The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-07-13
AN ADDRESS
Delivered by o. N. Hollingsworth
Before the State Educational As
ISOLATION at Tyler, June 80.


Mr.. President, Ladies and Gentleman:
There were several influences which
prompted me to make an earnest effort to
so arrange my official duties as to enable
me to attend this annual assembly of the
teachers OF the state. L desired to mani
fest, by my presence, my sympathy with
the cause in which we are co-laborers.
desired, by attending your meeting, to
show my appreciation of the profession
of which you are the worthy and honored
representatives and to appropriate the
opportunity for forming closer personal
relationship. 1t is well for individuals
engaged in the same common cause to
know each other personally. / desired
to embrace the opportunity of re-visiting
the scenes of my early childhood and re-
newing acquaintance which gladdeued
the days of my youth and inspired the
hopes of my manhood.
desired to take council with you in re-
ference to that policy OF our government,
which is paramount to all others because
il is the corner stone OF civilization, the
bulwark of liberty and the inspiration of
material prosperity, and without it there
can be no civilization, no freedom, no en-
during prosperity.
CHIEF DUTY OF GOVERNMENT.
1t is claimed that the chief duty of gov
eminent IL to protect life, liberty and
property. For the effectual execution of
this chief function, the govern
power lodged in its strong arm,
the judiciary, supported by its con-
stabulary force, its prison walls, and its
hangman's rope. From the earliest dawn
OF civilization this has been the policy
pursued by civil governments to guar
antee protection to life, liberty and prop
erty, and Notwithstanding century upon
~ T,.. Ia. Ia.
tory of the world, has witnessed the eff
fort, yet but little progress has been
| made In this, the chief mission of gov
eminent.
The hand of Cain yet smites his
brother. Only few days ago the bloody
tragedy of Cain and Abel was re-enacted
in field In Tarrsnt county. The two
Harper brothers quarreled over the har-
vest, and the one slew the other. Only
the other night wife butchered her
husband in Hampstead. The visored
robber, In increased numbers, continues
to prey upon private rights. The stealthy
acts of the burglar and the bold deeds OF
| the highway robber are matters OF daily
record. Chains, forged by class and per-
sonal legislation, in the interest of the
| favored few, and in violation of the
| rights of the many, still shaekle with in.
creased and increasing burden, the limbs
OF the toiling masses. In many instances
| the property of the millionaire is ex.
| empted from taxation. while heavy trib-
, ute is laid upon the meagre possessions
and honest labor. whether of mind OF
body, of the great mass of the people,
I Such is the protection furnished under q
4 coercive power to life, liberty and prop
erty by civil governments of the nine.
teenth century. Ii Is such protection as
bold and INSCRIPTIONS majorities give Ia
helpless mlnorities; 1t Is such freedom as
masters give to slaves /; IL is such encour.
agement to honest industry as feudal des.
pots were wont to give to serfs. This
policy, or theory of government, recog.
niZes the depravity of human nature, and
prefers to combat IL with force rather
than seek to supplant 1t with nob1er in
stincts, higher aspirations and broader
conceptions of the duties of citizenship.
Ii appeals for recognition of its power
to the basest elements of human nature ,
instead of seeking, through the applica-
ton OF the true principles of the phil
osophy of government, the attainment OF
the highest civilization.
Our line OF thought leads not to the
shrine OF Eutopianism. Our convictions
on this subject are not born of the ideal.
We do not claim that the world
can be governed by moral force,
| and that courts and court officers may be
: dispensed with, prison doors closed and
the gallows hewn down. As long as hui
man nature Is corrupt-and 1t Is likely so
to be, in degree. as long as the world
endures-so long will IL be necessary for
the government to combat its evil influ-
ences by coercive measures. 1t is con-
coded that the chief duty of government
Is TO protect life, liberty and property,
but, ON the other hand, IL is claimed that
the most effective means of protecting
life, guaranteeing liberty and guarding
property Is the education of the citizen
TO knowledge of his own physical being,
and the laws, and conditions which con-
duce to ITS preservation and to q Just ap-
probation OF his civil and moral obligs-
lions 10 observe and respect the rights OF
his fellow man.
TERROR AND COERCION.
Measures OF terror and coercion have
been tested for centuries; millions upon
millions have been expended in appllca-
ton OF these appliances volumes that
would almost 6ll the world have been
written by the brightest intellects with 4
view to expounding the principles which
should govern in the application Of these
agencies. Halls or Legislation have been
mute witnesses for centuries of the
efforts OF statesmen to- devise
CRIME and violence by means of bodily
punishment; jurists Of the widest range
OF legal and philosophical thought, aud
judges of the profoundest learning have
been, through the long ages, devoting
their great energies and abilities to the
discussion and hearing Of criminal causes,
yet the demand tor more coarts, more
prisons, more 0i66sfs Is greater today tAan
sssr b<fors "a hs History Of fhs past. This
condition of affairs clearly indicates some
radical defects in existing order OF gov
ernments. Efforts in varied forms, under
the control OF a thousand separate agen-
cies and distinct organizations, all d.
rccted to the same humane purpose seem