F 391 .L88 Copy fr SJlT g.fM]^Mr gJlf Bl[¥r^ST^ Memoir Of The Of The Late COLR.W. LOUGHERY "THE FATHER OF TEXAS DEMOCRACY" i I 1 I -^i^©©- -©•' !r-53 The Well Remembered Veteran Journalist and Stain- less Patriot, Who for Many Years Consecrated His Genius and Best Efforts to the Cause of Democracy and Good Government, the Best Interest of Society and the Building up of the Material Interest of the State of Texas. - i)ersonally or by reputation. Calling uj) the vanished forms and scenes of long- ago, and viewing them in the calm af rer-liglit of interven- ing years events, that at the time of their hai)pening, ap- peared to have no necessary connection with one another 3 are found to be (connected, and the characters, motives and actions of men are more fully understood. While we are subject to misapprehensions with reference to those who surround us in the land of the living, we are enabled, in a measure at least, to construct a connected history and fathom the meaning and estimate the value of a life that has been lived. So called history is but a part of true his- tory, the skeleton of history, necessary to be clothed with tissue and integuement and have a soul breathed into it to be endowed with life, grac'e and beauty. It is an imnerfect statement of general results, so imperfect, in fact, that Na]M>leon characterized it as a "fable which men have agreed to believe;" it would be more correct and nearer to the truth to say "a misrepresentation of the past." It is a tale, poorly told, made up of parts of many lives. It is im- i possible to over-estimate tbe value of the individual life. If there were more real biography there would be more real history. And when we speak of history, it is well torelleet and ask ourselves -'what is the utility of historyf There is certainly little value to be derived from an accurate knowl edge of the dates of the happening of events, such as bat- tles, accession of kings to thrones, rise and fab of empires, establishn)ent and downfall of republics and tlie like, or, even the discovery of inventions or the passage of laws; for, are we not now in tbe full enjoyment of all that has grown out of tbe past, from the time of the lirst faint tlut- terings of life in laurentian seas down to the splendid civil- ization of to day, wliich satisfies our needs. The office of history is not merely tc» inform ns of wbat has hapi)ened nor why it has hapi)ened, but 1o bequeath to us that wis- dom which is to be gathered alone from tiie dust of age that wisdohi which will teach men and nations how to avoid mistakes, and live nobly; to catch up tlie threads that lead through the labyrinth and advance along paths that lead to the highest good; to instruct the individual soul, in or- der that, according to its capacity, it may best })erform its part in this world and tU itself for whatever better destiny it is, by its inherent com])osition, capable of attain- ing under the general plan of being. This office of his tory, of which I speak, is mainly to beaccomi)lished ihrough biograpliy, and that ])art of biograi)hy whi(;h treats of mo- tive and character. No man who has ever walked upon this earth has been free from im])erfections, there have been none who have es- cai)ed errors, both of act and judgment, and the subject of this memoii'. Col. II. W. Loughery, was not an excei>tion to the general rule, but ''e'en the faults he had leaned to vir- tue^sside." He was slow to think evil of others, that he was easily deeeived — to the final loss of a coini)etency which he had acquired by years of unremitting- labor; a loss that befell him when the heyday of manhood was past and old age was at hand. He was so unselfish, that he to too great an extent subordinated his interests to those of others, and tailed to ask for, and often refused to accept, the rewards that, his services had richly earned, and that, at the time, would have been freely accorded him, but which later, when he greatly needed substantial recognition by his l)arty, was denied him under* a system of politics that leads those in power to bestow their favors not as .ewards of merit, but with an eye-single to personal aggrandizement — to ])refer an obscuue cross-roads politician who can com- mand ONE VOTE in the state convention, to an old veteran, who has grown gray in the service of his country. He saved the frail barques of nuiny politicians from disaster. He built up the political fortunes of several men who have since held high i)ositions in the councils of the nation, but sought no honors for himself, when (for instance, within a few years after the overthrow of the Military Commission at Jefferson) he could have secured any office within the gift of the people of Texas. Such, and such only, were his faults — they were a part of his mental and spiritual composition, and bore fruit that, whiie it did not embitter (for nothing could embitter) but saddened the later years of his life, until at last he sunk into the welcome grave, a portal which led him, it is to be hoped, to a region of hapi)iness and rest. If these were his faults, what were his virtues^ He was ambitious, not to secure political preferment, social position, influence or other reward, or to gratify per- s son:il v.niity by beiiij;, and i)aia(linj.' t\w fact tliat be was, patriotic, true, lionoiablc, pious, kindly, <»encrous and cbar- itablc; but ambitious alone to possess, cultivate and i)rac rice