The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-04-14
The robbing OF several railroad trains Il

The robbing Of several railroad trains In
Texas by organized bands Of outlaws during
Che last few weeks has naturally caused
considerable excitement and alarm In
that State. Texas outlaws and robbers
have made themselves quite reputation
for boldness audacty and enterprise,
but have hitherto generally confined Thorn
selves to robbing stages and solitary travellers
who could offer but little resistance to their
violence Their recent attacks on trains
show either that their numbers have increased
or that the general hard times have driven
them to new line Of business.
These train robberes were called to the
attention Of Gov. Hubbard and the Adjutant
General Of the State, who were asked
10 protect passengers and property. To
this appeal Gov Hubbard answers that he
sees no possibility Of the State being able to
give Che railroads protection against these
outlaws, he suggests, therefore. that the train
hands and messengers be armed with double
barrel shotguns and cavalry carbines. This
apparent confession that the railroads are In
state Of siege must sound strange In q
civilized country, but 1t Ia certain that Gov.
Hubbard has not misconceived the situation
or exaggerated the dangers that travellers In
Texas are threatened with from train robbers.
The plan suggested by the Governor. how
ever, Is open to one objection. It entails on
the railroads and private persons burden
that does not properly belong to them. but to
the State.
The Adiutant General takes different
view OF the matter. He thinks that 1t Is
the duty OF the State to protect all private
property within It's limits For this purpose
he wishes the old State police force, much
modified, however In Its character from what
IL was under Radical rule TO be revived.
bitter prejudice exists In Texas to-day against
this State police, which, under Radical do
minion, did SO much to Cypress the people of
Texas; but this feeling Is after oil only pre-
judice, and IL the revival Of the police would
protect property and individuals from rob
bers and outlaws, the people would undoubt-
eddy approve Of the measure. A force of
rangers have been on duty In the Western por-
tion Of the State for some years and have
done much to put down the lawlessness ex-
listing Mt one time In that section Of the coun-
try. Cattle stealing has been TO a great ex-
tent abolished the stolen cattle restored, and
peace, order and prosperity restored. This
company, under the command of Capt Hall,
has landed several hundred highwaymen and
cattle thieves in the penitentiary, and freed |
ct least dozen frontier counties from
outlaws. Now that Western Texas is com
paratively free from disorders of this kind.
the thieves seem to have taken retvge In
Northern and Eastern Texas, where they are
turning their attention TO railroad trains in
stead OF stage-coaohes and cattle ranches.
Which of these two suggestions will be fol-
lowed In Texas 1t is too early now 10 say, al
though some plan will doubtlessly be adopted
TO put an end to train robberies. Texas has
shown commendable desire to break up all
iawlessness within it's limits, and the train
robbers Of Northern Texas will certainly
meet with the same fate as the cattle thieves
of Western Texas and the stage robbers who,
q few months since, aroused such excitement
In the neighborhood OF San Antonio by their
bold and audacious robberies.