The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-04-04
THE aupERNAToRIAL oANyAga.


THE dUDRRNhT0RIAL CANVASS.
As in tho Presidential race this year we
take II that the question Of availability must
10 some extent prevail in the gubornatorlal
contest In this State. We know thore are a
majority Of voters In the State WHO
iphold and maintain Democratic principle"
10 tho number Of near one hundred thor-
and, but In our opinion there ara many cur
lonts that might form which merging TO-
eether would croate mighty tide to bear Oh
thousands of this majority to tho support of
ticket in opposition to II regularly nomi'
natod one aud TO the great jeopardy,of Dem
ocratic success, II ia the part Of wisdom for
tho Democracy of Texas to look stern facts
in tho face and to pay heed to the signs so WIS.,
ible on every hand. There are several interests
vital to tho State on which the party Is diyid-
cd, or rather on which there Is a lack of una
nimily of sentiment, which Is liable to divide
the party, unless harmony Is secured by ju-
dicious management, They arc questions To-
cal to Texas, and while the party will vote rs
unit for the Democratic nominee for Presi-
dent, it might refuse TO elect the nominee fer
Governor, rs in the case Of New York. Such
contingency can be avorted, and the
spectacle of a household divided against IT,
self, prevented, il the will of II majority of
the party is respected, platform cnuncialed
and q standard-bearcr selected, both In har-
mony with that will. II is fact
that the policy and administration
OF Governor O, NJ. Roberts has
developed those inharmonious elements
which are now threatening Mt least tempo
rary disruption Of the party. Tho unhappy
work began in the Sixteenth Legislature
when the Governor vetoed the ono-fourth ap-
preparation for public schools and with it
the appropriation TO meet accrued interest
on the public debt. Indications of It were
visable even in his canvass for Governor
when he SO pointedy expressed himself OPP
posed TO immigration, and in his message
wherein he said that the best system of free
schools was that which obtained before the
the war, when the State betrayed the ex-
penses of INDECENT children in the private
schools of the country, bat their Specification
yas not perceived then. We doubt if there
IS my person in Texas who does not honor
IN respect Governor Roberts for
MS probity of character, his hon
ST and integrity, his couscientiousness
anil purity of.-motive. While ii is generally
tn lght that he is not possessed of an extern
slvl mind, yet it is one solid in It's strength
an of judicial bent which made him great
on The bench. 1t is the pride of Texas that
his opinions, rendered from the Supreme
beach, are respected in the courts of every
State in the Union. They are marked for
the legal research they display, for the Just
and impartial discrimination which charac-
terizes them. Since 1874 he has devoted his
time to legal pursuits, First as District
Attorney, and then on the District and SUI
preme benches, thirty -odd years has he aored
over legal tones given thought TO briefs aud
analysed the law and the facts in cases sub
mitted TO him for adjudication, and therefore
thescience Of state-cratt has been neglected
No fairer, better index to the conclusions Of
his mind, the sentiments of bis heart or
the question of public schools can be fount
than that idea expressed in his message thai
the system OF educating INDECENT children
in the private schools, which obtained priol
to the war, was the best for the State Tha
idea seems to be proof that he fails to com
prehend the vast changes that have beer
wrought since then. Before the war tn
State was not able to maintain more ex
tended system of free schools, and there wa
less need for one, because then parents an
guardians, with rare exceptions, were able t
educate their children and wards. tn
children educated thes, as a rule from til
bounty Of the State, were indiger
orphans. Then the State, by reason of il
sparse population, was poorer than it is nov
but the people, because of the institution
slavery, we're as a mass better off pecuniaril
than they are now-thst is to say, it was the
cheaper to the people to thus educate than
was to furnish revenue sufficient to the Sta
for the State to do it. Now the reverse
the rule. Governor Roberts seems to ha,
failed to comprehend this fact and to resl
the changed condition of things. Furthe
more and there is no use to attempt to di
). guse the fact, in the days prior to the W
II when nine-tenths of the people of t
"a South owned slaves and were reliev
from the burthens of labor themselv
III there was an unreasonable and unreason
NJ hostility to public school education, born
s pride and of that pecuniary independe
te which was then characteristic of the count
W The stern logic of events has created rev
t4 luton Of sentiment in this particular.
n people have come TO appreciate the util
|4t md economy Of public education and the
|H mand now Is that the constitutional MANI
IN for an efficient System Of public schools
lii carried into effect and in this, Cover