those virtues. The i)atlietic appealed to liiui as it does to few men. He wei)t '» itli tliose who mourned and re- joiced with those who rej()ic(d. He was above all i)etty jealousy. He not only sax- but applauded th( merits of others, and cheered them on in efforts that led to distinc- tion. He never ]termitted a case of suffering- to ^o unre- lieved that it was in his jjower to relieve, and he never turned a tramp or other beggar from his door. When the world cried, "Cruoify!'' he was ever found on the side of mercy. He never deserted his friends, but w^as quick to fly to their defenc^e when they ai)pealed to him, or when i.e saw that they needed his aid, and as a result, there are thousands who remend)er him and sincerely mourn his loss. He never failed to inspire the res[)ect even of his political enemies. He had the rare faculty of doing the right thing at the right time, and was a consumate master of the higher tactics of politicj^l warfare. He was an indomitable and trusted defender of right, and never failed to be the tirst to thrown himself squarely into the breach in time of public danger. He was physically and morally intrepid. He was quick to es])ouse every worthy cause, and advocate it with might and main, lie was not only kind and be- nevolent to meu and women, both great and small, rich and l)Oor, black and white; but, to God's creatures, the lower animals, not one of whom he ever injured, or permitted to be injured in his presence, without reproof. He turned, in- stinctively, to the defence of the weak jmd defenceless. He never did an intentional wrong, and never committed a wrong unintentionally or through error arising from mis- take of jiidj^iiieiit or a misreprosontatioii of facts that lie did not sorely re])eiit, and iiniiiediately seek to atone for. He never sacriticed i)rineiple for expediency. It may be said triitlifully of hiui "hat he was the ^'Father of Texas Democracy. '' When he established his newspaper at Marsliall in 1849 (three years after Texas was admitted to the Union) the two great parties in the Uni'-ed States (Whigs and Democrats) had no representative local organizations in Texas. Seeing the confusion that ])revailed and deprecating the i)ractice of conduct- ing cam])aigns merely (m i)ersonal and local issnes, he, for six years, zealously taught, throngh the columns of his paper, the tenets of Democratic faith, as to which there were many misconceptions (men running for office who claimed to be DemocratvS, and who did not understand nor believe in the lirst principles of Democracy) and sought to bring about party alignments, which he at hist succeeded in doing, as the state convention of 1855 was the result of Ins labors and the labor of those who aided liim in his 'work. While he believed that concerted action in jmlitical matters, wliich can alone be secured througli perfect party organizations, he was of too manly and indei)endent a si)irit and too clear-headed and wise a man to erect a i)arty into a fetisch, to l)e bowed down before and worshii)pe(| with the blind and senseless adaration that the African bestows ujxHi a sti(;k wrapi)ed with colored yarn and tipped witli feathers, or other object that he invests witii occult and omnii)otent i)owers. He did not hesitate to criticise ])latforms- candidates and oti[icials---from the higliest to the lowest — when he deemed such (;ritisiM necessary to the good of the country or i)arty. 'He believed in the great cardinal princii)les n])on whicli his scnool of ])olitical economy rests. 10 If party leaders violated those prinei[)les he souj^ht, as far as his intluence extended, to whip them back into line. If liis views upon jniblic questions were not acce[)te(l and enunciated in the platform utterances of his party, he did not cease to advocate their adoption, neither did he quit the l^arty, for, with the author of Lacon, he believed "tiiat the violation of coirect ])rinciples offers no excuse for their abandonment," and was sure ihat the Democratic masses would in time force their leaders, so-called (the most sub- servent of followeis, with few excei)tions) to ado[)t the cor- rect conrse and retrace the false anli public ofHcial are brought in question, ov his utterances assailed by niembers of the party to which he belongs, ciud which ele(tted him to the position. Unless the common sense of the ])eople asserts itself S])eedily the servants will become the masters of the people, and a general si)irit of (;owardise will result in such gross blunders as to lead tothedisintergrationof the party. He was quick to ])ardon a ])rivate fault and foigive and forget a personal grievance; but woe to the man who usurped authority, made power the instrument of injustice, or betrayed a ])ublic trust, for he might expect the scorpion lasli. He believed in bowing to the will of the majority to this extent: If it was a majority secured at the polls against a course he believed in, until he and his co-laborers could win a majority of suffragans to their side and reverse the result; if of his party, in opposition to his views, until lit' could win enough of his fellow members to his way of thinking to secure such party utterances or action as he desired, or until he became convinced that he, was in error; but he WOULD NOT bow slavishly and say thar wnmg was right upon the mere ipse dixti of any majority, nor would he relax his efforts in the defense of his opinions. He would frankly say that he believed the party to have acted unwisely, but that he intended to remain with it and sup- port its nominees, because he knew that it offered the oid^^ i^ecure hoi)e for the maintenance of good government in this country, and would learn from experience, and rectify the mistake into which it had fallen, lie was devoted to the Democratic Hag, with a devotion akin to that which a veteran feels for the colors of his regiment, which he has followed through baptism after baptism of tire to victory. 