The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1878-05-03
AN IMPRESSIVE LESSON.

Inc lesson AuHhl NY lhe T0uphp TWIN
berries in this section Of the state ana
the means used 10 capture the perpeN
traitors, II most impressive one indeed
and the people Of Texas, prompt M they
are in all othersthings relative to the
well'being Of the state will not be SLOW
in making the application The oTdlh'
airy means nj tho command OF the exc
cutivo department Is insufficient 10
contend with tho organized forces OF
the lawless This truth has been ellecS
ualy demonstrated within fifty miles
of Dallas during tho two months last
past, Four trains were robbed OF large
sums OF money, and not n single arrest
was effected until the state police
appeared on the ground In snllloent
numbers TO contend with the band OF
outlaws who boldly robbed aud deliH
antly established themselves in the
heart of the country, in which then ops
erallons were carried on, The means
usually nj hand IN the localities in
which these bands work are altogether
insufficient and the need, aye, actual
and pressing necessity for n thoroughly
organized, diciplinod and trained state
police, ever ready, ever prompt and in
hand, is now conceded by all,
Our frontier battalion under Major
Jones, is an admirable force in all re"
spects, save only in numbers, Charged
AZ it is, with the peculiar duty
of guarding the frontier from
Indian ard Mexican incursons
up to this time its police functions
have been merely incidental, while
it is true, it has performed, and well
too, much active, dangerous and intri'
cate service in all tho functions Of an
especial police force, yet, thus diyidN
ing its attention and energies does not
conduce to the greatest efficiency IN
either branch Of its duties. A permaN
nent force with strict police functions,
armed to act against desperate banditti,
with all the Instincts Of the higher order
of peace or police officers held well in
hand and controlled by an able, fears
less and inoorruptible officer, such as
he who now commands the battalion,
would soon drive out of the state every
unholy combination such as that OF
Bass, and thus save the state in costly
and futile expenditure far more
than their pay, equipment and ratons
would cost. Besides this, the sense of
security felt by the people when they
had come to learn that they were to
be protected from these bands, would
prove most healthy circumstance all
round. In our neghboring county,
Denton, where Bass and his band had
established themselves, the quiet peo>
pie in the neighborhood were forced to
wink at their doings, or keep and obs
serve strict neutrality as between the
outlaws and the officers OF the law, hes
cause if they did not, the deadly Win.
chester and the midnight torch would
soon have reduced them to reason. Vir-
tue is strong in and of itself, but it is
much more effective against the des>
perate and the lawless when it has com.
petent physical force to lean upon.
1t would be we'll with all these lights
before us, if we would agitate the mats
ter now, while we are casting about for
members of the legislature which is to
meet this fall. This question of COM
petent police force for Texas will surely
come up, and an expression at this time
as to how the prospective member
stands on this, as we'll rs other vital
questions, is of the utmost Importance
Texas is now only passing through
the scenes, and experiencing what every
other new state has felt at her stage OF
settlement. viii she wisely conclude
to drive the outlaws beyond her borde,
at little present cost, in order to in.
sure speedy future quiet, which is to
be of untold value to her, and her every
interest and prospect ESQ, she must
take steps to render permanent the
present force, and to so improve it as
to insure its greater efficiency.