Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-12-24
A annrileninna Az.

Nothing OF recent occurrence has so
shocked the sensibilities Of the Dallas
public 90 the declaration OF State En-
pIneer Brltton that he should recon-
mend the abolition ofthe Office he now
ills, in his forthc&ning report, and
accompany that recommendation with
his resignation. II is not mere and
simple amazement that possesses the
denizens Of Dallas at this startling alb
dication Of official position; 1t is
cause Of stupefsctlon to them, and
they stand sghast at the unRccounta-
BILE phenomenon, Many of them do
not believe it. The thing is SO for
eign to all their experience, so repug-
nant to their feelings, that the Dallas
public Is incredulous and viii not
be convinced. Such Of them
as admit the truth of the report are
full of rage, and would cruelty Mr..
Britton with torture. To defy the
common law OF Dallas, which COM
mands all to getan Office who can, and
prohibits the voluntary relinquish-
ment Of one once obtained, by resign
ing where no visible compulsion can
explain the act, is a serious INSIDE
meanor; but toaecompany thatresign-
atlon with recommendation to abol-
ish the Office, is Of the grade of high
treason In the Dallas code.
Had Mr.. Britton confined his action
to resignation Of his position he
might have been pardoned by the
Dallas public. The ofIense, in that
case, would have been committed only
against himself-though, possibly,
Dallas might have tried to make out a
case against him by charging that the
ohense operated against his family, on
the same ground that onels forbidden
10y law to destroy his property; but
Mr.. Britton's act has a far more culpa-
bic significance to the Dallas mind.
He recommended the abolition of the
Office That is the objectionable sin.
That is the malefaotion which con-
dennis him in the eyes of Dallas. II
not constructive treason it is at least
misprision Of treason, and Dallas clam
ors for the head of the cul-
prit. III the legislature shall
act upon his recommendation, he will
be morally responsible for the loss of
an office. AS Dallas regards an APP
pointment to Office as an opening Of
the gates of Paradise, astepon the road
to heaven, so in the eyes of Dallas the
suppression of an office lessons the
chance OF one mortal for place in
eternal glory. In that view Mr.. Brit
ton is responsible for lostsoul. Worse
still, he is an apostate. After himself
being admitted to the elysium Of pub
lie Office, he rejects it and impiously
declares that tits Of no use. He is the
Boil Ingersoll of the oflice-holding the
ology. Not content himself with ir
revereutly afTronting oflciallsm, ht
seeks to keep others out OF that glory
by asking the legislature to abolish hi
Office, because, indeed, thereis no neet
! fori 1t,
No one can wonder that Dallas is II
. ferment; that she even refuses 10 en-
a terrain belief of the report, aud tina
{ her people ere furious against Mr.
/. Britton. BE has set an example ths
g may not stop here. Others may folloy
L him and re ign useless offices, aud tn
j. legislature may abolish them. Such
6 possibility fills Dallas with dread, AM
G makes her respondent OF the future
It Mr. Britton should consider his deter
l. mination before carrying 1t out. II
4 has II in his power now to make
It whole city happy, or to plunge it int
B, an abyss of woe and despair. WIN h
II not he ruled by mercy