12 Ho ciitcitiiined no superstitious reverence for majorities, nor did lie believe that^ the time bad yet come when tliey were .nvested witli tlie attributes of infallibility. On tlie (•(mtrary lie knew that they were often wrong-, and in time ]}ast had long stifled truth, persecuted innocence, o])i)osed liuman ndvancement in every department of knowledge, and inflicted niucli cruel injustice — liad forced Gallileo to swear that an iir mutable truth was a lie, had burned Cervitus at the stake, kei)t the fagot-fires of ])ersecution ablaze at Smitlifield and Oxford, and condemned Chiist to an ignom- inious death upon the cross. He knew the minorities had oi)l)osed all these foolish and evil acts, and that the minori- ties hod grown to be the majorities upon which our present civilization rests securely. He believed that it w^as the duty of a minority that felt itself in the right, to persevere against all obstacles to the achievement of final success, and that if this were not so, there would be an end of prog- ress, as the exi)ressecl will of the first majority secured w(mld have all the binding force of an edict flowing from an infallii:ie source. He w-as charitable, not merely in. word and deed, but in thought as well. Nothing pained him more than to be compelled to listen to. words of de- traction, and under no circunjstances would he repeat ;hem. He was a bold, aggressive personality — made to lead in times of storm and struggle. Com])aratively early in his career it was charged that Hon. Lewis T. Wigfall wrote the editorials for the Texas llepublican, but this piece of malicious whis[)ering was soon forever silenced, as lie and Wigfall became engaged in a newspajier controversy, in which Wigfall was ])laced iiors de combat. Col. Loughery was a devoted husband and father. 13 He Wiis boni in Xiisliville, Tennessee, Febuary U, 1Sl>(), jind was educated at St. Joseph's College at Bardstow ii. Keiitiieky, to wliieli place his parents, Robert and wSarali Ann Louji'liery (From the XortJ! of Ireland) removed dnr iuiX his infancy. At ten years of a,i»e he was left an orphan and not Ion;;- after entered a printin«>' oftice where he learn- ed the trade. News of the revolution in i)i<)<;Tess in Texas — the massacres at the Ahimo and (loliad and the victory won at the battle of San Jacinti)— tired him with a desire to join the patriot army and strike a blow for liberty and, a,lrhou,i;h Uut sixteen year of age, he went ro Cincinnati, Ohio, and there joined a military conipany and started with it for Texas. A frail, delicate lad, he was taken sick en route to New Orleans and was left in that city, when^ he remained a year and a half, and then went ro Monro;', Louisiana, where he remained until 1liery obtained sole control of the paper by purchase, and conducted it alone until August, 1869. The files of The Texas Kei)ublican were purchased a few years since by the State of Texas and are now preserved in the archeaives of the state dej^artinent of Insurance, Statistics and History. Before the war this paper was the recog- nized organ of the democratic party in Texas. It led tlie host in every contest. The fiery know-nothing campaign of 1855 gave full scope for the exercise of his varied abiUties. The Know Nothing party was a secret oath-bound, organi- zation, hostile to Catholicism and opposed to* immigrants from foregin lands acquiring right of citizenship in this country. Largely, if not mainly, through the efforts of Col. Loughery, a Democratic State Convention was called (the first in the state) assembled, nominated candidates for state offices, and drew the Democracy ui) in regular ar ray to contest the stat^ with the opposition. To him, the methods and tenents of the Know-Nothhig party we;e en- tirely obnoxious. While necessity might be plead for the formation and maintenance of secret, oath-bound, political associations in such a country as Eussia, no excuse, he de clared, could be offered for their existence here. In his opinion they were foregin to the genius of our institution and a menace to individual and popular liberty. As to re- ligion. Catholic or other, he contended that every man should have the right to worshij) (iod according to the dictates of his own conscience. That this right should be protected and that the state had nothing to do with relig- ion or with other matters purely of conscience. As to re- strictions upon men of foregin birth being accorded the rights of citizenshii), he reminded the people that our fore- 15 fathers, themselves, had originally come from Europe, that Lafayette and others had crossed the ocean to aid the colo- nists in the revolution of 1770, that thousand of foregin birtli had done valient service in the war of ISlli and in the Texas revolution and that throughout the land the foregin element furnished examples of citizenship that were unexcei)tionable. He took the position that men who left