The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1877-09-08
ITS POWER BROKEN.


tent, has been almost helpless in the
hands of lawlessness aud crime. Whole
districts of country have been terroriaed,
the laws suspended the eoufts insulted,
jaiis rayished good people murdered
stock stolen. often in the broad light of
day apparently the villainous combi-
nations of bad men have been too
strong tor the regular officers of the
law, who were either murdered o.
forced into winking at their crimes
Bad men have, on our frontier. person.
ated Indians and drove of thousands
upon thousands OF stock. and woe to
the frontiersman who protested. His
hoase was burned. himself murdered.
and his widowed and fatherles,s babes
driven ont 10 breast alone the cold
charity of the world. Whole districts
onthe frontier were nearly depopulated
by these means No effort OF executive,
legislative or Judicial power could furn-
ish protection, or avenge the outraged
law.
There has been a 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 desperadoes have been
killed, captured or driven of. The
Hardin gang, about Conanche. Is scat
tered and its leading spirit langui.hes
in jail. Longley, who boasts that the
blood of thirty>two men stain his
hands, is now on trial for his crimes.
King Fisher, the Taylors and Suttons
are At peace. The Horreil and Hig>
gins ieud, which kept the Lampssas
valleys in turmoil, and which render
ed even her mountain Businesses but
an insecure resting place, have made
peace. The courts all over the state |
are in regular operation and juries no
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 Green
boys lately paid the debt they owed to
society, in bloody and terrible deaths
at the hands of an outraged and infu>
rated mob.
These are violent paths to the goal OF
quiet and order. Rugged measures to
rid the country of an evil which has
grown too terrible TO be borne, or tam.
pered with, and condoned by legal
| quibbles or the enforced tolerance
which fear of personal consequences
always superinduce. Let us have
peace. but only when the law itself is
the sole recognized guardian of the
rights, persons and property of the citi-
zens. Perhaps in some instances the
mobs have rendered efficient service in
the good cause. but these instances are
rare, and generally have sown seed
which has born fruit to ripen on the
gallows at last.
A few more efforts on the part of the
ministers Of the law. and few more
lapprehended murderers, stage robbers
and horse thieves, and we may an
nounce once for all that the power OF
the dssperadoes is broken, and that
law and order is again supreme in every
nook and corner of broad Texas
Now it is perfectly plain TO every OBJ
server that TO the admirable police sys>
tenn insugurated by the state some
three years since, is due this vast ser.
vice, and wonderful Improvement We
trust that the next legislature will make
sufficient provision for not only its re-
testion but to increase its numbers,
deficiency and usefulness This is a
duty which the 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 grave matter of
duty if he fails to take every opportu-
nifty TO keep up its high character as
well as its present rank and file. We
owe this heroic band more than we are
yet aware of generally, but soon the
time will come when all will understand
the full force of the remark.
I