Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-10-03

| IN ihrt n IS hetfer TO nave puolc
man persistent in his convictions than
in bis conversions. But intolerance is
never pleasing and 1t is probably lead
ing fault ID the Coke character.
Someone recently said that the senior
Texas senator had never convinced or
been convinced. This IS not 50 far from
the truth. He has never been great in
argument. lie has been great as
leader His has been to do. not to de
wise He has led with frmness, persist
ency, bravery, while others learned the
details Of governmental science. He has
boldly and in adaptable fashion assaulted
whit he thought were the citadels of
wrohy, while others pored over ccj-
nomic philosophy or pleaded with subtitle
and learned argument
His mind Is marked for the simplicity
Of his methods Of thought. The same
critic referred to above calls it an infan-
tile mind, but this doesn't express the de-
sired end. 1t is case OF clear ideas
of what are deemed good or bad, un-
hindered by the vast amount of explain
atory thought and often entnngling ar
gument which more intricate reasoners
possess.
This very faculty of Independent con
viction and intolerance, when convinced,
provokes the strongest persistency. 1t
often takes the staunchest faith to over
come difficulties and the most uuswerv-
ing belief to support assaults necessi-
tated by repeated defeat.
This is one side of the man as he ap.
pears through the public microscope,
which is easily applicable here. The
man as he appears more plainly on the
floors of congress than elsewhere. He is
in view of sharper critics and more Of
them. He is rarely able to fool them
long OF course, Senator Coke has not
attempted to deceive any Of the critics,
hut this is their verdict of his worst char.
acteristics. To sum it up in the usual
brutal words Of the Washington critic,
he is intolerant. persistent, of few ideas,
determined, hard to convince and not
apt in convincing
There is another and more favorable
side Of the sketch yet To show. 1t is
record pleasant to write 1t is view
which any Texan may be proud to
take. 1t is verdict which the harshast
Of Washington critics will readily rem
der.
The United States senate is not body
of men above reproach 1t is not clean.
1t Is filed with the SANDER of dishonest
votes, and the slime of dishonest lives.
Many Of these very criminal attributes
are not known all over the land, but
they are easily seen and heard here. IL
is no eNaggeration that the open stock
jobbing in which the senators engage,
and which they shape their legislation
To improve, occupies more than one-half
of the senatorial time. 1t has been called
In derision. millionaire's club. If it
were truly club of retired milliouaires,
the condition would not be half so bad
MS ii Is. Truth 1t that 1t is an associa-
ton Of moncy-making millionaires. The
air around it is filed with SANDER about
many of its most prominent members.
Through one of the longest terms now
being served here no breath Of this has
ever touched Richard Coke. He has
stood in the lcssening line Of the honest
mon of the senate. His record there is
irrcproaehabc
Another Thing. He is always on hand
10 vote his honest convictions. They may
be stubborn, intolerant out Of date. or
Ill advised, but they find expression and
vigorous expression every time There il
NO Sinking Of responsibility, no evasion
or uncertainty, but always a vigorous
assault on what IL believed to be wrong
and always persistent effort in what is
believed to be the best interest Of his
people.
This is an honest picture of one Of the
most prominent figures in Texas history.
That he is yet a political factor has in
no way affected this view of the man
as he appears from the critics rows In
the capitol, the press gallery.
1t is not yet known whether the sena-
tor will again stand for reelection or
not. If he does there are many old enc
niles who will. no doubt, be able this
time, with the aid Of younger genera
ton, unacquaiutel with loyalty which
association in trouble brings, to raise up
both strong opposition to his return and
some candidate bold enough to meet the
peoples hitherto unmolesttA choice. 1t
remains to be seen, in the event Of the
contest, IL the old leader will again rally
to his following the force that has always
followed him and followed always to vic
tory.
HENRY CHALMERS ROBERTS.