home and all its endearments and the land where they were born, hallowed as it was by the traditions and acheivements of their race, to cross the seas in search of wider liberty and better orportunities among a people to whose very language they were strangers, were made of such ])rinciples as should be invited rather than repelled as immigrants. His was not the spirit of the cormorant w^ho desires all for self, but that better spirit that led the founders of the republic to boast that they had established anasyium to which, through all future time, the oppressed and down-troden might llee with the certainty of receiving protection being accorded the rights of free men. The following incident is illustrative of the temper of the times. Hon. Pendleton Murrah, afterwards governor of the state, was a candidates for Congress and opened his campaign at Marshall. It was impossible to estimate the strength of the Know-iS'^othing party, as all its proceedings were held in secret. This strength was greatly under estimated by Murrah and his friends. They believd that the excite- ment was of an ephemeral character and was cont^ned to a few individuals who hoi)ed to secure oftice by playing the roles of ]^oliUcal agitators. Mr. Murrah assailed the 1*^m1- ers and princijdes of Know-Nothingisiii with allthe v.^or and venon of which he was capable (and he was capable of great deal in that, as well as other, directions) hoping to 10 — give Mie Aiiiericaii i>aity, so far as his (lislric^t was eon- cenuMl, its Coiii> de^Taee. OiiCM)f the leading citizens of the eonnty arose and declared that the gentleman who composed the American i)arty had been insulted, and called n;)on all members the party to follow liim from the court room. There was a moment of breathless expectation, succeeded by the audience arising, well-nigh en ma.^sc and moving toward the door. Soon Mr» Murrah and two or three friends alone remained. They were dumbfounded. Tlie scene they had Avitnessed was a revelation. They realized that there was no hope of Democratic success in the district and that the Know-Nothing party would sweep it. Mr. Murrah declared his intention to at once withdraw from the race. At this moment Col. Loughery stepi)ed u/^ to him and urged him to continue the campaign and that Avith increased vigor, saying^. among other things. "If you retire now in the face of the enemy, your political career will end today. Although defeat is certain, stand up and tight, and when the Know-Nothing p.jrty is (condemned by the sober second-thought of the ])eoi)le, you will be remem- bered and honored." Mr. Murrah followed Coi. Loughery's advice and was afterwards elected Governer. The cam- l)aign waxed hotter and hotter. The Texas Repulic^an's phillipics, many of which were unsurpassed by any written by the author of Junius or uttered by Sheridan or Burke^ fell thicker and faster and party s[)eakers flew swiftly from point to i)oint harranguing the multitude, sometimes alone but more often in tierce joint-debate. At last came the fateful day of elecjtion, a day of doom for the Know-Noth- ing party (but not of its sjjirit, for that is still alive) and of victory to the Democracy. 17 Tlie next inoiiientous citocli in the liistory of Tol. LoiiglK'iy was tliat njaikod by the secession moveinent. As {o the ri^ht of revohition, it is necessarily inlierent in every ])eoi)le. The time when it sliall be exercised rests alone in ^heir discretion. The right of secession was of an entirely different nature. It was in vhe nature of that right which a ])arty elainis when lie withdraws from a con- tract, the terms of which have been violated or the consid- eration for which has been withdrawn, and identical with that with which nations who are ijarties to a treaty of alii ance. offensive and defensive reserve to themselves (although the compact may in its terms ])rovide for a per- petual union) to consider the treaty annulled when its terms are dei)arted from or the connection no longer con- tinues to be i)leasant or profitable. Withdrawal may, or may not, give offense and lead to a declaration of war. If it does lead to hostihties, the resulting struggle is one car- ried on by equals in which heavy artillery and big batallions will settle the fate of the quarrel, rhe question of moral right must be left to the decision of the ])ublic conscience of the world, or, if that conscience fails to asssert itself at the time, to posterity and the imjjartial historians of a later period. At one tiuje in the liistory of the English race, the trial by battle was a part of legal p.rocedure by which issues, both civil and criminal, were judicially determined. The ])laintiff, or accuser, iireferred his charge and the defendant made answer by denial and challenging the op- posing i)arty to a single canibat, calling upon (iod as he did so, to defend the right. A day and ])lace were thereujuui fixed for the trial and, after many solemnities, such as swearing of oaths, kissing of IMbles etc., the command was given "Let the combatants go!'' and the huter advanced. 