San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1883-01-25
a, IreIand's Inaugural Address.

d0uDto ~"
!" Lacking back few years, we be-
,od Texas a part of the Spanish King
S IO by the revolution Of 1924 she
SOcame part of the republic of Mex
;"o. Mexico refused to her distant
tSy,itory that just and equal place in
,he family that was due to the people,
and Texas having been sought by blood
that knew what freedom and equal
r;chts were, this blood, aided by many
noble families descended from that of
CASTLE. soon inaugarated the move
mont that eliminated ut San Jacinto
and spoke new nation into life.
For many years the Republic of
Teyas consisted of her ancient and
noble settlement in eastern Texas,
tbe lower Brazos settlement and the
missions, including San Antonio; her
nrogress was slow, but soon the idea
Of annexation began to grow and was
made q fnality in 1916; her popula-
tion was then about 10000 souls,
and as late as 1870 the total popula-
tom was but little over 100000. Up
to near that period we had no disturb
ing questions about public lands, our
free schools consisted in what was
known as the INDECENT system; we had
no perplexing questions of taxation,
the penitentiary was almost mythical
and our asylums were only known in
name. The principal duty of the ex-
ecutive was to sign patents and look
to the frontier.
HOW CHANGED THE sCENE
Over 100000 population, and,
instead of the small settlements be-
fore mentioned, we find the entire
country, from the Red river to the Rio
Grande and from the coast to Ell Paso,"
peopled, and yielding all the material
PRODUCTS for the consumption Of our
race, while the Pan Handle supplies
Chicago, New York, the Indian tribes
and portions of Europe with beef,
each section constantly struggling for
the mastery, and endeavoring to i'm
press it's ideas and laws upon the state.
The public lands are exciting that
energy and calling forth that same
spirit of gain that the goldfelds of
Australia and those of California did.
The growth and settlements of the
distant parts Of our territory have
demonstrated the fact that laws that
are suitable for the Red River country
do not prove beneficial to the Rio
Grande, and those that the coast de-
sire are not welcome at Ell Paso. With
all this difficult and conflicting ele-
ments and interests must we deal.
Shall we float along in the avenues of
the sluggard, caring nothing for the
future, or shall we deal with these
great interests as though we, and not
posterity, are to be affected by our
action?
Prominent among the objects that
will challenge the attention of this
administration are:
The preservation of our common
school fund, including the lands set
apart for that purpose, and the I'M
provement of our school system.
It is known to the country that,
prior to my nomination at Galveston,
I severely criticised the practice of
paying 40 per cent. premium for our
bonds, and no amount of reasoning
or financial skill can satisfy me that
the practice is justifiable, either IN
retiring our bonded Indebtedness, or
as an investment for the school fund.
1t seems to be admitted by all that
the constitution should be so amended
as to permit the Legislature to levy
and collect school tax, without re-
fering to the amount of the general
revenue that may be necessary.
THE SHALL BE
DONE WITH OUR CoNvICTs?
1t would seem that experience has
taught us that there are but few "penl-
tents" and but few reforms accom-
plished IN that institution, and, there
fore, that it is probably mis-named.
1t will be for the wisdom of the law
making power to prescribe the proper
management. l do not doubt but
there are numbers sent to that lnsh-
tutionL foripetty offenses, who should
be punished in some other way; and
for youths a house of correction OF
or other place of confinement, and
punishment should be devised. L
doubt the propriety of sending any,
no matter what the age, to the pem-
tertiary for a short periods of time.
THE JUDICIARY.