davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1879-01-30
PLANTING TREES.

The president of the American For
estry Association, DR.. John A. War
den, urges Mr.. Secretary Schurz to in
terfere more actively in behalf of the
forests of the West, and more espe-
cially at the sources of the great riv-
ers. These will disappear wholly in
Texas and elsewhere if the trees along
their banks and sources be destroyed
by fire or farmers or railways. Rail-
ways consume annually, for fuel, cars
and crossties, countless trees, and it is
therefore proposed to prohibit, in
towns and villages, the use Of lumber
in the construction of houses, forcing
people to use stone and bricks. Con-
gressmen talk of prOffering rewards
for the planting of trees on the prai-
ries of the West and punishlng emil
grants and Others who fire the grass
and woods. If s premium could be
Justly awarded those who plant and
protect trees, utilizing fences to guard
them, and finally using these trees as
posts for fences, great good might be
effected and the rainfall made much
greater in summer everywhere on the
arid plains OF the West. Texas,
In this event. would be infinitely
proesed. LATHE rain falls Where there
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1879-01-30
ANOTHER FEARFUL DEATH.

What is The use of keeping cavalry
on the frontiers of State in whose
very capital marshals aud sheriffs go
for one another in the frontier fashion
and why drill companies in the use of
firearms when a fusiiade is kept up
through the dead hours of night by
drunken debauchees? Hooting, shout
ing reveleis through two whole nights,
till the taking of life proclaimed
peace, have moved up and down the
streets from one TO another drink-
Ing place. Intoxication at last be-
came insanity, and madness, death.
Policemen are poid to guard the city
thoroughfares and its pgblic places
and to maintain decency and order.
Should such order be tolerated? We
have read of cities undone because
they failed to protect the citI-
zen; because life, not guarded,
was made a plaything for drunk
en- fellows to fire at; and then
come officers of Federal and State law
to share in these practices, and the city
government is impotent. 1t is great
pity, but lawlessness, that ends so often
in bloody deeds in which none are to
blame except that they are drunk and
needlessly wear arms and take life and
destroy the value of property and
homes, should be erigidly repressed, and
if conservators of law and order
that we have cannot prevent carnivals
of blood and murder, the sooner this
local government ceases to exist the |
better. Men who Gid the shooting !
and the man shot, and their as
soclates, were armed to the |
teeth, and needlessly went armed |
and then all, or nearly all had
maddening whisky. 1t Is
time that there was reform even in the
capital of Texas; and while we are
broodIng over the woes of cities dying
of debt let US not forget that crime and
vice and drunkenness are tu2ging at
the heart strings of Austin, which has
lost blood and life enough within
a year to fIighten those who love the
pretty capital, evidently growing weak
and pale from the loss of blood.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1879-01-30

are no trees. In the earlier years of
Colorado ciYilizl alton there were inter-
Tals of many months between showers
In Denver; but railway builders I'm
ported trees, artificial forests grew
rapidly, trees were planted along side
walks and in public squares, the
Platte river supplied water for forests
and wheat fields and then clouds of
spring and summer came, like fair
winged msidens with watering pots,
and gardens of beauty blossom and
trees bear fruit and boundless plains of
Colorado become a paradise when
blest at last with great trees
that lift up their arms and call
down heavens choicest blessings
upon the land they overshadow.
Ignorant people have never known
how much they owe to the presence
of trees, and have never reflected what
crimes against civilization and pro-
gress are committed by those who
recklessly destroy and never produce
the forests of Texas. He who plants
and preserves a single tree will be
greater benefactor of posterity than
any demagogue who trembles end
fears to do right in the presence of the
mob, dreading his constituents more
than his conscience or his Maker. Let
the Grange and the press and the Leg
islature cooperate with Mr.. Secretary |
Schurz and promote by every rational |
means the preservation and planting
of trees.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1879-01-30
GOVERNOR RoRERrs saws:

Any man who is able to pay his taxes,
and wilfully fails to do so, is receiving
protection, and if citizen participates
in the rights and privileges of citizen
ship without rendering consideration
to the government therefor, he i'm
poses an undue burden upon other per-
sons, which is gross injustice and
should not be tolerated in this or any
other State.
We have been saying, substantially,
this very thing every day for years
past. The State protects the life and
liberties of the citizen. 1t costs an
enormous sum to protect life and lib
erty and all thus profted should be
forced to pay, and therefore, as his ex-
cellency asserts, ''whoever participates
In the privileges of citizenship should
share the burdens as well as blessings
of government" Evidently the Cover
nor would not weep like David over
Absalom- if the Legislature made the
payment of poll tax prefix to the
code investing people with the privi-
lege of voting.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1879-01-30
ANOTHER CASE OF 8 TO7

Before Tennessee was formally a
member of the Confederacy the wild
politicians of the period used the notes
of the Bank of Tennessee in paying off
Tennessee troops. Several millions
were expended. In fact, 1t has been
stated that the number and amount of
outstanding Bank of Tennessee notes,
denomlnated the Torbitt issue, are
wholly unknown. When TorbItt, the
bank president, fled from Nashville, it
seems that he deposited great sum in
these notes, ready for circulation, in
the branch State bank in East Tennes-
see. One Crawford, who has been hv-
ing, since the war, in regal splendor in
Philadelphia, while engaged in organ
izing negro regiments and selling them
to Boston as substitutes in 1904, dis
covered the Torbitt paper. He sold
enough of it, after peace, at 40 cents
to build splendid country seats and the
swiftest pleasure yachts. But the
joke comes in just here. Though this
money was paid out in promotion of
belligerent purposes, even for the arms
and gunpowder bought in st. Louis
and captured at Cairo early in 1885,,
the Supreme Court of the United States
holds that the State of Tennessee must
receive these bank notes in payment of
taxes. Memphis, that has paid one
fifth of the States income, is impotent
and this Torbitt-Grawford debt, super
added to the BrowDlow and Senter
burdens, render the old common
wealth hopelessly insolvent. The very
money rsefin paying off the Confed-
crate army at Columbus, Kentucky in
1862 must now be received by Tennes-
see tax collectors. But Tennessee bond
holders will not take it, and none of
the States creditors will haYe it, and
none can tell what sum is outstanding,
and all taxes levied for two or three
years to come may be paid in Torbitt
money, and there was never legisia-
ture in such predicament. There it
sits not knowing whether to impose g
tax of ten or fifty cents on each 800
worth of property. Nobody can guess
at the amount of Torbitt money out
standing, or how much of it will be
used by the p lie in paying taxes.
Very certainly ody will pay dol.
lar of good mon' nto the State Treas
ury while this ID ess money is below
par. But how he awful Supreme |
Court of the United States was induced |
to hold that State debt-this Torbitt
AND used solely for the
purpose of wagiDg war against the
Union, constitutes valid debt against
Tennessee, is what 10 fellow can find
put. It is another ,ase,. we suppose,
If To &
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1879-01-30
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS las PUB
Lie MUS NOES.

Each citizen of 1,kas can have q
homestead of which he can only be de-
prlved by death, and 4ven death only
transfers it inalienably hnd with abso-
lutte certainty to the wi and children.
This absolute tenure o. a homestead
will operate as strong bond of local
patrionism and assures {, each farmer
and other fixed citizen tn, means of ed
ucating his children. Theopinion gains
strength that in doing thisthe State has
done enough and that Zach citizen
of Texas should educae his own
children. Few men woul, suffer other
individuals to give to tleir children
the grestest boon that blesRs the lives.
fixes the affections andl 1hspes the
morals of the youaE, eno bo- is not
worthy OF citizenship VII, having a
homestead, has not the intelligence or
proper moral instincts strog enough
to impel him to give hi children
proper intellectual training. The
State, if it undertake the tax of edu-
eating its youths should altndon the
present wastsful and wrse than
useless system. 1t costs million
dollars per annum, and is Ht worth
as many coppsrs. Tri6ing sdventu-
rers go about gathering up tF Fnickels
which taxpayers lose, and iEShe nine
months interregnum folloIor the
three months through vhielqschools
are taught, the little bantlingtf State
benefcence forget all that v ham
mered into them bT peSatetic !
pedagogues. These are commonly
worthless. The system makes them |
worse than worthless. They ,ould |
win no reputation, even il they lapht |
it under such q system, sndtheir !
sole purpose is to make tic most |
possible money and do the least 5ssi-
BILE labor. Meanwhile the enterpfne.
vigorous conductor Of q private cool |
finds the State bidding against i'm. |
The State proffers to the hoassod |
landholder premium for the sturity |
and ignorance of his children. be
State pays to have them sent we
they can BY no possibility learn .sy- /
thing and thus pays 70 he
the private school destroyed, Il /
proGsrs, in other words, premiunls
aliteracy. and promotes the petpstt
ton and prevalsass Of ignoranse Il
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1879-01-30