18 attacked each otlier and fought until one could tiglii no longer. At the conclusion of this struggle, which always took place in the presence of judges anfl a large concourse of i^eople, the victor was declared to have established his claim, or innocence as the case might be, and accorded, if he desired it, something in the nature of a formal triumph, being escorted back to town by the multitude amid sound- ing huzzahs and other demonstrations of popular approval and sympathy. But in course of time men came to see that skill, strengtn and courage were the solo, factors that controlled the issue of such contests and that wrong was as often successful as fight. As a consequence the trial by battle fell gradually into disuse and at last became extinct and is no^' only remembered as a curious custom incident to the evolution of our system of jurisprudence. What has been said of the trial by battle may be said with equal truth of war, and the fate of war. The fact that the south- ern states v.'ere defeated, consequently, has no bearing upon the question of their right to secede. The American union was originally formed by independent sovereignties tbat bound themselves together to secure certain benetits and to remain so associated so long as the conneiJtion proved de- sirable. Such was the theory, in part, held by Col. Lough- ery and others who advocated secession. He believed that every essential guarantee contained in the written compact, or contract, of union had been grossly violated and that the southern states could no longer either expect peace or se- curity to their rights, or any benefit whatever by continue- ing under the same governmental-roof with tlie states north of Mason and Dixon's line. H^^ was in favor of a Dcaceful withdrawal, if possible. He thought it was better for the states of the two se(;tions to live ai)art, as they had no in- n) terests in coiiiiuon. Therefore ae supiKuled tlie seeessioii iiiovemeut. If the southeiii sUites liad been allowed to l)eacefully withdraw from the union there wonhl liavebeen no war. It has been said that the war was unav()i(hible. That is untrue, for it could have beyn avoided in this way and the resjjonsibility for the blood that was shed (U)es not lie at the door of the southern states. As a matter of fact the hand of providence seems to have guided the course of events. Questions were settled by the war that could have been settled in no other way, better conditions were inau- gurated that could have been inaugurated in no other way, misconce|)ti(ms and animosities were obliterated that could have been obliterated in no otln r way, mutual respect and confidence were inspired tliat(;ould have been inspired iii'ttli) other way, and a truly fraternal and undestructible Union established that couhl have been established in no other way, a Union to which all tlie i)eo[)le of all the states are deeply attached. During the progiess of the war Col. Loughery oi)posed the passage of the conscript laws and the invasion of the jurisdiction of ci\'il authority by military commanders. With all his i)owers of persuation he rough t to keei> uj) the waning hopes of the peoi)le as the months passed on into years and the Confederacy, like the tower Ushur, daikly nodded to its fall. Knowing that many of the families of Confederate soldiers then in tbe he'd were in need, he inaugurated a movement that resulted in amass meeting at the Court House in MaishaH, Texas, at whicli a committee was ai)i)ointi'd to ^^olicit subscrij)tions of money and provisions for the establishment of a depot of-suppiies, at which such families could obtain what they needed. He continued to i)ublish his paper throughout the war, never missing an issue. The hnal result of the struggle did not 20 unnerve liiui as it did many otber ])ublie men, some of whom amcmg the number the brilliant and lamented Pendleton Murrah, fled the country to find graves in alien lauds. Tliose were dark day that followed the surrender, and the estabhshment of military rule. Some of those who l)oasted that they would submit to no indignities, not only timely submitted but went entirely over to the Kadieals, accepted office under tliein and seemed to delight ino})[)ress ing a defenseless |)eoi)le. This class found no mercy at the hands of Col. Loughei y. His course was characterized by eminent good sense and ^^as remarkable for its fearleSvS- ness. Owing to the stand tlu.t he took the iniquities that were ])eriietrated fell far short in atrocity to what they would otherwise have done, as he unhesitatingly not only ventilated, but denounced what was going on and his papers found ^heir way to Washington. In April, 1857, he started the Jefferson Times (daily and weekly) and ran it in connection with his paper at Marshall. At this time a (?omi)lete systein of oi)i)ression and tyr- anny prevailed. An army of thieves were sent into the country, ostensibly to protetrt the negroes and to hunt up Confederate cotton and other alleged Confederate property. The Freedmen's Bureau had its agents in every county. The jails were full of respectable peoi)le, charged with dis- loyalty or alleged crimes, on the complaints of mean whites or depraved negroes. Five military despotisms prevailed in the south. Governors were deposed, legislatures dis- persed at the point of the bayonet and citizens disfranchis- ed. The i)ress was silenced and men were afraid to talk, but in many places they became bolder, until they did not see actual danger. Such was the case in Jefferson, in 1S09, when a mini ber of outraged citizens broke into the jail and shot to death a man named Smith, (who had often threatened to have the town burned) and three negroes. These kilhngs inflamed the Radicals. They cared nothing about Smith, whose conduct was about