The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-09-01
NO HERO WORSHIP FOR TEXAS.

OF the ranks.
NO HERO WORSHIP FOR TEXAS.
In the early and middle ages history
tells us there were great chieftains
and for the rest there were great
bands oftheir followers. Individuali-
ty except among the few leaders was
unknown. Personality was swallow
ed up in fealty to the chieftain. But
thank God, the age in which we live
is way past the daysof the nobleman
of whom the poet wrote, one
blast from his bugle was worth
thousand men. The Nine
teenth century is remarkable for indie
pendence in it's business and scientific
worlds. In it's social and political
spheres there may remain faint of
hero worship but this, too, is rapidly
disappearing. 1t is, however, unfor-
tunately true that in the general field
of politics the average man does not
take enough interest. He is content,
as a rule, to let self constituted
leaders keep on in their way so
long as things are running smoothly.
But when the old wagon strikes a
break and general shaking
up occurs then look out for precipi-
tous unloading. We have very
thoroughly convinced ourselves that
1--WE are the people," and though we
may not at all times hold the reins
taught, the leaders know what a
strong hand is behind them and no
disastrous runaways may be eX-
pected. This being the case our big
men are big only in the places where
we put them to do our work; they are
big because we put them there and
big only in so far as they do that
work we'll When they leave the
place of public duty they do so to mix
among us again and become simply
one of us as before. America is very
fortunate in having no titled nobility.
Our great men are great only while
we sustain them and they sustain
themselves. They have no inalienable
right to our consideration or support.
These general reflections are given
special point by the present condition
of political affairs in Texas. The
day is past in Texas when
the people can be copjured by
the prestige of a mans great
name. Men are made and unmade
} too rapidly for the cloak of even such
: man as Sam Houston to stand the
} wear and tear of being handed around
so fast or to fit its fortunate possessor
} for more than an hour at time.
, We of Texas are on the bed rock
: plane of practical politics. We are
not an audience gazing at pyrotech-
/ nical display and being entranced
r with flights of oratory whose climaxes
fall as flat as the stick of the
> spent rocket. We stand with
t our faces fixed, sternly gaz.
3 ing at the realities of life and OF
business as they are affected by poll.
tics; and we claim at this supreme
moment the right to dispense with
= the campaign speaker and to do oul
3 own thinking. We are now at that
point in the road where the old wagon
: has struck a stump and we don't be.
l lieve the old driver that all that is
needed is little more grease on the
: wheels. That stump must be pulled
: up or we must drive around it. Band
= playing and Grating can't prove
: that the stump is not there
3 and that every thing is all
} right; we see the front axle bent tC
r the point OF breaking by the collision
: and feel that the only giving of the
wagon is backwards. The stump
must come up. Kid glove politicians
to the rear! Let the sturdy yeomanry
of Texas to the task! We must cure
the sore in the body polite. We have
no time to be led off by the banners
and the shouting of the heroes of the
past. Our duty is in the present
Already with hand on the pillow we
have exposed the roots of the rotten
stump that opposes our way, beyond
and over the place Of its upturning