ALL the interior newspapers will
have, they say, representative here
on the fifth day of February to Or
ganize Texas Press Association which
proposes to furnish Texas news and
receive that from all quarters through
st. Louis. The San Antonio Express
requests all Texas newspapers which
would enter into this arrangement to
notify the STATESMAN and let it be
known that each paper will have q
representative here authorized to enter
into a money-paying contract. The
scheme must be executed. The press
of the interior has suffered enough.
The present supply of press news given
is simply bosh, nonsense and worthless
tWaddle.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1879-01-30
HOW STATES ARE DEGRADED.

It shslles the counrry's confidence in
free government when men like Keyes,
of Wisconsin, and John A. Logan. of
Illinois, may be made Federal Sena-
tors. Keyes received $4,000 per month
from the Milwaukee whisky Iing. At
this price Keyes sold the privilege to
the ring of naming the internal reve-
nue. officers at Milwaukee, Keyes hay-
ing enough influence at Washington to
execute their wishes. Logan is not re-
spectacle, morally or intellectually.
and is commonly known as DIRTY Work
Logan. But this is the age of small
men. Littleness and ignorance have
uplIfted stupidity and vice everywhere.
Therefore the splendid conspicuousness
of a man like B4yard. He stands
forth among thinkers and leaders of our
time like Pharos on barren sea-
shore, and whether the country's hon.
esty accept or not all his political and
financial theories, it accepts the mai
and abhors a Keyes or Logan or Blaine.
But the course of events in Missouri is
hardly moreto be approved than this
criticized in Illinois, where Logan
would wear the msntle of Stephen A. |
Douglas, and in Wisconsin, where |
matters cannot be made worse, even if |
Keyes triumph over his competitors
and supplant the lackadaisical, long
faced, canting Mr.. Howe. We have
seen Mr.. Armstrong, the excellent
schoolmaster and Fldus Achates of
Governor Phelps, made into burly
Senator, and then, that a green old
age of virtue and patriotic devotion
might have resting place and mileage
and per diem, Armstrong, who is rich
enough, is made to give place for three
months to Shields. Honor and good
and generous impulses were gratifed,
but statesmen are sadly wanting in
1t is only pleasing to
confess while Missouri is honored in
The social virtues of her representatives.,
that Illinois and Wisconsin, having
neither honor nor virtue 10 approve
he choice they would make, must ever
De cOntemned while Logan aud Keyes
occupy places in the Senate of the
United States.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1879-01-30

The San Antonio -Espress does not
find, in the debate which followed the<
motion to appoint an interpreter fofI
Hon. Santos Benavides, an encourage.
ing augury for Western Texas. From,
the days of the republic down, IL as
serts, sit has been considered cour-
tesy due to, and a right Of, member
not sufficiently acquainted with the
English language to follow the de-
bates, to be furnished with an inter
prefer TO assist him, and for the Lcgis.
lature to decline to follow the well
established precedent in the case Of
Mr.. Benavides is certainly an exhibi-
ton Of discourtesy TO a very honorable
gentleman who is thoroughly Am en-
can in identity, who has long proven RI
power for good along the Rio Grande,'
ard whose claims the people Of West
eTn Texas consider entitled to the
fullest consideration. He was chosen
to the position he fills because OF his
true worth and eminent fitness TO rep
resent the interests Of his constituents.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1879-01-30


The best harbor on the western coast
of Mexico, the deepest, broadest and
most accessible from the Pacific Ocean
and at the point on the coast to which
ships from Asia are forced by trade
winds and ocean currents, is Topolo-
vampo. The mountain range, this
side of the harbor, may be easily
passed, and the bill before Congress,
contemplating the paci6cation and
commercial conquest of Mexico BY ex-
tending the International road from
Austin to TopOlovAmpo, begins to at
tract a large share of popular attention.
II this road were built New York and
Boston. through Austin, would have an
ar line route &C the Pacific, shorter by
1000 miles than that now given BY any
other finished or proposed route.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1879-01-30


