The Waco evening news. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 1891-1894, 1892-02-27

as your friend in comforting
upon you this high dstinc-
ton" Shade of Thomas Jeffe. son,
what a comparison this lofty and
patriotic action of republican gov
ernor bears to the action of our
Democratic governor in Texas. Why,
the latter has dealt with this high
trust as If he supposed that the Office
of United States senator was his per
sonal chattle, plaything to be passed
10 his friend as any other gift with
total disregard for the wishes of the
people Of Texas, Now, | believe in
standing by my friends. 1t is palt of
my religion. | have no recolle ,tion
of ever having turned my back on
either friend or foe, and l hope l
never may. And this inclination upon
the part of the governor of Texas to
stand by his friends is, under proper
circumstances, most commendable |
have no fault to find with him for low.
ing his friends But we must deal
with our friends in the proper manner,
and give to our frier DIS as friendly
favor only that which belongs to us
Ii trust fund is COL fded to our care,
we cannot make present of it to our
friends without breach of trust. If
fortune smiles upon US and we are
blessed with wealth and riches we have
right to give to our friends of this
wealth such portion as we see fit, be-
cause it is our property. There is the
distinction. And when Judge Rea.
gan saw fit to resign his seat in the
U. S. Senate and accept position
upon the railway commission of Tex.
as, a matter purely for his own decis-
ion, it did not lie with the governor
of Texas to say, even to himself, or to
think even to himself, that must
give this Office to my friend because
he is my friend. His appointee goes
to Washington, not as the friend of
the governor, but as the representa-
tive of the people of Texas in the
highest position at their command
And the people are entitled to be
consulted as to how this Office should
be filled, even by appointment, and
their wishes are entitled to respect
and to obedience. | allude to these
matters, fellow citizens in order to
show the evil effects of placing undue
power in the hands of any one man,
Human nature is weak and it ought
not to be tempted. Had this com.
mission been elected by the people,
think you that this arrangement could
have been consummated? So, let us
return to the good old-fashioned way
and give back to the people what
rightfully is theirs under the constitu-
tion-the right to select all their Off
GERS. The governor has no business
appointing any If he devotes his
time for the best interests of the State
in maturing measures for her welfare
and the happiness Of her people, he
will have accomplished all that lies
within the power of any one man
without troubling himself with ap.
pointments. Let us 60 back to this
old democratic practice and hereafter
look back on this marked departure
simply as beacon light 10 warn US
never again to violate the great and
essential principles of republican gov
eminent for the benefit and at the
command of any one man.
There is another feature Of the pres.
ent administration which would be
almost farcial if 1t had not proved so
tragical. | allude to the tinkering of
tyros with the law regulating the
ownership OF lands by aliens.
For the disastrous effect of
the alien land law upon the prosperity
of the people of Texas, 1 hold the
governor of Texas directly response
Bile. He recommended it is his mes
sage; he fastened to approve it when
brought to his Office when the statute
book of the session shows that nearly
one half of the laws passed by the legis
lature were permitted to go withou this
signature. 1t is most amusing on
the part of the governors defenders
to attack the legislature for this gross
ignorance and recklessness so dis
played; it is equally laughable on the
part Of the governor in his attempts to
lay it upon somebody else. He was
placed in his position for the express
purpose of carefully guarding against
such destructive Legislation. Mem
| 4 IL. Lol,ae DtfAn q