The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-09-01
EVEN THE GREAT CAN ERR.

II " N ' he uhI'I Oh@' D'''''
When a great man dies the nation
weeps for him, when he makes mis-
take it oftener reviles than pities
him. That Senator Coke has receiv-
ed many honors at the hands OF
Texas we all know, that no man has
stood higher in the esteem of Texans
than Senator Mills is current histor y
We have honored Coke for what he
did In the past of our state, we have
glorified Mills for the work he is do
ing in the present Of our nation. For
wears Senator Coke and his position
have not been an issue in Texas-he
has been in line with the national De-
mocracy and Texas has kept him in
mower as a matter of course because
of his past services. But with Senator
Mills it is different. He has yearly
been growing deeper into the alice
tions of our people because of his rec
ord in congress and his mastery
work throughout the length and
breadth of the Union in the cause of
national Democracy. Only last win
ter the whole state was indignant
that he had been passed
over by congress in its selection of a
speaker, lor man deserving less at
the hands of Democracy. And then
our people determined to vindicate
him. He hal not only been passed
over by congress for speaker: but he
had been passed over by the appoint
ing power of our state when vacancy
in the United States senate had to be
filed. This last wrong the people
determined to right, and despite the
opposition of the candidacy of
gubernatorial appOintee the people
placed Mr.. Mills in the senate. He is
now seeking election for the long
term in the senate.
The people have loved to honor
Roger @. Mills for his magnificent
fight for principle, for his dauntless
courage in contending for the great
Democratic idea of tariff reform and
steadfastly maintaining that that was
the great, the paramount issue OF the
times. On that platform he stood
shoulder to shoulder with that great
American citizen Grover Cleveland.
In such contest imperial Texas held
I'D his hands and babe him God speed.
But what a change is now! The Hogg
platform is departure from the De-
mocracy of Cleveland, and the De-
mocracy upon which Mills has so well
maintained his stand, yet he has said
he accepts this new platform as his
rule and guide. He has but just re-
turned home from congress, and in
the speeches he has made before tn
people, he could not find words of CEN
sure too strong to hurl against the
Third party. Yet compare the plat
form of that party with the Hogg
platform-does it not differ more in
degree than in kind? Do either stand
favorable comparison with the Clark
platform, that in its every line breathes
the spirit of that Democracy the peo-
pie have honored Mills for so long
and we'll and earnestly preaching?
Why this change? Why should the
peoples idol be shivered? Why should
this strong man, Democrat, have to
bow down and worship an image that
under another name he has so gal
lantly fought? The STATESMAN does
not impugn his motives-it is not one
of those. to revile. 1t simply in
sorrow speaks of what 1t
can not ignore and regrets
to record the fact of another great
man gone wrong.
Mills was a great name to conjure
with, when standing shoulder to
shoulder with Cleveland he fought for
united Democracy. Will the same
spell surround the name before di-
vided state Democracy and when he
lines himself with those who have
gone off from Cleveland and his silver
policy? We think not. Great oc-
casions bring forth great men and in
the grand struggle for principle, for
the re-establishment of true Democ-
racy in Texas, the times will give
birth to heroes whose glory will not
be dimmed by those who have gone
before