The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-08-22

republic when tho public Servants met the
people face to face, and by the charlns Of
ci0quence and tho power Of strenuous
logic moulded public sentiment ana won
tho honors OF high place. Win this IN
tellectuaI contest for priInacy IN prospect
It is not strange that the public have bcen
preparing for q gala day OF pleasure.
But Saturdays incident, referred to
above, has changed, II not spOtit the pro-
granlme. The banquet OF brains that prom
ised such royal feaats for the people VIII
not be celebrated a. originally planned.
Tho personnel and tho menu VIII suffer
radical change. The biggest man OF the
''Big -Four" will not he at the festival
He who can be most relied on TO make the
fur fly and the fun furious Will not enter
the oratoricaI lists. Hon. James Stephen
Hogg has declared In his Itasca speech
that he has not been, is not now, nor Will
he be a candidate for the United States
senate.
The manner Of making this public decla-
ration, the time aud place chosen. Is char
aoterisiic OF this remarkable man. II re-
vcals his peculiar methods as a politician
and partially accounts for the wonderful
hold he has upon the favor and affections
Of the people. hold that no abuse or as
saults OF his enemies can shake.
After dailying with the newspaper In
reviewers. who had vainly sought his pur-
poses as candidate for the Senate. he
determined to take the public In his con-
fdence. and let his clamorous friends and
admirers know his final decision. Jim
Hogg." as his enthusiastic followers de-
light In calling him. doesn't do things like
other people. He is unique, original; he
is master marksDian when 1t comes TO
ringing the bell' or hitting the bulls
eye" as they say In target practice ut
West Point In politics he likes the run
OF "ten strike" or taking cooked
- Ytln
a time play for him. And when his ball
has cleared the alley at a single blow,
1t IL but Justice to tho Hon. James stephen
TO say that hr looks serenoly innocent OF
tho sensation his skin has wrought
The average politician with message
for the public would have addressed a let
ter To some distinguished friend or
eminent citizen" the rs all dotted.
the "ts" all crossed and every sentence
round and polished as Grecian shield
Or. no would heye delivered himself AT
Dallas or Houston or Galveston, the great
centers OF population aud wealth where
tho big "dailes" giving new life to old
and well-worn Duns. as well as fresher
flavor to their news could boast OF giVi1g
their readers we'll served dish OF "Hogg'
for the next mornings breakfast. This,
though. was not the great commoners
wav. Up In Hin county is Cotton Chop
pers' association. made up OF the Solo,
district Its purpose is benevolent ana
its work Is a rare and beautiful express
sion OF the virtues commended by the
golden rule OF good nelghborship.
This association made Governor Hogg an
honorary member and invited him to visit
Itasca and make them a speech. promis-
ing To give him 16 to 1 silver shimmered
hoe and good time generally. This was
lust to his liking. These We're the peo-
plehis friends. his sort. From them
he had sprung. Out Of that womb he was
the boisterous issue. Born in storm, he
had been In one ever since. He had come
up from poor beginning. was cotton
picker when he was barefootod boy;
knew poverty and its keen sting. Lie
hal been from the first fierce struggle.
| His path had been full OF rough places.
| His sky was not always clear, but at
| times was black with clouds, clouds that
| threatened his destruction. He recalled
| that 1t was at such a time OF peril and
| nced that the people. the honest, sturdy.
| unpurchased and unpurchasable people
| came TO his rescue, upstayed his hands,
| gave cheer to his spirits and hope to his
| ambition. They had stood like a wall be-
| tween him and his enemies. shielding his
good name from rcproach and saving his
| political fortunes from threatened wreck.
From their lovai shoulder he had stepped
to high places OF honor and trust, ana IN
their virdict read his justification and
found his best reward.
Filled with these reflections Governor
Hog was not long in sending favorable
RESPONSE to his friends ut l,asca. Then
and there he would declare himself. The
papers have given a graphic description
Of his reception at that place and the
| dramatic scene of which he was the CEN
trail figure. They gave him an ovation
of which any man might be proud FIVE
| thousand people, representing The virtue,
Intelligence and manhood OF the black
lands" yeomanry OF Texas, stood uncov-
cred before this private citizen. With no
soldiers iaurels and without the patron
age Of office, he yet received such homage
as the hero fresh fIom victorious fields
might envy, and the man OF power vainly
court. No common man could command
such hearty aud unbought tribute. 1t Is
not strange that, according to the news
paper renorts. Governor Hogg showed
great sensibility and spoke with great
power and pathos 1t is Il marvel how
ever that Mt such an hour and before suof
, temptation he was not shaken In his res
cluiion; diverted from his determination
to decline a prize easily In his grasp. Few
men have stood In the face OF such temp
tation and resisted It's Establishments.
A seat in the United States Senate II
the most coveted honor sought by Ameri'
Gun ambition. Governor Hogg is credited
with having his full share of this laudable
but ever FESTIVE. virtue, Those who know
, his power before the people NJ TeXal
know, without disparagement to others h,
could have won this senatorial fight has
+ he entered the lists, They know had h
stunned the State with his old-tinlc en-
| crsy and power. his would have been III
I | victory.
a On the Texas hustings the big GOycrno
5 leads all competitors He can draw III
> largest audience and hold their attention
n longer and with moro absorbed intercs
i than any speaker In the State He play
a uoon the humor of crowd as Ole Bul
g played upon the strings OF his violin, II
n can stir passion or tickle prejudice
: as NAV suit his pleasure Of serve his pur
v pose, He is master Of the art OF grim
: ace. His power of facial expression Is a
q effective as 1t is peculiar. This artihc
: he utilizes with a skill all HIS own, Whe
- he has made good point, and he Us al
+ ways making points, he will stop and sur
i vey his audience Tor an Instant and the
!, throw over this sea Of uplurned faces
: look so comical, with a manner so gro
a tesauo, as to convince both friend an
! foe, On these lines he can give pointer
!, TO the smartest comedian en- the stage
y | As a phase maker aud word artist he