The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1883-03-25
THE PESIrENTIARy LEASE AND Gov
ERNOR IRELAND

the contract of lease. il must 20 TO the
governor for approval or disapproyal. This
idea is entirely erroneous. The lease was
made by the Peniientiary Board, composed
of GoyKRSoR ROBERTS. TREASURER LUBBOCK,
and SUPERINTENDENT GohEE, which board,
by law, was given the power to lease sub
ject to the action of the legislature. Gov,
KRSoR IRELAND had, therefore, nothing
whatever IL do with the making Of the
lease, nor will he have anything officially
whatever to do with the confirming OF ii.
This is the real status OF the lease, 50 far as
the present executives connection with 1t
goes. Nor had he ever voice in. nor did
he give expression TO any opinion ON the
subject when the pemlentiary board had
II under consideration down to final action.
Therefore II is that We have observed with
pain the violent opposition and the
wholly unwarranted heaps OF abuse that
have been leyeled against the governor. II
there is anything the American people do
like, II is fair play and honest treatment,
undeseryed criticism and wrongful yitu.
peration always recol. The Austin
Statesman has been especially severe and
denunciatory, for some reason. against the
administration, aud, day after day, its col.
umns TEEN with bitter words and charges
against GOVERNOR IRELAND. The animus
for this has been said to spring out
of the fact that brother-in.
law of the editor of that paper was
not appointed state health officer, in ac.
oordance with that EDITORS persistent re-
quest. Mr.. CALDWELL denies that he ever
persisted in such request. On tne other
hand the friends Of the governor contend
that he is in possession of "a letter from Mn,
CALDWELL pressing the claims OF On. RurH-
ERFogD, and that letter is oouched in
language not only indiscreet in its express
sions, but abusive and intimidating In its
character In the event of no heed being
taken OF its warnings. II Mn CARpwrLL
did indeed write such style of letter, then
truly is he highly censurablo. and GOVERNOR
IRELAND did right aud properly maintained
his own dignity In refusing to conform to n
dictated course for an official act. lfhe did
not write IL, then the friends Of the COVER
nor are doing Mn. CALDWELL u great wrong.
IL lisa matter of fact, however, whether or
not such letter was indeedwrittcn, and il IL
was, then Mr., CARDwELL must have Il copy
of it,as he would scarcely allow such cor
espondcnce to 90 out without such case; or
rthe governor may have the original. In
all, this elimination and recrimination, the
proper course Is the production OF
the letter, that it may speak
for itself in the general estimate. In the
meanwhile affairs became still more COM
plicated In the publication of an Austin
communication in the San Antonio Express
most bitter and severe in its references to
the editor OF the Statesman. The author
being demanded Mr.. JossElNN, private
secretary to the governor, is ascertained to
be the man. This affords fresh fuel for tho
Statesman's wrath, and it says that "that
clerk is paid by the state to be a public
slandorer," aud the governor is de-
clarcd to be without the courage
to come TO tho front himself"
The consequence of all this IS that the poll
teal atmosphere in Austin is getting to DO
red hot, and violent explosion ia hourly
looked tor, The truth is the governor
never knew, and has repeatedly avowcd,
and Mr.. JossELyN swcars TO it, that such u
correspondence was AZ all meditatcd and the
first thing he ever knew of it, was when his
attention was directed to II in the Express.
He immediately deprecated In the warmest
terms the action of his secretary, and so fire.
quently expressed himself to tho latter.
The author replies aud insists that he
never for moment supposed that the nc.
ceptanoe OF position from the
administration would forever seal
his lips as private citizen
when great outrage was being daily perpe-
trated TO prejudice the minds OF the people
against grossly misreprcsculed official.
And yet the Statesman continues, day by
day, TO abuse the governor. And, indeed,
its reckless articles have been so Intensely
bitter rs to have the effect OF actually pro.
ducing areaclion in favor of thepenitentiary
lease. This is the story OF all such intern.
perate aud extreme attempts. The discus
sion OF great question upon Ms merits the
people will listen TO and be influenced by,
but constant impugning OF mo
uves and mass of abusive
epithets will never drive the
enlightened American mind, and especially
TEXANS, into opposition against the at.
tackled, Tho present governor of this great
state has raised himself from the humber
positions In life, on, through Judicial and
legislative honors, to the present exalted
pinnacle of chief executive. and his purity
OF motive, action ard manner is absolutely
unassailable throughout the whole long
course, Assuming as correct the state
ments that he avors the penitentiary lease
contract, which the HERALD has so on
posed, is he not entitled to his views quite as
fully us the majority IN the senate whoyo
for the ratification OF the Penitentiary
Boards action2 He Is entitled to honestly
believe in the error Of the proposed resump.
ton. And, what is more, he is equally en-.
titled to SO express himself ilhe sees proper,
to his friends, or those seeking his ex,
perienco or his views, wherefore 1t is, that
the war upon him in this connection is
senseless and shameful.
The Chicago Times can't see how it 4,
that the president has so ovorworked him.
SELL as 1t thinks 1t beyond doubt that the
White House butler draws the champagne
corks, The Times iorse,s that man may
get very tired" iooling around champaene