
circumstances, most commendable.
4 have no fault to find with him for 10y
ing his friends. But we must des
, with our friends in the proper man
ner, and give to our friends as
! friendly favor only that which be
, longs to us. If q trust fund is cor
, fided to our care we cannot make
present of it to our friends withou
breach Of trust. If forum
, smiles upon us ard we al
blessed with wealth and riches, W
+ have right to give to our friends {
this wealth such portion as we soc fiji
, because it is our property. There
! the distinction. And when Judg
Reagan saw fit to resign his seat i
! the United States Senate and accer
position upon the Railway Commi!
! sion of Texas, matter purely for hi
, own decision, it did not lie with tn
f governor of Texas to say even to hin
self, or to think even to himself, tht
= must give this office
4 TO MY FRIEND
because he is my friend. His al
pointee goes to Washington, not /
the friend of the governor, but as tn
? representative of the people of Texa
: in the highest position at their con
o maud. And the people are entitled
= be consulted as to how this offit
i should be filed, even by appointment
: and their wishes are entitled to T.
@ spect and to obedience. / allude
t these matters, fellow citizens, in o
Y der to show the evil effect of placin
: undue power in the hands of any OIL
+ man. Human nature is weak and
Q ought not to be tempted. Had tn
g commission been elected by the pc
J. pie, think you that this arrangemel
n could havesbeen consummated? So
/. us return to the good old fashiont
/ way and give back to the people whi
:, rightfully is theirs under the Const
}. tution-the right to select all their c
J. ficers. The governor has no busine
= appointing any. If he devotes h
IS time for the best interests of the Sta
= in maturing measures for her welfa
t., and the happiness of her people,
Q will have accomplished all that Ii
~ ,,,;tl,i, tho pouer of anV one ms