The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1879-02-06
EXTIRPiTION OF THE WAR
OFFICE OF TEXAS SENATOR
COKE.

1
OFFICE OF TEXAS SENATOR
COKE.
Intelligent nations contemplate the
relations subsisting between Mexico
and the United States IS conclusive
evidence of the barbarism Of the bor-
der people of both countries. Mexico
Is rich In gold, silver, coffee and all
tropical products, and yet the average
Texan believes that the average Greas-
er's dog, closely resembling rotten
Bologna, is the only resource OF the
wretched country. A river, running
loosely about over and within the
''border," across which cattle are driv-
en- by freebooters, is the only physical
barrier to commercial intercourse, and
yet neither country contributes a dol
lar to the wealth or intelligence of the
other. Mexico has recently evinced
the strongest desire for the
maintenance Of friendly rela-
tions. Armies for this end are
employed by both republics. How
absurd and costly and Iuiuousl Mil
lions are wasted and all the forms of
hostility observed that peace may be
unbroken by war. 1t were almost as
wise ''to make a desert and call it
peace" Here we have the border
counties, through newspapers and
legislators, demanding the creation of
State force, even while 1000 Federal
and 1000 Mexican soldiers are en-
ployed at enormous cost to the people
IN repressing disorders, capturing ban
dts and thus in the prevention of hos
tilities. The worlds opinion of US is
surely just. In any court adjudicsting
international relations ours with Mexi-
CO would be pronounced those of bar
baIians and yet both nations worship
the God of peace and each claims
for itself splendid aud honorable
civiliz ltion. We must confess, while
listening to speeches of Western mem
bers of the House and Senate, that
thorough reformation of social sys-
TENS and morals is sadly needed and
this state of endless war, which we
call peace, is no longer to be tolerated.
By perpetuatlng it we perpetuate the
very social systems and vices which
the legislature proposes to extlrpate.
Armies are not civil or commercial re-
formers. They can only repress or
destroy aad if we were not as Europe
sees US transcontinentalr railways would
speedily disband TrevIno's and Ord's
armies. In the presence of such facts,
if the State of Texas must expend
$400, 600 in maintaining order along
the frontier, and General Ord two mill
lions, each Federal soldier costing
$1,000 per annum, would it not be in
finitely wiser for the two governments,
State and Federal, to devote sum of
which the above amounts would be the
annual interest to the construction of
two railways; the one to Monterey and
Topolovampo, and the other from Gal
weston along the coast and valley of the
Rio Grande to Ell Paso? Very certain
ly no statesman contemplates the posi-
bility of the protraction of our present
relations with Mexico. The Legisla-
ture of Texas will assert, by abolishing
the war department of the State, the
necessity for the substitution of rail-
ways for armed men, and this action
of the State will doubtless induce the
cooperation of Congress, and General
Ord's sword will become, when the
international bridges the distance from
Austin to Topolovampo, brilliant
pruning hook.
Again and again has the STATESMAN
adverted to these palpable necessities
and to this sublime folly of Texas and
of the United States, both expendipg
vast sums in maintaining soldiers, and
thus in perpetuating evils and vices
which international commerce and the
railroad would instantly
dissipate. Not only this, but the
genius of steam, supplanting that of
violence, rapine and disorder, would |
desert into paradise. West
ern plains of Texas and border States
Of Mexico would become as attractive
a5odes of civilization and wealth as
these that In listless repose and beauty
catch the lights and shadows of Mount |
Bonnell. Senator Coke's speech made |
will constitute, no doubt,
An admirable discussion of these ques-
ions.