The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1874-12-03
TKxAs ANp LIE NEEps.

suits, In the arts and sciences, IN the deYel-
opment Of the hidden forces Of nature, in
the acquisition Of knowledge, we scarcely
know which to admire most, the perfection
Of art, or the development Of practical wis
dom in the daily avocations Of life. In
whatever direction we cast our eyes, we see
the outcropping Of some new business
which the wants Of the age have established.
And although inventions have followed in
rapid succession, and the labor Of the hands
dispensed with in many Of the ordinary Oc-
cupations, still 50 great are the new and
cultivated necessities Of the day, that men
and women everywhere are in demand, and
receive even better wages than formerly,
when men cut their grain with the reap
hook and wove their clothes in the common
hAnd-loom. But still we are far from re-
ceiving the fun measure Of our wants; and
the means 81 o. ilisPosai fail 70 procure
what we most need. Still, it is the duty Of
every Texan to battle on and gather up the
fruits of his labors, striving to excel in
whatever he undertakes.
This is not the day for dFones, nor for
hreside heroes, who flourish most when far
away from the objects of their boasted
achievements. We need men who can
originate and build up business that viii
pay--that will contribute to the public ne
cessities and remunerate the laborer. The
man who makes two blades of grass grow
where but one is now found is worth ten
times more than the hero Of the dining
room or the exquisite who airs his fine
clothes on the public streets.
Texas needs more people, more laborers,
more farmers and stockraisers, manu-
facturers and artisans. Her broad prairies,
with q virgin soil Of surprising fertility,
want the plow, the hoe and the reaper.
Her mines call for men who know how to
dig down into the bowels Of the earth and
bring up from their hidden beds riches
which have been passed over ever since
the great laboratories of nature have
been at work. Our water power Is idly
running to the Gulf. But few factories
make the music of production Where
millions of spindles should be revolving,
but few hundred can be found. Cotton
and woollen goods are of but rare produc
ton, when enough should be. made tc
elothe every man, woman and child in
Texas. Here and there tanneries are estab-
lished, and a few hundred hides are made
ready for the shops, while thousands are
sent North, and then returned as leather,
for which we pay enough to shoe all the
inhabitants of the State. Wagons, buggies,
carriages, and other vehicles, are brought
by hundreds from the North, when we have
the finest woods within our own borders
from which they can be made. We need
men in our midst who know how to go te
work and establish all of these industries,
and thus save millions Of dollars and enrich
the State. We also want men who wilIai6,
to the extent of their influence, in establish
ing them. Money and time may be literally
expended in the effort to make a business q
success, and, yet, if the leading citizens do
not applaud the undertaking, it too often
fails for the want of liberal patronage. A
few chrome croakers can do great harm.
Like the dog in the manger, they may
neither make use of the hay themselves mol
suffer the dumb animals to eat it. But
time and patience with proper diligence
and energy win secure many things we now
need. M .ei,asas
There is, however, one very great need
which ought to be established without
delay; that is peace upon our Mexican Dor
der. Our people have suffered and forbornt
long enough. They have been plunderec
and robbed to the value of millions of dol
lars. Murder and arson are common be
tween the Rio Grande and the Nueces
Thousands of cattle, horses and mules ar,
annually driven over into Mexico ana solo
by the thieving bands to leading Mexicans
Our citizens are driven from their homes
and forced to fall back for shelter
into the more remote settlements. And
yet we are told that we are a
peace with ell the world Wher
will tins state Of affairs cease to exist
When win our people be permitted to pur
sue, without fear or interruption, theil
daily avocationsl When will the Mexicani
learn to respect the boundary line between
the two countriesl These are questions fol
our State government and that Of the
United States to settle. Can it be possibl,
that such pressing outrage cannot be stop
pedl Win not the President Of the United
States call the attention Of Congress to the
matter and urge immediate actiOnl1 If the
Mexican authorities refuse or neglect to put
stop to the outrages, then there win b,
left the one and only effectual method Of
closing out the brigands and driving then
far beyond the border, take possession oi
the States Of 7dmaplipas and coakaila and
annex them to the United States. Thii
will have to be done at last There is nc
other alternative. Mexicans are not capa
bic Of appreciating the laws Of nations,
Even II they fully comprehend them,
they are impotent 20 enforce them. There
fore it win De time thrown away while
attempting to bring them to a proper con
csptiou Of the situation, and Of the neces-
sity e treating such lawless acts with the
promptness and gravity which they demand,
The two States named win compensate fol
the damages sustained BY our people. oul
citizens would then look to ourown govern.
ment for the payment Of their claims, which
would be soon settled, to tbs satizfactionoi oi
all parties concerned. n No other way vii
the terrible deeds which are frequently com
mitted on our dsfenseless citizens be pre-
vented, and peace and prosperity prevail
over The whole State.