The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1877-09-06
lrs POWER BROKEN

Ever since the war Texas, tosome OK
tent has boon almost helpless In the
mnds Of lnwlessnoss and crime Whole
districts Of country hayebeon terrori2edi
the laws suspended tho courts insulted,
iails rayished good people murdered
stool, stolen, often in the broad light OF
day apparently the yillainons comb
nations OF b0d men have been too
strong Tor the regular officers OF the
law, who were either murdered or
forced into winting ut their crimes
Bad men have, on our frontier person
atcd Indians and drove oil thousands
upon thousands Of stock and woe to
the lrontorsman who protested His
house was burned himself murdered
and his widowed and Iathorlcss babes
driven out to breast alone the cold
charity Of the world Whole districts
on the frontier were nearly dcpopulated
by these means No effort Of executive,
legislative or judicial power could iurn'
ish protection, or avcngo the outraged
law
There has,b been n vast change within
the last few months Some of the most
powerful bands have been broken up
and dispersed Some of the most re-
nowned Of the despcrodoes have been
killed, captured or driven OIL The
Hardin gang, about Comanchc, is scat
tered and It's leading spirit languishcs
in Jail Longley who boasts that the
blood of thirtystwo men stain hls
hands, is now on trial for his crimes.
King Fisher, the roylors and Suttons
are ut peace The llorrell and llig-
gins feud, which kept the Lamposas
valleys in turmoil, 0nd'which render
ed even her mountain businesses but
an insecure resting place, have made
poacc. The courts all over the state
are in regular operation and juries mt
longer fear to record righteous yer
dict. Even Judge Lynch has lately
been putting his hands on criminals
and those who shed blood are learning
that the people still remember
the good points of the old Mosaic
code and demand blood in return
and which if denied them by the courts
they exact themselves The Greer
boys lately paid the debt they owed tC
society, in bloody and terrible deaths
at the hands of an outraged and iniu'
rated mob
These are violent paths to the goal o
quiet and order. Rugged measures t.
rid the country of an evil which ho'
grown too terrible to be borne, or tam
percd with, and condoned 10y legN
bubbles or the enforced tolcranC,
which fear of personal consequence
always supcrinduce Let us have
peace, but only when the law itself il
the sole recognized guardian of The
rights, persons and property of the clti
zens. Perhaps IN somo instances tn,
mobs have rendered efficient service il
the good cause, but these instances ny,
rare and generally have sown seeC
which has born fruit to ripen on thu
gallows at last,
A few more efforts on the part of tn
ministers of the law, and few NOR
apprehendcd murderers stage robbcr
and horse thieves, and we may an
nounce once for all that the power o
the desheradoes is broken, and tina
law and order is again supreme in every
nook and corner of broad Texas,
Now it is perfectly plain to every oh
server that to the admirable police sys
tenn inaugurNtod by the state som,
three years since, is due this vast SER
vice, and wonderful Improvement W,
trust that the next legislature will max,
sufficient provision for not only its re
tention but to increase its numbers
efficiency and usefulness. This is
duty which tho state owes to the people
and one it should not be long in paying
But during the vacation, Governor Hub
bard will be remiss in a grave matter o
duty if he fails to take every opportu
nifty to keep up its high character a,
well rs its present rank and file. w,
owe this heroic band more than we ar,
yet aware of generally, but soon tn,
time will come when all willunderstanc
the full force of the remark.
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