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

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upon law to seize upon millions of
acres OF the public school lands of the
state of Texas under a statute passed
by the same legislature; and that
duty was discharged and the land
saved. / never made any boast of
these efforts, even to my most init.
mate friends, and / only cite them
now to demonstrate to you that in
those emergencies did not trick you.
And so in 1874, when the people of
Texas by an overwhelming majority
had cast out the administra of
Edmond J. Davis which has gone
down to history in infamy, and the
Legislature had assembled with
view of beginning the discharge of
their duties, and the distinguished
gentlemen selected rs her governor
had come to the capital to enter upon
the administration of his Office, they
were confronted by an armed band OF
janizaries swarming in the corridors
of your capital. 1t became necessary
that demand should be made upon
the usurper surrounded in his den by
these armed bands, and L, myself,
had the honor to bear to him through
bayonets demand that he sur
render his Office to the man whom the
people had selected to fill it. There
were many other patriotic citizens of
Texas there at the time, men who
knew their rights, and knowing,
dared maintain them, who had come
armed with implements of warfare to
defend the rights of the people of
Texas to establish and maintain their
own government which was their
inalienable birthright; and among
those find none who charge me with
trick cry to-day. L have heard pleas
in the public prints and excuses that
this man and that man were not old
enough to be in the war between the
Confederacy and the U tied States
and ther lore were excusable for not
being soldiers. But these men for
whom this specious pretext was put
up, were old enough then to fight for
Texas, and l saw none of them there.
Her liberties were then involved
more gravely than at any other time
in her history and the help OF her
citizens was more needed. / recall
these instances, not for the purpose
of 'eulogizing myself, but simply to
demonstrate to you that even in this
trying emergency there was no stain
But, L am charged with being q
railroad attorney. For this, / have
no apology to offer. am practlc-
ing lawyer, earning living for my
self and family by my daily labor in
my profession If % murderer, reek-
ing with the blood of his victim, de-
sires TO employ me and l see fit to
accept the employment, it is my BUSH
ness and no one elses. But in ac-
cepting the employment, / do not
sympathiZe with murder, nor do /
become identified with the murderer.
And so, If railroad desires to employ
me, and we agree upon fee, / pro
pose, so long as practice law, if L
see fit, to accept the fee; and when [
accept the fee my client gets the best
services | can command, the best
efforts, the most faithful devotion,
the most untiring energy that lies
within me. So long as con tinue in
the practice of my profession and any
railroad wishes to employ me in any
of it's litigation, and | am not in the
pubic service, it can do 40 if the en-
ployment is satisfactory to me. But
if am in the public service, / shall
serve the public with exactly the
same devotion and the same faithful
ness and the same energy which l
devote to the interests of my clients.
My professional employment is one
thing, and my political action is en-
tlrey different thing. have never
had thought or an Inspiration that
was not true to the people of Texas.
twenty-five years ago landed upon
her shores and came to this good
town trieudless boy possessed of no
means, and seeking to gain an honest
livelihood by my own labor. These
good people, some of whom I see
around me to-day still living, and
many of whom have already "passed
over the river and are res ting under
the shade of the trees" took me to
their hearts and homes and made nae.
stranger, welcome in their midst. I
have never forgotten this kindness,
and though my lines have been cast
In other places, my heart has often,
very often returned here, L see
around me to-day some friends who
peculiarly commend themselves to
my gratitude. The distinguished
citizen of your country who kindly
introduced me to you is one of these,
and rejoice to see him still pre-
served in green and honorable old
aga, and still ready to serve his coun.
try.
And, now, fellow-citizens, in con-
let me say that the time for
action has come, and our platform is
Texas, God bless her. She was the
most beauteous bride ever led to the
alter of the Union, and ought, to-day,
In the era of her splendid woman
hood, be the queen among the States.
Whether she is prosperous or " neither