The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-02-01
COLONEL HOGG'S MANIFESTO.


| vention. Behind the movement, and urging
| 4, forward with maleyolent subtlety, th'
| distorted vision OF the great patriot be
holds the terrifying devil OF corporate de
sign and srced. Stranger than fiction 1t !!
that other watchful guardians of the rights
Of the people have been 50 stupid as mo-
10 share with the genial ex-governor tbs
glory of this marvellous discovery. But
the governor should be triflc more spe
cifc In his charges. What corporation 1.
behind the movement for constitutions
convention? This precipitste defender o
the cause of the people should designate
The time has happily passed In Texas whsI
declarations against individuals or cor
porations. that appear to be seif'inventee
or unsupported by statements OF fact can
control the judgment of Its citizenship. IN
| no other respect has the capacity OF tne
people for self government been 50 thor
oughly established. Their prejudices. IL
they exist ~ all, have become enlightened
and 1t requires something more than the
hideous catter of q Chinese ton-tom
| manipulated by the hand of clever poll
tIcian TO startle them from serene stud!
aud settlement of public questions. Name
| the corporations who stand TO ruin tne
! people through this effort to bring ABOUT
revision of the present state constltu-
| ton, to the end that the people may kno"
| by whom and from whence they are men,
accd. Back up charges with facts ana
designate the skulking enemy with his
business title. Then the Statesman VIII
not hesitate TO lend willing hand to the
work Of dragging the subtle corporate
spirit" from out the shadows OF stygian
| darkness to the broad light OF an honest
| day.
The poor fellow who stands on the street
corner with nerves shattered by dissipa-
\ ton, or not yet recovered from the horri-
| flying consequences of some frightful night
mare and mistakes for the forerunner of a
| mighty coptlegration the lazy smoke Of a
passing locomotive, is to be pitied, but the
| full grown man who plants himself In the
| middle of the mighty thoroughfare OF the
peoples thought and shouts the alarm OF
| Are merely to hear the clangor OF deep
| toned bells or to see the horses. all flecked
with foam, leaping In frantic strides to the
point of danger, is guilty of malicious mis-
| chief and menace to the public peace.
Who are these representatives of the
special classes" who are bent on the sin
lster'' work of moulding public opinion to
| the demand for constitutional conven-
| ton? Charges submitted by inuendo or
| insinuation do not rise to the dignity Of
! argument. Name them or let the public
peace be maintained.
Mr.. r. NJ. Johnston, whose great paper
was the first and only Texas daily, the
| Statesman believes, to swing promptly into
| line in support of Bryan and the platform
! of 1896, is in Austin with the hope of se-
curing some amendments to the present
| libel law. His paper with Its accustomed
boldness and honesty declares for con-
stitutional convention. Is his paper so en-
1 m I, Iva fbnf I'm
consciously serves an unknown master? Is
he Sinister" representative Of a special
class. The Statesman might mention O.
dozen gentlemen grown old AMI respected
In the cause of the people whom the cX-
governors scattering fire brings within in
| terential range.
No resolution, so far as We know, has
received any favor at the hands of any
| member of the legislature that did not
propose the submission of the question of
holding constitutional convention to the
decision OF the peple. Representative Hen
derson's resolution Is distinctly IN point.
No raan is trying to circumyent the people
by intrigue or conspiracy. Besides, these
people whom the ex-governor feels called
upon to protect from spooks and hobgob-
Inns, conjured into life by his absurdly
sensitive imasinations are quite capable
of passing on the question at the ballot
box without danger 10 themselves or to
afraid of the people, nor is it afraid of the
Texas legislature. Either can be relied
upon to protect the organic law of the
State against the Vaccinations of Z subtle
corporate spirit" however cunning 1t may
prove. In all candor, the Statesman is
not vitally concerned one way or the other.
1t does not care snap of its editorial finger
whether the constitutional convention be
held or not Some Of tho best and most
thoughtful lawyers of Texas, many of whom
have held. and now hold, positions OF
trust, honor and distinction fresh from the
hands OF the people, say that our Judiciary
system should be Invested OF intricacy,
clumsiness and expense by changes In the
constitution. Perhaps they are unac-
quainted with the Intangible subtIety of
the corporate spirit" Many representa-
lives of the people, in and cut Of The leg
islatve body, who are Just as intelligently
alive to the interests of Texas rs any man
who may accuse them, inferen.ially or
otherwise, OF ignorantly abetting the "in-
visible corporate spirit" in its diabolical
conspiracy to destroy the rights of the
people, are in favor of submitting the CUES
ton OF a constitutional convention with
out unnecessary delay TO the Judgment Of
the voters OF Texas. The Statesman will
be pardoned II II declines 10 lay the charge |
OF in,becility against these patriotic gem
tlemen.
THE railroads want the commission
destroyed" crooks the ex-governor. Sup !
pose they do? What delegate TO con- /
convention would dare lay his |
hand in violence on the railroad coM-
mission? Not one, and the people know
1t. Down goes DOGGY number onc
The stock iobbers want the railway |
bond and stock law abrogatedp Now |
this law Is a monument to Mr.. Hogg's |
courage and acumen when he was a
reU! and not an ex-governor of Texas.
No DELEGATE elected by the people would
dare n',e;rpt Its abrogot ton and no rlan
knows It any better than Citizen IIogg.
The law stalds approved by the best
judgment OF the people and OF the legiti-
naic investor everywhere. It's as safe
from the subtle corporate spirit as the
rock Of Gibraltar from the swirling seas
hat beat nternally against its granite
Sides. Thus ranishes DOGGY number two,
The land Spectators want the alien
land law repealed" gravely mutters the |.
prlnhie oracle. Do they? That's awful.
Wen. what az It? II won't be repealed.
pawn goes hogay number three.
Tho nonopolisis want tho corporation
land law changed Perhaps SO, but thev
*snt attemp, Il and The ex-governor
SHOWS mis- too 50 DOGGY number rour
-urns up lis impftonf Ices TO the daisies.
The boomert~ant she municipal bond
aW modified and he limitation ON the
.. 4