as offensive to them as to the people, but they seemed to rejoice at the opportunity this incident afforded to oppress a people that they hated. Col. Loughery, with both j)apers, attacked the military organization and the military commission appointed to try these men and others incarcerated at Jefterscm, charged with alleged crime. The commission prevailed for over six months, Mud with it a reign of terror. Men talked in bated whispers. A large number of men left the country to escape persecution. A stockade was erected on the Vv'cst side of town, in wiiich were imprisoned over fifty per- sons. Martial law prevailed, the writ of habeas corpus was suspended, and men weie tried by army officers in time of profound peace, in plain, ()[)en, violation of the con- stitution. His position during this period was one of great ])eril, as he reported the })roceedings of, and boidly assailed, the commission and its acts from day to day. His life was more than once secretly attempted, and a Federal Colonel was finally selected to chastize him publicly. Col. Loughery gave the fellow a sound beating, however, and the crest- fallen t)fficer was arrested, carried before a llepublican mayor and fined, and subsequently transferred by his supeiior otficers to another department. Col. Loughery's able and intrepid course resulted in the downfall of rhe commission, prevented the an-est of many j)ersons, and the commission of many outrageous acts that otherwise wer m the state that did not quote from the Herald's editorial columns, and the editors of the state, as if by common consent, united in referring to him on all oc casions as the ^'Xestor of the Texas Press.'' ''From a very early period Col. Loughery strongly ad- vocated the building of a Trans-Continental railwiiy through Texas to the Pacific ocean, and while in Xew Orleans on one occasion was employed by Col. Faulk, the original pro- jector of the Texas and Pacific railway, to write a series of articles for the Picayune in defense of ihe corporation which Col. Faulk had then recently fornied. Later he be- came one of the stock holders and directors of the corpora- tion. Throughout his life he felt an interest in the fortunes of the Texas and Pacific, and remained an earnest advocate of railway construction. Every worthy enterprise found m him a staunch and zealous supporter.'' 23 In 1887 lie was appointed by IMcsident Cleveland et)nsul for the United States at ^Veapuleo, Mexico, and held the office until December Ist, 181)0, making- one of the best officers in the foreign service. He was often commended by the state department, and his reports were copied by the leading commercial papers m Europe and America. Consuls are as a rule, able men, conscientious in the discharge of their duties, and fully the equals of their brothers of the service in either Euro]>e, Asia or Africa. Their duties are of vast importance to this country, and necessarily more commercial than diplomatic. Consuls should have, though, more than a smattering of interna- tional rights and duties. When they ha\ e to temijorarily assume the duties of an TTiiited States Minister, and see to it that the lives and proi)erty of his compatriots are not im])erilled, and that the lionor of the flag is maintained. The consul has to be acquainted with shii)ping laws, and have a more or less judicial ability in the settling of disputes between captains and seamen, and between foreign port officials, and our mercbant marine, when they arise. He has to ceitify to consular invoices, and be conversant with the values of exports and imports, so that no clash shall occur between the custom authorities and importers at home. Further, and above all, the consul has to carefully watch foreign traders, the manufactures and industries of the country where he is accredited, and condense in readable reports what he observes that should interest the exporters and importers of the United States. Now, all this requires exiierience and a long head. A man should not be chosen for such work whose only prerecquisite is, that he is a good luditician or "spell-binder." 24 Such can be used elsewhere as their party may determine, but certainly not in the consular office. Col. Loughery was undoubtedly one of the finest writers and clearest thinkers that the south has ever pro- duced, and deserves to rank with Eitehie, Kendall and Prentiss. It has been said that journalism has greatly improved in recent years. This is true with regard to the gathering and dissemination of news, but not true in any other particular. He had many loving friends and thousands who ad- mired his character and respected his services, yet remain, and for them this imperfect memoir is prepared. He is well remembered by the public men in Texas who began their career shortly after the war and still continue in politics. For many of them he entertained a waruj per- sonal friendship until his dying day. Noble soul, what now to thee are the things of this transitory world, whose succeeding generations are as. shadows that swiftly pass across the dial-idate of time and come no more. THE PRESS. As an evidence of the e.steeni in which Col. Loughery was regarded by the editorial fraternity and other friends. I rei)rodiice a few of the many notices of him in times past: Col. li. W. Loughery, the jjioneer editor of the state, and the reliable old war-horse, who stood as a wall between our i)eoi)le and the