Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1892-02-07
Hon. II. F. o'Neal.

| To the Gazette,
'EPolitics do make strange bed-fellows. -
Ten or twelve years ago the Hon. H. f.
| O'Neal of Linden, Cass county, was an
| active opponent of the Hon. D. B. Culber-
son; not in the ranks of Democracy, how
ever. No, Mr.. O'Neal never went into ''Old
Dave'srown house to fight him, but chose the
pranks of Greenbackism, non-Partisanism,
Uniou-Laborism and every other ism
known TO the political category, in the vain
endeavor 10 GUST Mr.. Culberson from his
seat in congresc.
O'Neal ran against him number of times
| as an independent and in the campaign of
1886, was nominated in the town of Belden,
Morris county by so-called laboring
mans convention, over the in
domitable SANDY McCofrey, to oppose
'Old Dave" again. He accepted
the nomination, but after mature deliber-
alton, decided that he would stand no show,
and withdrew from the contest, stating as
a reason ''press of business, etc., In this
letter Of defamation, nor in any of his
speeches for the past fifteen years, Mr..
O'neal has never expressed anything but
the feeling of bitter autagonism to organ
lied Democracy.
But now comes the strange sequel, for
verify it is very strange.
A few days ago the Democracy of that
senatorial district met in convention in the
city of TeXarkana to nominate candidate
for state senator to succeed the Hon. l.. A.
WhatIcy, resigned. There is a rule there
among two or three counties to take it
''time about" among themselves furnishing
the senatorial representative.
1t was Cass county's turn, and she pre-
sented the name of the Hon. H. F. O'Neal
of Greenback fame. The delegates from
the other counties seemed to have swal-
lowed the dose like it was sweet morsel.
But stranger still, the convention Endorsed
the Hon. d. B. Culberson and instructed its
nominee to vote for "Culberson first, last
and all the time for the United States SEN
ate."
Col Culberson is an ideal statesman. a
pure man and would make Texas a good
senator. But what has Culberson done to
deserve that the Hon. II. F. O'Neil, his
erstwhile Greenback opponent, should be
chosen from his own district to run as q
Democratic nominee for the senate, and to
vote for ''Culberson first, last and all the
time.''
There might be some excuse for all this
Mr.. O'Neal was ready to come back Of he
ever was I'M to the folds of Democracy and
accept its doctrines and fight under its ban
ners. But no; he sticks to his old time
friends, and tells the convention fatty that
he indorses the Ocala platform, which
means in plain words that he is opposed to
organized Democracy, and follower of
Macune, Tracy ct al.
Where does this convention Of so-called
Democracy get its precedent to justify its
action and under which flag is it fghting2
If Mr.. O'Neal is foe to organized Democ-
racy, as his past record plainly stamps him,
how in Gods name can Democratic conVen-
ton, Democratic press and q Democratic
people indorse him. But this is not all,
In 1888 Mr.. O'Neal was the non-Partison
nominee for Encouragement of Texas, On
the Marian Martin ticket. In
fact, the writer has known
the Hon. h F. O'Neal for
humber of years from reputation and has
never heard of him being charged with be-
ing Democrat before.
The personel of that convention may
have been Democrats-the platform enunci-
ated sounds as if they were-but their ac-
ton in nominating man of Mr.. O'Neal's
record doesn't argue that it really was
Democratic convention. The ship may be
all right, but it has no sail and is liable to
be dashed to pieces among the rocks. It is
an unfortunate thing for Col. Culberson to
have such support from his own district, |
but it may be the line of policy |
marked out by the dark lantern or |
third partyites, that is to go into |
the conventions, and manipulate them for |
the sub-treasury and other failacies, taking |
the Democrats on surprise.
Personally Mr.. O'Neal is an honorable |
gentleman. and this is not meant as criti- |
,ism on him as 4 man, but politically his |
record does not authorize the Democracy to /
claim him as a son. REX.
WinSboro, Tex.