The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-10-25
VOL. XIII.
A GOVERNOR GONE INSANE.

i OAAtsO IOA4O dAbNA 1Gs NboCA
vation of an eminently conservative
paper is brought forth by the late de-
cision of the United States supreme
court in the civil rights cases. This
decision puts an end to the vexatious
litigations, which have annoyed the
keepers of hotels, places of amusement
and common carriers in consequence
of the demand of colored persons
to be treated the same as
white persons. BY this decision it is
declared that congress, the highest
law-making power in the United
States, has no authority to make reg
ulations for the manner of running
hotels, theatres, eamboats, and pas
senger cars on railways. The court
holds that the affair is one for the
states themselves to look after, If
looked after at all. This view of the
case was presented to congress in 1875,
when the civil rights bill was before
that body, but the "loyal insanity of
Republicans, then predominant in
congress, would listen to no question
in which was involved even consti-
tutional rights, if such question pro
posed to arrest the insanity Of the
party in power. 1t was held then, as
it is held now, that when a constitu-
tional provision bars the way to polit-
ical advantage, what is lawful must
give place to that which is unlawful,
but expedient. The Nashville World,
in commenting upon this decision,
says: "Our colored friends should be-
gin to recognize the fact so well es-
tablished by all history, that it is i'm
possible to legislate either morals or
social customs into any people. These
are questions that must be left to the
advancement of civilization and the
gradual enlightenment of the masses
of the people to regulate themselves.
1t is high time the government of
these United States should recognize
the purposes for which they were in
stituted and not attempt to direct
them from that purpose. The civil
rights bill was passed at time when
partisan strife ran high, and no doubt
it's advocates had two objects in view,
the one being to pacify and secure the
support of the negro votes,
the other being an insult Of
fered to the South" And here
THE STATESMAN is especially
reminded of some rather remarkable
correspondence which has passed be-
tween Mr.. Hoxie, manager of the
Gould railway system, and our gov
ernor Under datesof September 13,
the governor wrote Mr.. Hoxie, asking
him to provide a third car on all
trains for the use of such colored per-
sons as might want to use it, said car
to be equal in apportionments and
style to the one set apart for whites
alleging that it would do much towards
allaying race troubles in Texas. We
have already expressed utter lack of
belief in ''race troubles" as reported
and have all the time felt confident
that any unpleasant ruffle on the So
cial bosom was but the mean work of
Republican emissaries, employed to
arrest the declining power of Repub-
licanism over the negroes. But it was
to the correspondence the STATES
MAN wa5 addressing itself. To the
letter of the 18th of September Mr..
Hoxie replied October 16. In his re-
ply he quotes the general transporta-
ton agent of the system as saying:
"Our business would not Justify the
running of an extra coach, even if we
had the extra equipment to do So"
Then Mr.. Hoxie says:
But notwithstanding the fact that
we expect to abide by the law,
yet, from the decision of the
United States supreme court,
which was promulgated yester-
day, and which was published in the
st. Louis morning papers of yesterday,
Ga copy of which enclose)I perceive
will preclude the necessity for run
ming the third car, as we can now
make the coloFed man take the seats
we desire.
Our rule has been not to antagoniZe
them, but rather to pursuade them to
take their proper place in the
train, and we have had
very little trouble in carrying
it out, never, / think. having had a
direct command against US. With
this decision before us, take it you
would not deem it advisable for us to
put on a separate Car for them. If,
however, [ am incorrect in this, l
would be glad to be informed by you
to the contrary.
1t was hardly to be supposed that a
governor of Texas would, on the
receipt of such a letter reply as did
Gov. Ireland. The correspondence
was presented in full in these
columes yesterday, and for the sake
of it's better understanding, the body
of the governors letter is here repro
duced:
regret you have not been able to
see the proprietyof adopting the course
l suggested. The letter of your gen.
eral transportation manager, to my
lillu(l, gives cuulIlOutt1 ICStSOaS why
my suggestions should be adopted.
To have yielded to the views of the
civil rights bill, contended for by the
most ultra radical, would still not
have preciuae the railway manage
| ment from designating coaches and
even seats for white or colored, and
to have compelled them to keep those
seats and to conduct themselves in a
way not become officious or annoying
to fellow passengers. This is not
done, and order and peace cannot be
maintained until they are separated.
Neither conductors, brakeSmen or
others in cases of crowded coaches
undertake to see these details, and are
| too apt to avoid what they deem an
unpleasant duty. A female of our col
| or, or even a male, takes a seat and, the
opposite sex comes and occupies the
same seat. After a difficulty or insult
the servants may possibly be induced
to interfere.
There is but one remedy and that is
to place coaches on the road for each
and then to require passengers to con-
form to the regulations.
"To turn the head away" as stated
by your agent, on discovering imper-
Thence is precisely what the Ipeople
of this state complain of. Your trans.
portation agent, when speaking OF
your ability to comply with this re
quest, means, l suppose, that youl
profits would not be so large.
The complaint make is a serious
one involving the Deaca of society