San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-01-28
A DANIEL COME TO JUDGMENT.
SAN ANTONIO, Jan. %, 1896.

SAN ANTONIO, Jan. 70, $780,
To the Daily LIGHT:
l noticed in the Galveston News,
some days ago, reported inter-
view with Mr.. r. f. Blair, OF this
city, in which that distinguished
and erudite young statesman set
forth at length his views upon
democracy and the political situa-
ton in the Twelfth congressional
district. Mr.. Blair, it is true, rep.
resented the Bexar county politi-
al junta in the last legislature, but
that he thereby became invested
with any authority to speak for
democracy or criticize some OF its
most honored, trusted and loyal
followers, will az once strike the
reader as both iLcUngruOus and
impertinent. With a freshness
born of seIi-assurance and lofty
disregard of the plainest principles
and precepts Of democracy, he
glibly skins the political surface
and sails off into the realms Of the
iridesent dresmer's paradise-free
trade.
Referring to the mention of MIR.
j. l.. Slayden's name by partial
friends in connection with the dem
ocratic nomination for congress, Mr..
Blair asserts that Mr.. Slayden's re-
cent uttersnces in advocacy Of an
equitable tariff to protec5 the wool
and cattle interests of this section
are something new to him. Doubt
less. But if he were to take time to
acquaint himself with the facts, he
would learn that Mr.. Slayden's ut
terances are in direct limo with the
utterances OF such Distinguished
leaders as Samuel j. Tilden, Sam
uel J. Randall, Joseph f. Brown,
and q host of other iIlustrious
democrats who lent light and in
fuence to the party of jackson II
will not say Jefferson) and that
they were entertained and openly
advocated by Mr.. Slayden long be-
fore Texas had the honor OF num-
bering him (Mr. Blair among her
distinguished citizens ard thrifty
statesmen. While Mr.. Blair was
rustling around the barren hills Of
East Tennessee, cen before he was
out of his swaddling clothes, J.
l.. Slayden was preaching,
practicing democracy i'll San An
tonic, as every old citizen and
the press Of the city will attest.
But Mr.. Slayden is not a profess
sional politician forever seeking to
pull the public teat, nor does he
pose as statesman. He Is plain,
unpretending citizen who, at per-
sonal sacrifice which he would not
consent to make a second time,
served the people of Bexar county
In the legislature one term. Mr..
Blair also served one term. Let
any unbiased man contrast their
records. The individuality of Mr..
Slayden was stamped upon every
measure of general interest enacted
into a law at that session. Mr..
Blair's, during bis service, upon not
a single one. During the entire
time of the five months spent in
the legislature, Mr.. Blair origi-
mated no measure Of general utility,
he advocated no measure of public
benefit, which secured the approval
Of majority of his democratic col
leagues. And yet he poses as an
exponent Of democratic principles
and a critic of j. l.. Slayden, whose
democracy and ability stand sans
puer, ct sans reproche.
Modesty is a becoming virtue in
the young, as we'll as the old; but
even a laudable ambition to keep
prominently before the people
should not tempt misrepresenta-
ton or engender selfish attacks
upon those whose lives-public as
well as private-should act as a
shield against envenomed criti-
cism. 1t is not probable that Mr..
Slayden will be a candidate at the
coming election for legislative or
other political honors; it is NOR
ally certain that Mr.. Blair will.
Until then, further comparison of
their records need not be drawn.
OLD LINE DEMOCRAT.