The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1879-01-23


or by reason. O3e "f these p,iacioa
2 must be the agency employed, by wiiic
to accomplish the ends Tor waich civ
! and political institutions are designe.
! Neither experience nor research ca
indicate another mode When ia
vast country shall have become ,
thickly pcnpled as the States of "a
Old World, and each citizen OF II
iunume-sb!e crowds. that will annual
congregate at tie polls, shall. be an il
h1ential factor in controlling and d
recting tie deslinies OF the Republic
upon which shall devolve the powt
and the duty of preserving the peace
maintaining the law and establishin
order, and which shall decide the gray
political and social problems that wi
constantly demand solution, an en-
lightened judgment or q despoti
swordl The question, however diff
cult and alarming, cannot be ignored
1t must be fairly and feGIlessly met
Equivocation or hesitancy will be Grim
inal. Delay will be dangerous in tn
extreme. 1t will be too late to begiI
when our means, save by taxation
are exhausted, when the time 70
action has passed and the enemy
is at our very doors. Oppor.
tunities wasted rarely return. Yes.
terday is forever gomez tomorrow
may never come; to-day is with US anG
is ours to use and to enjoy. Upor
this generation devolves the necessity
of maturing and carrying into practical
operation the plan so wisely devised BY
the founders of the republic for sup
plying the intellectual wants of the
people. Moral and mental improve
ment should move apsce with material
prosperity, if we would attain thai
high degree of civilization and refine
ment, In the absence of which free in
situations are always in great and i'm
mediate peril. 1t is difficult to con-
ceive a single enterprise known to
human industry, or single undertake
ing, that has been or may be attempted
by human hands, that cannot be better
and more easily accomplished when
the head has been trained to think, to
inquire and to reflect. The advantages
of popular education cannot be over
estimated, and if we would rise to the
height of the occasion and prove our
selves worthy the heritage we enjoy
we must make ample preparation for
the great and serious events, whose
dark shadows are already frightening
themselves before US. If we would
diminish the evils that cluster so thick
ly around universal suffrage; if we
would empty our jails and deplete our
penitentiaries; if we would have the
rich and abundant productions of ma
ture utilized and developed to their
utmost capacity, we should not hest
tate for moment to do all that in us
lies for the diffusion of knowledge
amongst those who are to take our
places when we shall have been gather
ed unto our fathers. Increased taxa
ton will not be necessary. An i'm
mense domain is yet undisposed Of and
an industrious and enterprising popu-
lation is hurrying hitherward in great
numbers, and if the public school lands
be properly handled they will socu be
taken up at their full value, and there
will flow into the treasury funds amply
sufficient to educate, to moderate ex-
tent, every son and daughter of Texas.
There is another policy conceived
and put in execution by the earlier
statesmen of Texas, whose memories
are revered by grateful posterity-
the Punishment of safe, speedy, econ
omical and easy facilities for travel
and transportation. IL Is policy
made essential by the requirements of
this day and generation. Commercial
are indeed of incalculable
value, and no people can be prosper
GUS without them. With the develop
ment of agricultural pursuits and with
the perfection of other industries, the
aids and appliances of commerce must
undergo a correspon ding, if not great
er, advancement, or energy, thrift and
economy will be but scaRtily rewarded.
and in the mids. of plenty we will be
beneath the weight of pow,
erty. That this policy is liable
to GREET abuse there cannot be a
doubt, and Texas, as other States. has
suffered and is now suffering the ia
fortunate results of eff )rts, repeatedly
and successfully made under the guise
of great public benefit, yet neverthe-
less to promote individual gain at the
expense of the general welfare. But
such instances of misapplIcation of
power and means should not produce
, change of policy in this respect.
Rather should it animate those charged |
with executive and legislative func-
ions to be more watchful of the pub
ic interests, and all future legislation |
Upon this subject should be so direct !
ID as to be fruitful of the greatest good |
10 the largest number.
/ would not be understood as at all |
avoring the donation of money or the |
oan of credit by the State to srch en-
erprlses. To such a policy 1 am IN
Ilterably opposed. But Texas cannot
Ifford to have her immense resources
or her many and diversi-
led productions unconsumed, or ex-
changed at ruinous rates for the want
# those agencies that trade and COM
nerce employ and require. Millions and
Millions of the race, on this aud the
ther hemisphere, are stretching out
heir eager and starving hands for sus-
enance and employment. Be it our
mission to supply their wants, and at
he same time to enhance vastly our
wn moral, intellectual and material
ap abilities. We must keep ourselves
ully abreast with the age. The world
J busy, struggling and anxious
hrong, and this people should lead the
an in all the great movements of mod
IN times. This right and this duty,
his honor and this benefit are ours, as
Tell by virtue of great and glorious
ncestry, as by the Unreasonable SUI
eriority of our climate, our soil, and
ur position among the States of this
-nion.
Allusion to another subject, par
cularly interesting to the people
the present time, will, perhaps, be
OF regarded as improper or unsuitable
} This occasion-the curtailment of
very unnecessary expense and the
.rict confinement of the administra-
on of affairs within the fiscal limits
rovided by law. In other words,
ach succeeding legislature should
OF be called upon to make defcien- ,
7 appropriation. It will not be ex-
ggeration to say that such policy
ould, to some extent, be a new de
arturo in Texas politics. The history
legislation, from the admission of
exas into the Union down to this day.
iscloses the fact that the taxation i'm
osed has but seldom been sufficient to
eet the expenditures during the time
IT which they were estimated. Sound
olicy requires change in this re-
,ect, especially since every interest is
boring beneath weight of indebted :