The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-06-22
JU pGEIRELANp, opINIoN


him his opinion on all the vital state
questions. They are es follows:
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
First, the public free school is or
ganic. and it is the duty of the ex-
ecutive to carry out the organic law
in good faith, aud to the best of his
ability, with due regard to the other
interests of the country.
THE UNIVERSITY.
l have been misrepresented in re-
gard to the university. 1t stands
upon the same footing in the organic
law as the public schools. The same
provisions have been made in all
the constitutions. believe it ought
to be organized and put i'll opera
ton as soon as possible; but of
course the manner of endowing it,
and the time when it shall be
put in operation, are questions about
which men may differ.
EXECUTIVE CLEMENCY.
1 think the pardoning power
should not be used to annul the
laws. ''.r
REVENUE.
The state government ought not
to collect from the people more
money Than is necessary to carry on
the government. q"
- RAILROADS.
Our railroad system should be
carried out and made as complete
and perfect, and as subservient to
the interests of the people, as it can
be done with due regard to the
rights of the railway owners, and
while guaranteeing to the railway
corporations every right, legal aud
equitable, to which they are entitled,
they ought not to have a single adj
vantage guaranteed them by the
government over and above the
rights of the citizens of
the country. L believe, there
fore, that laws should be passed to
control and manage them, but their
management should be in the spirit
of justice, ami by this we may avoid
the necessity of the general govern
ment taking charge of that matter.
THE JUDICIARY.
Our judiciary is radically de-
fective, and it certainly ought to be
so remodeled as to enable the courts
of the country to transact the bust
ness. --
FRONTIER. PROTECTION.
Our frontier people should be
protected. We should, of course,
demand of the federal government
the fulfiliment of its constitutional
obligations to protect our frontier
in the first place, and this not being
accorded, it becomes the duty of the
state TO furnish protection.
THE NEW CAPITOL.
The new capitol building ought to
be pushed forward and completed |
as soon as possible.
PUBLIC LANDS.
There are no public lands now of
any consequence. If any are lett of |
any value, they should be husbauded |
for the purpose of educating the |
youth of the country. The lands |
belonging to the school fund and |
fund-indeed, no lands |
belonging to the state or controlled |
by the state, ought to be sold, except |
to the highest bidder, after due no.
tice of the sale by advertisement, |
aud after having fixed a minimum |
price. The present system is pre-
posterous folly.
CRIMINAL MATTERS.
Our criminal laws ought to be |
rigidly enforced. My view of the
penitentiary system is that the pun
shment and the reformation of the
criminals is of the first importance,
and that the cost of attain
ing these ends is of MINOR i'm
portaDce. The convicts ought to be
placed in the walls, where reforma-
ton may be sought and where pun
shment may be secured. Of course
the system may not be in the coDdi-
ton that would enable the state to
place the convicts in the walls imme-
1iately. The great end to be OBJ
famed is to- control the convict sys-
,em as an institution to execute the
Judgment of the courts. The only
form is to put convicts inside the
walls sufficient term TO teach them
useful trades.
FINANCE.
| certainly think the state ought
lot to purchase bonds, not due for
twenty years, at the enormous pre-
MUM of $1.40.
OTHER MATTERS.
AS this is state canvass, my views
IN the tariff and other national
questions are not properly subject
o question, except that the Demo-
,ratic party of this state may de-
nand that its candidates for high
tate offices shall subscribe to the
platform. 1t is hardly ne
,essary for me to say that L am a
Democrat. AS have already stated
o a NetcS reporter, was 4 member
IF the Texas delegation to the Gin
,lnnati convention and was selected
~ my delegation TO act as their COM
Oh the platform commit
zee, and that the platform which
,ur committee reported committed
he party to tariff for revenue only,
md to this l gave my hearty
and still approve it. 1t is
he duty of the government under
LIE constitution to coin the precious
metals of the citizen. 1 think the
banking system should be
.bolished, and that the silver and
told of the country should be the
money of the country. If paper is
leeded, 1 believe gold and silver !
certificates issued by the treasury is
he best in the world, because they
re based upon actual values, repre- I
enting coin in the treasury, and the
Older of the certificate can get his
ash any day he wants it. There is
% reason in the world why this sys- 1
em should not take the place of the
ational banks.
Judge Ireland said that the immi- |
rant was as much entitled to come
ere and be here as himself. "All of [
8 are immigrants. Very few men {
re here who were born here" He I
7as glad thew had come and were 4