The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-09-27
DEPARTMENT NOTES.
TUESDAY.


cutting wire fences throughout the
western and northern. and to some
: extent in the middle and southern
portions of the state, and the other II
the brutal and ruthless killing OF
sheep at night, and, at times, beating
and threatening the owners and her
ders Of such sheep, is attracting the
attention of the people everywhere in
the state, and demands the most
thoughtful consideration of state and
local authorities. and of the people
themselves, in order that some safe
solution and some early ending may
be had to this ugly and dangerous
condition.
The question is surrounded with
difficulties, and its proper settlement
involves delay, and will require WIS
dom and courage coupled with mod
GRAFTON and desire to do right and be
right, on the part of all concerned In
this matter. To IA hasty view, it would
appear that there can be no cause for
that variety of lawlessness known as
<fence cutting except such as has its
natural Judgment in the minds Oh
reckless men who oppose all improve
ment and all progress, and who have
strong dislike to all worldly success
looking at the question more closely,
and examining all its surroundings and
the antecedent circumstances attend
ing the widespread spirit of seeming
iy determined lawless violence. it will
be found that much can and will be
said on both sides of this subject.
AS little apparent connection as
there is between lawless fence cutting,
now so common in Texas, and the old
fashioned Democracy-tha principle
which opposed monopOlieS and class
legislation, and looked only to the
best interests of the great body of the
people = vet it is evident that
this idea had something to do, in
the beginning at least, with this
peculiar form of violence, and has had
much to do with that public opinion,
which, to a greater or less extent, has
furnished support to this Wrong-do-
ing. Without desiring to discuss this
aspect of the question, it is sufficient,
perhaps, to say that for many years
past, federal legislation, and to an eX-
tent that of many of the states, has
forsaken the old and safe paths of
prudence and patriotism, and has
been SO managed as to enable gigan-
tic monopolies and corp. ratlons, and
DTlNdbb W
dangerously large fortunes in connec-
ton with great territories in land,
and the control of large numbers of
men, dependent upon and receiving
their orders from these wealthy land,
stock, railway and bond owners. This
vicious legislation has been SO long
continued, especially in federal affairs,
as to have apparently become a fixed
principle of American politics, and its
bad effects have stretched out into
all parts of the land. and damaged
communities and states even where
no cause of complaint could be found
IN the management of their local
and home affairs. The growing
desire of the people every where to rid
themselves of Il continuation of this
hurtful principle. is being shown in
many ways and at many points, and
has had it's effect in giving strength,
at the outset, to the disorderly and
unlawful proceedings now under dis
cussiOn. Combined with this princi-
pie there have been many causes, less
excusable and more lawless, which
have operated to keep up this violence,
and it is this unfortunate union of
political protest against exclusive
privileges and authorized monopoly
personal ignorance, perversity and
disregard of the law, that gives this
question its most serious ASPECT, and
calls for the grayest consideration by
thoughtful men, and by those who
are officially responsible for the well
being of society and the safety and
security of the body polite. -
1t may be said that Texts, even as
q republic, fostered aid enlarged the
idea of individual and corporate
ownership 46f fdrge bodies of land, but
this was always. then, and has been
since until lately. accompanied with
the understanding that these lands
were to be utilized in the interests of
the republic or the state by alienation
and settlement with large numbers of
people; and though individuals did,
In the course of time, secure immense
tracts of land, these were not fenced,
but allowed to remain open for the
free passage of people and the feeding
of all loose stock.
With the exception of the Interna-
tional railway, which, under peculiar
circumstances, obtained the privilege
of locating lands in Solido, without
locating any for the state, the general
law of Texas required all railways to
take land in alternate sections, locat-
ing one for themselves and one for
the state; and also that these lands
given to the railways should be sold
by them in a given number of years.
A remarkable combination of circum-
stances in and out of Texas, and de-
sire on the part of almost the whole
people of the state to make available
and Immediately useful the immense
- f,x.1 faI 30 frnn cob ii
purposes, and other public lands not
originally given 20 that fund, united
to produce some legislative changes in
the manner of selling these lands and
in the qantities allowed to be sold in
any particular case; and this, in con-
nection with the vast and rapid
growth of the sheep and cattle bust
ness OF the state, the flow of capital
into our borders, the extension
of railways, and the actual
and prospective increase in the value
of our lands, has caused many per-
sons and companies and corporations
toinvest in Texas lands in large bodies,
and has produced total change, and
under the circumstances and the con-
ditionS and practices heretofore exist
ing, a dangerous and hurtful change
in the management of these lands.
Barbed wire fences have been set up
all over the country. the parties so do
ing, in some instances, violating the
law of the state by closing roads and
obstructing travel, and overlooking
private rights, as well as public, by
Fencing in great territories heretofore
open. and much of which is not owned
by those fencing it, and preventing
the passage of the public, or access to
water. by failing or refusing to put
gates up, or by placing them where
they, can be utilized. Much public
land and many parcels of pri-
vate lands not belonging to
those who own the fences,
have, in many cases, been included
within the limits of these immense
pastures; and in other instances,
where partit have fenced only that
which belonged to them, it has
covered so much territory. has incom-
NODDED the public so greatly by the
absence or insufficient number of
gates. and has been done with so little
evidence of a desire to be neighborly
with those who were poorer, and who
desired and needed the privilege of
water, at least, for their small fiocks
and herds, that great dissatisfaction
has arisen from this sort of manage
loci 70 oh. koe,