vandals dnridg the days of reconstruc- tion, is spoken of in connection with the office of Commis- sioner of Insurance, Statistics and History, and we shall be glad indeed, if he receives the apitointment. His (lualific.j- tions are second to those of no man in Texas; and, further, he deserves the place — in fact, he can hardly be repaid for the valiant services he has rendered tlie peoi)le of Texas during" the many years he has labored for their benefit. We trust there will not be a moment's hesitation about his appointment. — Paris North Texan. Another says: "We are informed that Gov. Ireland will be strongly urged to api)oint (-ul. R. W. Loughery of Jefferson, Texas, to the position of Commissioner of Insu ranee, Statistics and History of Texas. "This would be a most titting thing to do. Why! "First, because his long residence in Texas, his educa- tion, training and habits eminently tit and cpialify him for the satisfactory discharge of the duties of tlic i)osition. "Second, he has been a citizen of the state for forty years i)ast, and no man in it is better acquainted with its l)rogTess, history, climate, productions and mineral wealth. "Third, during all these forty years, lie lias been a consistent, outs})oken, uggressive Democrat, and has never 2G askert for or lield a i)ositi()n at the bands of tlie Doiiiocratie ])arty. "Fourth, no liU'inber of tlie press of Texas, so far as we are advised, has ever occupied a position under any Democratic administration, und it is higli time now that its merits and great services to the party and the state should be recognized. "Fifth, Col. Lougliery has sf)ent the best years of his life in the service of Texas and the Democratic party, and now tliat he is urowing: old and is financially de[)ressed, it would be a fitting thing for a Democratic administration to do to recognize his great services, and ap])oint him to the position for which his man}' friends tln^oughout the state are pressing his claims, and we with them, join in ti»e request to Grov. Ireland to give the old veteran this j)osi- tion, and in doing so. we feel sure he will serve the best interests of the state, and will show a jn-oper appreciation of the great ser\'ices of the piess to the state and the Democratic part}^ "We hope to see every Democratic newspaper in Texas espouse Col. Loughery's cau^e and press his chiinis for this api)ointjnent.'' (iov. Ireland is being strongly urged by many of the best ]3emocrats in the state to appoint Col. II. W. Loughery of Jefferson, Texas, to the office of Commissioner of Insu- rance, Statistics and History, which he is so well (pialified to fill, and it is believed the (lovernor will com])ly with their wishes. The juess has never had anything, and it is time its claims u])()n Democratic adnnnistrations were being recognized. — llei aid. Tilt' Tyler DcsMoci-at, ill allndinj^ to this iiiaUer, snys: ^'Wf uiKlerstaiid that niir old iTiciid, (/ol. K. W. Tiouj^lieiy, of JeftVison— tiiat staunch old DeJiiocrat and veteran of the Texas press— will in'obably be an applicant for appoint- ment to tlu positim of Ccniinissioner of Insurance, Statis- tics and History. For the discharge of 11m' duties of sucli a i)osition his education, training and habits eminently (it him: and we feel that his long and honest service for the Democracy of Texas will make such an isppeal for liim to the incoming Democratic administration as few men could make. We are certain that (4ov. Ireland could not do better service to tire state, or more suitably begin his ap- l)ointuients, than by ])lacing Col. Longhery in this position, and we ho])e he will do so " Another joins on the large list with the following: "Col. K. AV. Lougbery of Jefferson, for ui)wards of thirty- six years connected with the jness of Texas, most of tbc time as an editor, is suggested as a suitable man for tbe important ])ositi(m of Commissioner of Insurance, Statistics and History. Col. Loughery is heartily reconnnended by the democratic iness of the state, and justly so we think. His long exi)erience in the editorial chair and his familiarity with Texas history qualify him especially for the statistical and historical part of bis duty. He has labored long and faithfully for the interests of Texas with, if we are correctly informed, but little i)e(;uniary reward. He has been a life- long and consistent democrat, laboring for the interests of the i)arty in season and out of season. Without presuming to advise Gov. Ireland, we think that a more tilting and better man for the ])()sition connot be iound in the state than Col. Loughery. His brethren of the ])ress would be ])leased to see him nomiiuited." li8 The Jefferson Jimp, referring to Col. R. W. Loughery^j* candidacy for the position of Commissioner of Insurance and Statistics, says there is no man better qualified for tlie place, and certainly none who have served longer or more faithfully the Democratic party. Parties, like republics^ are ungTatefuI. Col. Loughery has worked honestly and faithfully in the interests of the people of Texas and the Democratic party for upwards of one-third of a century,, and to-day he has nothing to show for his devotion, except the consciousness of having done right. We hope that Judge Ireland will give him the position he seeks. — Bren- ham Banner. The Marshall Herald advocates with much earnestness the elaims of Col. R. W. Loughery of Jefft rson, for ap- pointment to the