The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1877-05-19
CRIME avn lIs CORREcTNes.

Texas has arrived al that point in
her history when she can no Longer
tamper with her best interests, as they
are Involved ia the question OF law and
order, aud perforce. crime and its cor
receives. At an early day in She his
tory Of our state, or before independ-
ence was declared, an excellent class Of
people came here, attracted by the
&c ial climate, rich soil. aud other ad.
ynntagea These were the intelligent,
enterprising characters who always
move in the vanguard of civilization
aud they must not be confoanded with
the iawless criminals who came in
afterward, seeking that asylum which
was denied them az home, under the
laws they had violated The influx If
this latter class is not q solitary expert
ence and confined TO Texas. 1t is but
the common experience OF all frontier
countries In the newer and more
sparsely settled districts of Texas th
population has maintained steady as
tendency, to the detriment of the far
name of the state. 4 few bad men
have, by their activity, been able 10
grade Texas many degrees below her
riehtful position "a a iaw-abiding com
monwealth. 1t is time the state tax es
measures to drive them out, or render
their residence here so unpleasant and
Improbable as that they will of their
own impulse take flight for other lands
still newer and still further west.
The immunity so long enjoyed by
this class, has been due to the case and
facility with which the consequences of
crime could hitherto be avoided. The
insecure character of the iails and
prisons of the state has been a great
detriment to the cause of justice.
Jail breaking has hitherto been a com
mon occurrence There is not county
prison in all Texas but which has given
up its inmates time and again. Hun
dreds of lawless men are safely let out,
or easily let themselves out, upon pa
| tent and long~sullering community
every year. Ii is time some extraor1i.
nary means be used 10 correct this evil,
and Governor Hubbards proclamation,
offering large special rewards for the
apprehension OF jail breakers, is Just
Z
the thing which ought to have been
done years and years before We com
mend the act, and trust to see fewer al
these disgraceful acts in the future
The Governor has certainly taken a
long stride ahead. and one which will
produce results which cannot. fail to be
satisfactory
The certainty of punishment is the
great corrective OF crime Bad men are
never deferred from its commission by
any other influence than fear of the con
sequences. Heretofore, if criminal
has been apprehended, the chances o
jail-breaking has always entered into
his calculations OF ways and means to
defeat justice, and certainly none Other
could be relied upon with greater conf
dence. Whether our jails are violated
from the inside or out, let the punish,
ment follow swift and sure. Let THE
or a murderer but once understand tha
when justice puts her hand upon him
| tho Hluteh will mot ba ralax n,,-t az
her ends have been abundantly served
and the effect viii be tremendous. i'm
mediate and most satisfactory.
Governor Hubbard is right, and h,
will receive the plaudits of every advo
cate OF law and order in Texas.