The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1883-12-17

Editor San Antonio Light:
Since by memorials to the Legislature about
to be convened, by Judges charges to grand
juries. and by correspondence through the
different papers, the fence cutters are de-
nounced in the strongest possible terms, as
much so as were that party Of American colo
nists who threw the tea overheard in Boston
haTbor, allow me to submit few words in
reply. To say the fence cutters alone are to
blame is to say what the facts do not sub
slanliate. Forbearance often ceases to be
virtue. Mob law, while never technically
right is almost always surrounded by mitgat-
ing circumstances. When those in authority
ignore the rights Of the weak and court the
favor Of the rich and powerful and conduct
themselves in such a way that the people lose
confidence in the fair, impartial administra-
ton of the law to all alike and become ex as
perated beyond endurance, mob force is the
natural outgrowth, and fence cutting an index
to Just such a condition of affairs. To say
that no injustice has been done that very large
class OF citizens who are small land owners
who are complaining that they have been
fenced up, that they often have to 90 10 miles
to get to place not five miles distant, tina [
they have been cut OFF from water, a natural
right to all; that the roads have been locked
up by corrupt Commissioner courts, that
few men styling themselves Seattle Kings"
have, with lew exceptions, completely ignored
their rights; that redress through the courts
has been oil very vague and uncertain nature
Tor the reason tha so macy Judges on the
hanF Ia IL II
say that this condition of affairs does not exist
is to say what is not so.
When the law, inconsistent as it is, and in
consistent with natural rights, will allow one
man like Captain Richard King to own and
control 1877 leagues OF land under a fence So
miles long, and which includes so small land
owners, although some of them own as high
as four leagues Of land, or when the State
OF Texas will sell, as it has recently TO w. /.
Clark and ]. X. Wolcott representing
syndicate of Northern capitalists tract OF
land containing 1000 900 acres lying along
the western boundary of this State and not in
one continuous body, it is not hard to see that
land owners dotted in between, and it is the
same throughout the State, will be subject to
all manner Of imposition, unless the law
affords them ample protection, and that it does
not afford such protection any one can see
VINO cares to observe. II would not be so
hard TO bear all this, IL our Land Gods
| tLords) were mostly Of our family. But when
so many are Of foreign importation chartered
English companies throughout the State, not
word against the English emigrant, but
English companies building up sort OF
Zeudal system, tinging of slavery, repugnant
to accepted American ideas. Opposition,
while II has assumed startling proportions, is
not entirely without reasonable grounds for
excuse. Opposition is oltentimes a virtue; to
do as the Kings tell US we would all be slaves;
as the preachers tell us we would all be idiots;
as the doctors tell US we would all be dead.
Disobedience is oitentimes a virtue; to get
good laws is to rebel against bad ones-that is
Just exactly what the people are doing to-day.
GERALD GRIFFIN.