San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1878-05-04
FREE PRESS.
SATURDAY."."".........".MAY 4
Official Paper of Hays and Blanco
Counties.
Illegltitnate Enterprlse.

One of the most sinister character.
istics of the times Is the NANTES tation
of activity in irregular and illegitimate
ways. Perhaps this is result of the
depression in regular and legitimate
business. At any rate its existence is
fact, and one much to be regretted.
Amid the pressure of hard times" aud
slowness of business, there has been
no diminution of activity in more OBJ
jectionable ways. During all these
dull years there mas been no cessation
of crime and outrage.
To say nothing of darker crimes,
robbery and swindling IN all their va
ried forms have been especially con-
spicuous. And here we do not mean
altogether such forms of wrong.ioiDg
as the law takes or should take cogni-
zance OF, but also others which, though
considered respectable" are essenti-
ally of the same character. We take
it that any species of activity which
returns no productive benefit, or any
exorbitant gain, enforced on the
principle that might makes right"
is essentially allied to robbery.
The practices of the gambler belong
to the first class; and the exactions of
such institutions as our stage and ex-
press companies here in Texas are Ger.
tainly closely allied to the latter, as
illustrated in stage robberies and the
like. Such things, it is true. may and
do shelter themselves behind the
"forms of law but that fact does not,
in the eye Of reason and justice, essen.
TALLY affect their character.
But as practical illustration is more
effective than abstract comment. we
will refer to a few practical points.
And first with regard to such thimble.
rigging operations as the recent one by
which it has been sought, without
rhyme or reason" to depreciate the
value Of Mexican silver coin. acknowl-
edged to be the purest in the world.
Will any one presume to say that that
was a legitimate enterprise, or essen
italy more honorable on the part of
its concoctors than petty larceny?
Again, there is the far graver ques-
ton of our land titles, threatened by
clap-trap bogus claims, nominally |
Mexican, but as nobody doubts, got up
by Anglo American ingenuity, cupid
ty and knavery, These constitute an
outrage of the foremost rank. \ wri-
ter on the subject pertinently says:
One Of the highest forms of invest.
ed capital Is real estate, and TO the first
thought there is nothing one may fear
who is possessed of la rye real estate;
vet there is nothing more sensitive
than real estate il attacked from the
direction of its title. Its extent. sta
bility, improvements, attractions, are
nothing when seeking market. il ever
so light a suspicion is cast upon its
title.
The above will be particularly ap-
preciated in Texas at :he present time.
The article on this subject which We
copied week before last from the Gal
weston Neics, shows forcibly the ag-
cravated character Of the outrage i'm
piled in these so-called Mexican claims.
No power Of language can possibly do
justice to the subject.
What shall be done to repress this
wholesale spirit Of practical robbery,
which. though under the form. Of Law.
: ramp4n, in the land? We would
hot, with the writer in the Ners, sug- |