Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-10-03
RICHARD COKE, SENATOR.
a STUDY.

nominees. All through the history o
nicknames, to use Saxea, term, TIT
judgment which gives the name IS sci
dom overthrow.
The Western people of this COUNT.
are very fond of branding their publ,
men with quaint designations and mont
are more fertile or apt in the cuisines,
than the people Of Texas.
They haven't known a time when there
were not Deaf Smiths and Big-Fooi
Wallaees among them. and it is not
strange that the senior senator now sery.
ing the state in Washington should re.
| joice or repine In several names more
or less desirable. To those who love u
| honor him, he has for twenty years
been "Old Brains" The worst term Op-
| position has even been able to conjufs
up has been The Bull Frog Of the
Brazos" or the "Bellowng Bull OF
Bashan." These nicknames are all apt.
The senator's splendid head, with it,
marked protrudiug forehead. is easily
the source Of the first name and the
latter are by 10 means i'll chosen expla-
natives of the peculiar whooping oratory
Of the good man when out in campaign.
When man has been honored Of thu
| people all through long life, there
must he some elements in his general
composition worthy of study. His char
aetcr must have some qualities to provoke
emulation. This is the case with Senator
Coke. His public life has been a long
one, marked with honor. He served his
state and country well in war, rising
to 4 captaincy from the ranks. Ilo
served as district judge and then was
elected justice of the supreme court in
times that were troublous to his PEG.
pie and We're full Of dangers to himself
The stormy period Of reconstruction
marks the heading epoch of his life.
Therein was the chiefest of his service
to the state.
II is said Of him that when district
judge be used to go from court to court
on horseback, and so far were the county
seats apart aud SO thin was civilization
that the young judge used TO carry bis
| books, legal douements and pistols in
one saddle bag aud some coffee, bacon
and cornmeal In the other. There Were
stih times before him, aud he needed
whatever hardness this practice brought
He was exalted to the highest judicial
position in the hands of the people in 4
period OF turbulence worse than war II
was the time proud and conquered
people We're writing under the stiugs Of
reconstruction. And It was but natural
that the young justice, then but thirty
seven years old should side with nj,
people In the many discussions nrisn.
between them and their military masters
II was matter Of patriotic pride will
bin that his conduct was so uusuited tC
The misrule Of the times that Genera
Sheridan found 1t convenient TO remove
Him ms an "impediment to reconstruc
tom"
This endearrd him to the people. Il
WAS but natural that a. soon as permit
ted to elect Il governor for Themselves
none better suited their purpos,
or aroused their pride more thar
the very positive impedimen
to reconstruction, which Sheri
IAN had encountered. His nomination
preceded an enthusiastic election. Tn,
people, DISTINGUISHED for 40 long, voted
with arlor and admiration for "Olt
Brains" He had then another fgh
to 80 through which fixes his place IN III,
states history. 1t is too common a story
for repetition here. II made Its success
ful leader the idol of the people, 1t made
him the first of the proud line of young
Democrats of the new dispensaiion
which have since held the states highest
offices, with only the white hairs Of the
Old Alcalle to break the youthful sue
ccssion. 1t made him fixed character
In the minds Of the people as leader
Greater than ALL il made marked im'
preston on the character of the young
man.
Carlyle says that IL young jackas.
once or twice in youth achieves success
f,h entry 10 tho fodder stack after long
struggles, or If he finds that by baking
and witbstanding much beating. he can
save the labor of the load and the jour
MY, his power of determination win b,
heneeforlh fixed and he will always ae.
enmpish what he intends 10 and cannot
be turned from his determination.
mis- IL i,at as trul,, ,nnlic,bl. IN ti,,,