The Galveston NeOs modestly tells
of the "resiliency" with which Texas
"arose" and shook off impediments
left by the conflict between the States.
The NeaoS's idea seems to be that Texas
came mp out of "the slough of des-
pond" with a considerable jerk. II
Texas were personated by ''leaping"
toad rather than the crawling horned
frog, the term applied to the States
fortunes would be proper enough; but
we can't help thinking that Texas,
huge as she is and bound
less, would present ridiculous
geographical aspect if reduced to the
painful necessity of practicipg this
marvellous resIlieDcy" which the
Neaos so gloats over. But then the
masses OF the Netes's readers will never
know how beautifully the great news
paper, which talks Latin "llke the
oldest Roman OF them ALL" has in
duced the great State to go bobbing
up and down. In fact there is MOTH
ing like the sweet and graceful ''re-
s,liency" of this great commonwealth,
and it is the poetry of this motion that
makes the NeUs's head swim in the
boundless sea of resilient" words and
waves.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1879-01-30
BAYARD.

Tilden is finally done for. The Pot
ter and Teller committees have cooked
his goose" and we do not know man,
at this moment, who can beat Grant
unless it be Mr.. Bayard, of Delaware.
Every gentleman in the United States
would be forced to vote for the fore
most gentleman of America. Decen-
cy, truth, honesty, conservatism and
unquestioned greatness would consoli-
date, IN Bayard's behalf, the country's
intelligence aud honesty. Every day
Bayard gains strength. Along the
route pursued by the committee that
came to do honor to Mr.. Schleicher's
memory the press and people, contem-
plating the face and impressive presence
and personal and historical virtues of
Mr.. Bayard, declare with one voice
that Bayard alone can defeat Grant.
Bayard is the impersonation of law
and justice. His virtues are heredi-
tary and his fame traditional in Della
ware, and if we may not trace his ge-
neaology back to the illustrious and
chevalier OF France,
America is as much honored in this
original hero, the Bayard ofthe Senate,
as was France in her immortal son
who lived and died sans peur ct sans
repr0che.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1879-01-30

THE lawyers of New York are in
dignant because the commission which
undertook to codify the statutes made
on awful botch of it. Ohio has one
hundred volumes of local laws and as
many of Supreme Court decisions, and
the result is that there is no known
law in that great commonwealth ex-
cept that affecting Federal loaves and
fishes. It is hoped that codlfiers of
Texas statutes will find their labors
more generally approved, even as their
task has been infinitely easier, than
that executed in New York and now
in Ohio.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1879-01-30

one or twenty dollars were given to
every pupil, whose parents ask it, for
each years regular attendance at any
school worthy the name, the public
school funi might be promotive of a
share of public go)d, bat the system
that exists is m1tchless in worthless
ness and criminal IN its utter waste of
money wrested wrongfdlly in this be-
half from the industry of the people
and transferred, without any oquivs-
lent, in countless instances to the pock-
cts of travelling mountebanks and ad-
yenturers
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1879-01-30

GEN. JAMES SHIELDS is the first of
American citizens who has lived in and
been lucky enough to represent three
different States in the Federal Senate.
HonOrs are thrust upon Shields, simply
because of his personal and moral
worth, while men of learning and
genius are unbonored. 1t was hard
that DAVID Armstrong, the honest,
fearless, whilom pedagogue of st.
Louis, the brave old leader of unterrl-
fed, unsoaped Democracy for half
century, was not suffered to serve out
the unexpired term given him by Gov
ernor Phelps. Instead, the Legisla-
ture parceled out rewards and gave
each good n an small share. 1t never
entered the heIds of the wlseacres that
the State needed great abilities and
grand deeds and grand thoughts in
the Senate chamber of Federal empire.
By this farce enacted by little dema-
gogues, Benton's vestments have been
parceled out, like those of the Savior,
among dimlnutive popular favorites
and the State seems happy that the
big job is disposed of. Shields
had bullet sent through his
body at Buena Vista and is of
course proper Senator and will be
of infinite service to the West and
Southwest in Federal legislation.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1879-01-30

