The Evening critic., 1881-09-08
THE OUTRAGE ON MIR. BRIGGS.
A Denial That There was Sectional
Ism iu it.

Ism I'm it.
Col. Russell, United States Marshal of
Eastern Texas, is in the city at the Ebbitt
House. The Colonel is magnificent speci-
men of the genuine Texan physically and
socially and is one of the most estimable
and highly esteemed gentlemen in that
State.
Politically Col. Russell is q Republican,
and as he is a native-born Texan, THE
CRITIC felt assured when IL called upon
him anent the recently reported outrage
upon young Mr.. Briggs Of this city, the son
of the talented lady journalist "Olivia,"
It would secure an unbiased view bearing
upon the subject, which is needed at pres
Ont, as those whose Judgment Is warped by
prejudice in denouncing the action Of the
cowboys seek to stamp 1t as sectional
matter
Col. Russell said: I" am panied aud sur
prsed to see the effort made to convey the
idea that this outrage upon young Mr..
Briggs sprang from, or was originated by,
any sectional feeling. There Is no more
cosmopolitan State in the country than Is
Texas. There Is no State where progress
stamps out all questions of politics or sec
tonal questions than our State, and the
idea that this wretched occurrence should
have been brought about, as / see some of
the Northern papers essay to establish,
through, or from political reasons, would
be absurd, were it not worse than absurd,
as IL Is deleterious to the great interests of
our State"
"How, then, Colonel do you account for
it2"
at arises from the difficulties between
the cattlc.raisers and the sheep-drovers.
These quarrels and their unfortunate re-
suits are not at all infrequent, / regret to
say, but they are not confined to any class
of men nor to any men from any State.
There is standing ill-feelng between the
cattle raisers and the sheep pasturers, the
former claiming that along the ranges the
sheep destroy the pasturage and cause great
losses to the cattle. Trouble is always brew
ing between them and quarrcls are often
INDUCED in with serious consequences. II
makes no difference to those engaged in the
i business to what section the other belOng rs
the bad blood shows itself, irrespective OF
original region or of politics.
at seems absurd to me- continued Col
RUSSELL con the part of Caldwell
who has lived and prospered in Texas
for four years, to insinuate that
any sectional feeling is evidenced
Were there sectional feeling it would Ger
tainly have been shown before this time
and yet this Is the first intimation he give,
of it. There is none. Indeed, the Northern
portion of Texas is very largely settled witt
Northern and Western men. They form
perhaps the bulk of the population. Their
is no State more anxious to encourage i'm
migration than is Texas, and none WHERE
the immigrants are more heartily welcomed
OF course these unfortunate and deplorabl'
affairs occur, such as in The case of yonn.s
Mr.. Briggs, but they are the same as il
other States where wretched men will d,
wrong. They are not directed to an.
} particular party, as for instance this is bu
one of the several results of the ill-feelinl
existent between the cattle men and sheep
, raisers, and yet it is the first time that
, Northern man was the victim.
1t is unfortunate enough and wicke
, enough as it stands without the additions
crime of attempting to fasten "a sectiona
significance upon it..
Mr.. Chase, a leading Republican editor G
, Texas, who is in the city, is of the sam
r opinion rs Col. Russell in this matter.