National Republican., 1876-09-13
REFORM GOVERNMENT IN TEXAS.

A correspondent writing from Texas Illus
trates the beauties of Governor Coke's Demo-
cratic reform administration by saying that
the State has been plunged in debt to the
extent of five millions in three years, without
anything to show for it, except undoing what
Governor Davis Republican administration
had done. Free schools and the board of i'm
migration have been abolished in the name of
reform. Taxes have increased nearly fifty per
cent. The "reform" nominations for Con-
gress are suggestive. Hancock thrown over
board because he was Union man, and the
back pay y-grabber, Giddings, who took S31 900
from the State treasury for making trip to
Europe in order to exchange bonds for col
lateral-a clean stesl-put up in his place.
The same writer says, further on: "Colored
people are taken out at night, rope is put
around their necks, and they are threatened
with hanging if they don't make answers to
questions put to them by their tormentors,
which are generally: 'Do the white Republicans
organize you, and make you false promises,
and induce you to vote the Radical ticket
Now, we tell you if you do vote that way you
shall be driven from here, or we Twill kill you.
Mind what you are about with various kicks
and curses. The poor negroes, almost scared
TO death, never dare to say what happened to
them" The Democrats are thoroughly Or
ganized for this kind of intimidation of colored
Republicans. 1t is in this way they carry the
State by 100000 majority. Interference to the
general lawlessness of Democrats in Texas,
the Dallas Herald, Democratic paper, holds
the following language:
The Herald received three kilograms yester-
day, noting the fendish, cold -blooded murder
of seven persons, six miles south of the town
of Montague, in Montague county.
There is report in town that three or four
men have been killed near Middletown, in
Goliad county, day or two ago. A man by
the name of Davidson was shot to pieces on
the Coleto by the regulators. There is GER
tainly reign of terror in that section of the
country at this time.
The Herald does not print these kilograms
to direct the attention of the Executive
of this State to this appalling murder. His
Excellensy would doubtless but reiterate his
slander against the press of the State, that
it was exaggerating crime, and throw the
Herald into the gubernatorial waste basket.
But the Herald will nevertheless say to Gov
erDor Coke that, unless it be his desire and
purpose to invite military interference in
Texas, these murders must be suppressed.
But few short weeks ago eight negroes
hSlC snOI uONh III COlu ucdT LdSlc
Lake, in Colorado county. The Washington
and New York papers Immediately famed with
the blackest and deepest head lines, charging
this great crime upon Texas, and to this
moment the Executive of the State has re-
mained silent. Not a proclamation was
issued, not an effort made, as far as this
people know, to bring these murderers to the
bar of justice. The only pretext for military
interference is because of the fact that the
State government does not enforce its authority
aud protect its Citizens, and that therefore the
national authority must step in and perform
that duty.
Whenever State executive fails to protect,
as he should protect, the citizens of his State
he directly and unequivocally by that very act
invites Federal interference. VIII Governor
Coke be warneda VIII he, in the name of
justice, for the honor Of Texas, for the COM
mon veal of this people, lift his voice and his
arm in their defensel If he fails and bayonets
are placed at our tbroats, who may say what
reckoning Texans may demandl