The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-08-08

fore pardonus for saying that we think it is
due to yourself and pre-eminently dueto
those who are most interested, that you give
full expression to your sentiments on this
question. There has been much
discussiona also, governor, for the
two years past on fee schools.
You will remember that you vetoed tho bill
which appropriated one-fourth of the gen.
eral revenue to the support Of free schools,
giving as a reason that the revenue would
not Justify that amount and be enough to
meet the other current expenses Of the
state. You know, too, that in this
bill, appropriation had been made to meet
the semi-annual interest then about due on
the bonded debt of the state. And we appre-
bend that you remember that this vote not
only occasioned and necessitated an extra
session of the legislature at an expense of
over $4,000 to the state, but that it was the
cause of capitalists abroad being filed with
distrust Of its good faith and integrity; you
will also remember that it caused deprecia-
ton in the price of Texas securities, and that
itprevented the sale of Texas FIVE per cent.
funding bonds. You will recell
that it brought the state
aud the people into disrepute. You know
that 1t went so far as to impair or rather put
under a. cloud the credit of Texas business
men; you know that this thing was thrown
up to gentlemen visiting the eastern cities
until they held their heads in very
shame. Were you not apprised that the
revenues of the state were ample to justify
the appropriation Of one fourth of the reve-
nue. to school purposes 1t occus TO us you
ought to have known this, because the reve-
nues coming in from back taxes
long over due, and from taxes levied
by the sixteenth legislature were
SO great that you have been able to pay
oil the deficiencies of former administrations
and still have in the treasury over $4,000
cash, idle capital wrung from the il.worn
people of the state, and you know that
these revenues have been so great that the
oue-siIth appropriated for schools was great
er in actual amount than the one-fourth APP
propriated under former administrations. 1t
is charged, sir, that you oppose free schools
per sc, and in support Of that charge your
message 10 the sixteenth legislature
when in extra session. wherein you said that
the best system Of free-schools the state ever
had, was that which obtained prior to the
W ar, when INDECENT children only were
schooled by the state, is quoted. Will you
please say to the people of this state whether
or not you earnestly and sincerely favor a
system of free education? We are not I'M
mindful that during the last few months you
have asseverated your devotion to public
schools; that you have manifested the keenest
regard for normal schools, and we
know that the school teachers
have resoluted in good round English in
your behalf but what the people seek to
know is whether or not you ave really in
favor of free education; whether you will
permit the legislature, by majority vote to
enact laws IN support aud mainten nee of
free schools. The old song says, you know,
governor, that "the heart feels most when
the lips move not" Now the state has been
treated to vast deal of lip service by your
adherents on the question of your devotion
to free schools during the past few months,
but considering your actons-and acts always
speak louder than words--considerin your
veto, and your message on the school ques-
ton, the people want % know decsively,
emphatically from you, in language une-
quivocal, unambiguous, whether or not you
favor free schools. You know, we presume,
that, whether justly or unjrstly, your school
policy, as manifested by your veto and mes
sages, has kept people from coming to Texas
who would have come if your course had
been different, therefore if you really went
us to have good system Of fee, schools,
system that will give course of learning to
all the blight eyed girls and boys OF this
land, it seems - us you owe it |
to yourself, and above all to the people be-
fore whom you are now cam date for ele-
walton again to the exalted position of gov
ernor, to define yourself fully and explicitly
on this point. We presume governor, that
you are aware of the fact, that there is
class of reople in this state who oppose zee
schools Of any character whatsoever, and
who contend that it is undemoc. ATTIC and
wrong to expend dollar of the put lie
money in support of educating other peo-
pies children" and we presume that you
are aware tina. this class of our citizens favor
to man your nomination, on the 6 ound
that you believe as they do. If they are
right in their belief it is justice to those who
disagree with them that you also expires q
yourself on this point. If you do not agree
with them, is it not due to them that you say
30 that they may not give you a support on
erroneous grounds? Being an honorable and
honest gentleman as even your bitterest |
opponents take pleasure in asserting, It is
due to yourself that you put yourself right
even on this point. Being an old |
Texan, having had conferred on
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