The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-04-02
THAT THE PEOPLE MAY KNOW

machine made ticket and ticket repre-
senting the sovereignty OF the masses MS
against political cIiques. rings and bosses,
The present mayor and his moro immc-
datc aud more partisan henchmen have
reated something like condition of
political terrorism" In this community
among these easy- going, weak-kneed clti-
zens who are always seeking TO escape
civil duties or burdens. These people have
seen the arrogant, dictatorial vndlctive
partisanship OF the administration fac
ton and have held their breath some
Of them. until black in the face through
fear Of mourning by auy outspoken protest
against boss methods the active dis-
pleasure, IN some direction. Of the admin
iatration's agentsl The aggressive mayors
faction has INDUCED so freely In petty
spite against aud petty revenge upon It's
political opponents, and has distributed Its
threats so widely and engaged In bull
doing tactics SO persistenly, that num-
bers Of good people in Houston have ac-
liually smothered their Indignation ami
surrendered their manhood through a
species of political and personal buck
egue! Numbers Of men have been afraid
to display the least independence of polit-
ical thought or action in the face OF the
administration factionalism, aud lot OF
gentlemen sacrificed, possibly, good
chances for political preferment by being
driven through political fear TO submit
their applications fnr office to the fac
lions primary only to be slaughtered In
the interest of more special administra-
ton favortes!
and enable them to sleep soludly at nignt
without the nightmare occasloned by the
dream of tho administration faction sit
ting a-straddle Of their stomachs, that
Mr.. Browne and the gentlemen associated
with him on the citizens ticket. have
boldly bearded the administration lion,
raised the standard of revolt against ring
and boss government and declared for an
impartial patriotic. noa-factional bust
ness management OF municipal affairs
That the campaign has been bitter ir
many respects IS due to the indignant as
tonishment OF the administration faction
that any class of citizens should dare 10
exercise their manhood by antagonzng
the ring! The slop- bucket has been
emptied day by day upon the devoted
heads OF Mr. Browne and his followers
The city government has been painted
as miracle OF honesty, economy and en-
terprise, and all men were Denounced AS
venomous slanderers who had the timerity
10 question the truthfulness of the cam
paign stories set afioat by the administra-
tion mouthpieces, Prejudice and passion
nave been appealed to by the mayors or
gan and his stump satellites and as the
struggle waxed stronger and drew nearrf
the end, the clover foot has been brought
more and moro into view In the ill.cop-
eealed purpose to stop at no means, how
ever unfair and dlctatorial, to carry the
primaries and fasten the tentacles of fac
uonaiism only the deeper into the body
polite!
It has taken high order OF courage aud
unselfsh patriotism to breast this storm,
OF partisanship and defy the mower OF tho
boss, but fortunately this necessary man
hood has been found equal to the emer-
sency, and today Houston is demonstrate
ing to an interested public that great.
growing commercial metropolis can not
be, with impunity, nor always, exploited
by an intolerant, selfish and ambitious fac.
ton for the advancement merely OF tho
personal fortunes of the leaders of that
faetion But, say some of our "skeery"
citizens, the danger is that such fight
once nrecipitated may never end and
Houston may be torn hereafter for an in
terminablc period by factonal strife,
Don't you think IT.
/ And must we turn over public interest
lock, stock and barrel, to an office SEEK
ing syndicate and narrow partisan ad-
ministration, for all time, rather than in
cur the agitation which comes from a
manly and patriotic protest?
Hardly. hardly, Such a course would
be cowardly Sinking of civic responsl
bilities OF the highest order.
No-break the ring. rebuke the bosses,
turn down factlonalism with an emphatic
blow, elect representative citizens
ticket pledged TO broad business admin
istratton, and only the "hred' office hold
ers and the disappointed oflcs-seekers
VIII wrisgle and squIrm and spout venom
for few weeks aud then the sea OF munlc-
ipal politics will become placid once more
and the city confidently and hopefully take
up the line OF progress under now and
more promising, and certainly more
gratifying, administrative coalitions
! Nothing is to be feared from the threats
OF the ringleaders of defunct boss gov
eminent Once put under the popular
ban, their days for mischief will be practl
caily finished. Let the masses once
strongly rebuke such faction as has mis-
governed Houston for two years past ard
the conference OF spells aud self-interost
Is effeetunlly broken--the clique will 20
to pieces like the wreck OF paper hcu "a
and there will be tall hustllng among its
old members to get back once more into
the confidence and fellowship OF the big
Icrowd!"
1t Is human nature.
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