On New Years day Martin and Crooks
shut up their shop and forgetting and
forgivlng all differences and rivalries
of the bygone year, went ''calIingn to-
gether. They hired hack and drove
to every house in Sherman, beginning
with the bar rooms. at 8 Pm. they
had ''dope the town" and were lively
to a degree never known before. They
came bowling, we are told, into the
public square playing leap frog in the
hack. The pair went thus charging
around the court house square
scattering wagons and horaes
in every direction when the
town constable interfered 10 stop
the wild career of the two loving edi-
tors. They fought terribly, but Crooks
got tangled in among Martins legs
and both falling ingloriously were
thrust into the calaboose. They would
be there now, but that good-hearted,
spiritually-minded man Murray, OF Dem
lson, hearing of it, creased himseifn
like Ariel, as described by Milton whes
the seraph ghdei from heaven into
Paradise on a sunbeam-even as did
Murray come down on the telegraph
wire into Sherman. He entered tho
cell IN which Martin aud Croeh
snored in one another's ar11s. I'D
struck the shackles from their limbs
by .ssnsiEitual. force spaIc. opening the,
cala6Uose door, led them forth to light
and lib1Tty-
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1879-01-30

GOVERNOR RoBERTs's condemnation
of the gen d'armerie of Texas and of
moral results of its use cannot be too
highly commended. In all frontier
States and communities the same evils
have been encountered as on the Rio
Grande. The worst elements of soci-
ETY. are elected from the best by natu-
raj processes of purgation, and these
excretions are damned up by facts of
Mexican civilization and geography.
Sheriffs, courts, the branding iron and
whipping post cost less and are inf
nitely more efficient agents of law and
order than the State cavalry. Fixed
law having terrible penalties and ener-
getic action gives permanent relief, but
even if the country be expurgsted to-
day by the gallant troopers, the tide
of knavery, when soldiers are with
drawn, will flow backward tomorrow.
Just now, and probably for the next
ten years, Texas must have a Draco-
nlan code. 1t is net to operate upon
Texans, but upon the depraved adven-
turers and fugitives from the old States
that HE to the border and are white
men to-day and red Tomorrow.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1879-01-30
Egery conceivable honor wns extend.

Every conceivable honor was extend
ed to the remains OF Mr.. Schleicher by
the people of San Antonio. OF his
illness the Express tells that ''upon
returning to Congress after MS re-slec-
ton last November our representative
went actively to work, though the ex-
citement Of the heated canvass through
which he had passed seemed to have
affected his health. On the evening
Of the second instant be was compelled
to take to his bed, being afflicted with
erysipelas. His condition grew worse
daily, though he was not considered
dangerously Ill until the lapse OF about
a week, when a very hot fever seized
bin. Soon his mind became affected
by this fever, and constantly in his
sleep he talked Of his congressional
duties and OF measures inviting public
interest. When aroused, however, he
would appear sensible and converse re-
tionally though when left 10 himself
the same unnatural condition would
return. Then he was seized with con-
gestion Of the brain, passed into an
unconscious state, and during the
night OF the tenth, after eight days Of
illness, death ended bis sufTenngs.1
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1879-01-30

ALL the appointments of Governor
Roberts, excepting that of Major ]. B.
Jones for the Adjutant Generalship,
have been confirmed. A vigorous
fight has been kept up for three days
upon this nomination, and evidently
breach is widening between those who
would sustain the Governor in the
matter and those opposed to the ap-
pointment. A Governor is elected to
execute the laws of a State, and to
carry out public policies, but it be-
comes questionable whether his per-
sonal likes and disllkes should i'm
pede legislation. Should Major Jones
be even in the end confirmed, it
appears now that the opposing element
will retire with anything but the kind
est feelings towards the Governor, and
such a result should be averted. Prob
ably the solution of all this misunder-
standing will be reached by new
nomination upon which all could read
lily combine. Such a man may be
found, and it appears just and right
that he should be, when dlscord Is be-
ing sown through warm discussions of
the merits and demerits of the gentle
men now before the Senate.