The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1883-10-16
CORRESPONDENCE FROM RIO FRlo.
Ernst weigle Gives Usa Little Sermon ON
Fence Cutting, Monopolies and Few
Personal Criticisms, Etc.

Personal Criticisms, Etc.
Editor San Antonio Light.
RIO FRO P. o., Uvalde County. Texas,
October -, ISS3-In the San Antonio Ex-
prets OF October have seen an open letter
Of our Adjuiant General King recited, and
also remarks Of the Express thereon. Those
remarks show that the Express is no. ac-
quainted with the situation or is altogether
blinded by the great riches Of the capitalists
foreign or domestic to the wanton expedients
those capitalists in the shape Of stockrsisers
have taken to crush the small farmer "nester'
out Of existence. The editor thinks fences
were not cut because the land was not their
own, nor because water was enclosed, nor be.
cause gates were put on the roads. lie, in
short, thinks that the poor "nester" has no
right TO any grievances whatsoever Those
remarks also show that the Express, or its
editor, is not acquainted with the old time
honored Democracy and its principles but
that he altogether sides with the new fapgled
Democratic aris'ocracy, believing that money
is the great and only motor and ruler OF this
world. Money ought to be able TO buy up all
the lands and do with it as it pleases. no
matter what or how many poor fellows are
Injured thereby. Does not believe in the
natural rights, the gifts Of nature. which true
Democracy. teaches belong TO all alike,
such as air, water, land, the beasts Of the
forests and the FISH in the water, as well as the
birds in the skies. Nor is said editor able to
comprehend the meaning Of the constitution
when il states that government shall he so
administered that the greatest amount Of good
shall be obtained to the greatest number Of
people possible. lie does not comprehend
that this might mean that one man shall
not own, what will make comfortable living
in independence for 400 or 1000 people, nor has
he any idea that those 400 or 1000 people are
more benefit to the State than this one man,
although he may be a capitalist, and this a
fereign one, while the others are only COM
mon hard working farmers, nor does he under.
stand when the constitution says that all shall
be protected alike, mot in proportion to their
wealth." in the enjoyment of their lawful
possessions mot IN lands fenced not their
own, as well as in the pursuit of their lawful
occupations; that all shall have a like access
to the common highways and other means Of
communication (not through gates placed on
roads or pastures), the same man who owns
100000 acres of land, 600 coo head cf
cattle, ST., 900, 600, or only one acre or one
COW or one dollar, nor does the editor seem
to know that as soon as one man inlringes
o M her ha he at.i-
talist or poor man, this man is in the wrong.
The editor must also be very little conversant
with the hisory OF Western and Northern
Texas during the last fifteen years; he does
not recollect that the courts were full of cases
OF cattle thehs, but hardly any convictions
were had, because the defendants were rich
and were able to fee the lawyers; only the
poor depredatoIs were convicted; that au-
merous large pastures contained large amounts
of cattle with brands blotched, stolen Of men
having but comparatively few head of cattle;
that also numerous murders were committed
on persons trying to reclaim their property,
and that most Of those murderers were cleared,
simply because they we're men Of means;
also that numerous fences were built,
with gates on the roads, to the
great annoyance and inconvenience of
travellers, that only a short time ago people
were altogether fenced up in their possessions
and out off communication so much so that
even county organizations were in danger OF
having TO be broke up on account of those
large land holders fencing up the country. In
all this the editor can see no wrong and can
not see any connection between the agrarian
fence cutting and the old time Democracy
his eyes mast surely be blinded from gold
dust The Express of the 4ih of October has
a very good parable, fully exemplifying the
state OF affairs, 1t is of dog laying in a shed
when bull came and wanted to hoist the dog
out SO that he could get in. The small farmer
who was the first to own his property. is by
the latter corners, the capitalist stock raisers,
pushed out of their homes by closing them
out from water and communication, and the
former TO save his home, had, at least at first,
to open himself roads to water and commune
cation, by cutting the fences of the former; the
reason OF the nesters not going to law with the
rich stockraiser, is because law nowadays is
like the editor Of the Express, in favor of
those who have the most money. In conclu-
sion will state that am glad to hear our
Adjutant General Kings old time Democratic
letter in connection with fence cutting, and
only wish that the remainder of our officers,
our Governor, was OF the same
opinion. That they would look to the natural
rights of the people and to the rights guaran-
teed by the constitution, to each and all alike,
and not TO the large capitalist Capital is not
the strength of a State, it is the magnitude OF
the number Of its independent citizens, who
make up its strength Our State, if mon
opoly, especially land and stock monopoly,
can be kept out Of it, must become within the
next 10 years, without the aid of foreign capt.
tai, the strongest the most populous and
therefore the wealthest State in the Union.
1t can easy support population of I5,ooo,-
600, and raise an amount OF aggregate wealth
to the amount OF 81. 900, ooo, 900, OF the truth
OF which will in figures convince any inter
ested therein. Yours, ERNST WEIGLE,
Rio Frio postofiice, Uvalde county, Texas.