position of Commissioner of Insurance^ History and Statistics. Our contemporary thinks the i^ro- fession of journalism ought to furnish the incumbent of this office, and after paying a high and merited tribute to the ability and public services of Col. Loughery, and giving good reasons for the laitb that is in it, and says: "In looking over the field of journalism for such a man, the Herald presents the name of Col. R. W. Loughery for the position. We learn from his friends that he has made an api)lication to Hon. Jolm Ireland^ governor elect,, for the position of Commissioner of Insurance, Statistics and History. ^Vn opportunity is now offered to a governor of Texas ti) recognize the ability, devotion and fidelity of the press to the best interests of the state. The ap])oint- ment of Col. Loughery will not only be a fitting recognition of his ability and eminent public services to the state and the Democratic party, as a journalist, but will be accepted by the editorial fraternity as a compliment to them." — G reen v ille Hera Id. 20 The Winsboro i=^entinel copies Herald artiele uiid adds: "Knowing the fitness of Col. Louglieiy for the position as well as his unqnestioned devotion to Texas and especially to the deinociatic party, the Sentinel heartily concurs in the sentiments expressed by the Herald. Col. L's long- residence in the state and his familiarity svith the past as well as the present history of Texas, his fidelity to every trust and devotion to principle, render him amply meritor- ious of the favor thus asked for by the press of Texas, and we hope that Gov. Ireland will make the appointment." The Dallas Times repeats the general expression of the democratic papers of Northern Texas in this: "Colonel Loughery, of Jefferson, is si)oken of as a man who would be acceptable to the people as their commissioner of insur- ance and statistics under the incoming democratic adminis- tration. He is the man to fill it with credit to the state. He is the man who needs it. He is a Texan whom the people have always admired for his integrity, his probity, his great interest in and knowledge of the state. He is a demo(;rat who has never "weakened," and never forgotten his party and the i)eople's interest. If Judge Ireland ap- points him to the position Judge Ireland will receive the applause of all who are acquainted with the worthiness and ability of Colonel Loughery to fill the place." In May, 1872, Col. Loughery was comu»issioned counsel at Acapuleo, Mexico, and at once assumed the duties of his office. In that city he found a strong pre.iudice exist- ing against Americans and particularly against Texjvs, the heritage of a bloody war and his successors in office. His geniality of manner, kind, courteous and business like man- 30 ner soon swept this away, and lie succeeded in supplanting" the strong anti-American sentiment with admiration and re- spect for America and Americans as strong. By untiring efforts lie succeeded in giving his government far more in- formation than it had ever before been able to obtain from this portion of tlie Mexican republic. In fact, wlien he was recalled at the expiration of President Cleveland's hrstterm the relations between the United States and this imj)or- tant ])ort and coaling station were in every way ))!eas!int and the business of tlie consulate was in better condition than e\'er before.'' It is now (Tetinately known that our townsman. Col. R. W. Loughery, the Xestor of tlie Texas press, iias been ap- jiointed American Consel at Aca[)ulco, Mexico. Col. Loughery's reputation as an able and fearless editor, as an honest and faithful Democrat, is beyond question and noth- ing we might write could possibly add to his well earned and well deserved re[)utation. If Col. Loughery had done nothing more, hisheroic, but perih)us hght with the military in the days of reconstruction, when Jefferson wasainilitary inqui'^ition, and the man who opjmsed it imperiled both life and liberty, he would deserve the highest praise. As a staunch, tiied and true Densocrat of theJeft'ersonian school. Col. Loughery is the [leer of any and ' to his duties a mind well cultivated and a large exi)erience in the duties of American citizen- shi|) aiul an accurate knowledge of tlie history of our gov- ernment. The Colonel will wield a pen able and ready for any en^ergency in pQuve or war — a damascus blade that has nev^er yet been sheatlu'd in the presence of an eiu>my. — Marshall Messenger. The death of Ool. Loughery at Marshall April the iMUh, 1h of Democracy and good government, he was seen and iieard in the front of the contest, dealing telling blows into the ranks of the opposition. It was in;iiiil\' Ihrtnigii his efforts II 014 544 545 tliat the Democratic organization was perfected and tlie first DcMiocratic State Convention held in this state in 1855. Hundreds, perhaps thousand, recognized him as a leader worthy of all i)raise. Tliinking it would be a pleasing remem - berance of Col. Loughery to his brethern of the press and his many friends in Texas, Mrs. E, M. Loughery, has writ- the biographical sketch referred to. The book will be in neat pamphlet form. One dollar per copy, which will greatly aid her. Please respond promptly, those desireing a coi>y of the memoir are requested to send her one dollar in payment for same and it will be mailed to them. — Houston Post. Address, MES. E. M. LOUGHERY, JUL ^1 LIBRARY OF CONbREbb v'1