The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1878-04-19
EMERGENCIES IN GOVERNMENT.

,asy problem, When there IN no storm
va have plain sailing When there Is
serious iniraetion Of law, and when
there are no combinations against II, or
10 defeat iis ends and aims its regular
Is an easy aud satlslac'
tory task, N 10 emergency which tries
the metal Of men and governments,
Fine theories about the stability OF the
government resting in the lawful inN
stinois Of tho 20 'erned 10 10 grass rap-
idly and eileotually when tho mob
combines 10 produce this effect Our
stalwart natural delenses, which In
times OF peace serve for the poets
theme, are worthless whom u hostile
host thunders before them, Then moth
ing but the physical strength OF the
nation IL capable Of working out its
salvation, When tho storm RACES on
tho main, none but tho true sailor
with stout heart and brawny arm, can
conduct the vessel In salty over the
stormy and traoklosS waste TO the sure
and safe haven, When thieves and
murdorers combine TO subyort II, ell,
ciently administered law grOppes with
them promptly and wosee the wisdom of
giving IL strength, range and grasp,
When the Indians stay on their reserN
yationa tho citizens themselves can pro,
tect tho frontier, but when they do not,
the strong arm military of the state Is
necessary orprotection, When the train
robbers stay In Missouri and Kansas
the mail agent and eApressman securely
guards the trusts committed TO their
care, but when the robbers come here
and establish their Businesses, make
their combinations and commence
business the case Is different indeed,
Four instances OF the inellicency Of the
companies and the necessity of governs
ment effort for protection have occurred
at our very doors within the last few
weeks,
" What is every body's, business is
nobody's business" is an old saying, and
finds its truest application in the case
Of the recent train robberies The
governor recommends the people to
take care of themselves, "strap short
shot guns" to their shoulders, thus i'm,
porting the Chinese military idea of the
government. That might do, only train
robbers do not respect noise M bulls
wark for the defense of trains or money.
A man who has crop OF cotton and one
of grass also growing on the same piece
of ground, contending for the mastery,
cannot afford to conhdc the care of the
tender cotton to the grass and with
short shot guns strapped to the shout
doris, 90 out to seek the bloody maraud
ors. There are men however who have
both tho leisure and the inclination to
do this very thing, and the governor
can employ them in the work with the
utmost propriety Indeed, he has al
ready done no, and employed faithful
gentleman to raise company of men
for the purpose, IT he can do this after
tho fourth, why not after the first rob>
berry, Why wait until the state
has been dragged into such unenviable
notoroty, and has suffered such serious
loss before acting2 This is the sum of
the governors offending. II is for this
that he is arraigned before the bar of
public opinion, Nobody expects him
in person to strap short shotgun" to
his shoulder and 60 on the expedition,
Falstaii-like No ono, indeed, desires
it, but they did and do expect him to
use the resources OF the state in the de-
tense OF the people and its own fair
name and will hold him to strict nc.
countablity for the failure to do so,
until this fearful evil has been wrought.
Ours is democratic state adminis>
tration and the party is responsible for
its ineiliciency, If we can provide for
the defense of the counties along the
Rio Grande, we can for those along the
Trinity, and by the same men and
means. A democratic state conyen.
ton will soon assemble and to it will be
conhded the task of putting the party
on record in this matter of response.
bility, or failure to protect with the
full force of the state, if necessary, the
dearest interests, the lives and property
OF the citizens and the tair name of
Texas. Any state is liable to be the
scene of these disorders No govern,
ment precience can guard against the
presence OF such men as these robbers
are, but no other state executive would
have waited for the fourth attack bes
fore making the least preparation to
drive out the bandits. Go ms il NAV.
result as it all will, this bald fact will
confront us at every turning, and call
the blush to the cheek of every true
citizen Of the state and lover of Texas
Hon GEoRGg w. GRIFFIN, late Ameri,
can consul at the Samoan islands has