San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1884-10-16
Ireland and Gibbs on the StumD.-Their
Speeches at Fort Worth.

Speeches at Fort Worth.
Ireland and Gibbs we believe are on
a protracted canvass of the State.
Their first speeches were made at Fort
Worth over o month since. We copy
a report of the same from the Gazette
of that city, as showing no doubt the
general tenor of their subsequent
efforts:
A very large audience assembled in
the opera-house to hear speaking by
Gov. Ireland and Hon. Barnet Gibbs.
A number OF ladies decorated the
audience and al times vigorously
applauded the speakers with their
fans. William Capps, president of
the Young Democracy, introduced
Governor Ireland to the audience
shortly after 8 o'clock. a
The governor commenced his
speech by arguing that perfection in
government was impossible and that
all the differences of the Democratic
party should be settled in the party,
and that the Democratic voters should
stand by the nomination II do not
come here to find fault" said the
speaker, shut come to reason among
you. When I took the oath of office
your lands were on the market at so
cents per acre and were being sold
in unlimited quantities to syndicates
and corporations, and even the school
lands, dedicated to sacred purpose,
were going by the thousands of acres
in the same manner. The legislature
subsequently tried to repeal this law,
but the best it could do was to sus-
pend the sales for ninety days.
There were not wanting men in the
Legislature who favored no legislation
on the subject. Finally, the bill in
which you find the lease law was
passed. Not single human being
in either house was satisfied with it.
but it was the best that could be done
at the time. 1t is not an easy thing
to shape legislation, and though
people talk fippantly Of such legisla-
ton it is as hard to pass laws suita-
BILE to each section of this State as it
is for Congress to pass laws for the
nation, for here We have all climates
and all kinds of people"
Referring to the free grass agita-
ton the speaker went on: "There
is not a single acre of public lands
in Texas to-day. The lands belong
ing to the state are dedicated to
sacred trust-the free schools and
asylum. When we talk of the policy
of disposing of them we should not
forget the purpose for which they
were set aside. When legislators
take the oath Of Office, they have to
look at the purpose for which these
lands were dedicated. The lease
system became q law in the regular
session of the Legislature and it is not
a pet Of your executive. 1 did not
desire to be placed on the land board
nor did either of its members, but
they were placed there TO look after
the lands which were dedicated to
the public schools and asylums. /
call the face of the world to the fact
that noclamor had been raised against
the Law until after the land board
took The responsibility OF raising the
prioe Of the lands (Applanse- It
Is fact demOnstrable from the papers
themselves that The land board saw
that unless 1t did Something not
eDoagh land would Be left 70 feed 3
eooss Not that they wanted 10
drlve back sct1sl settlers. becauss
ersry nan of tbsn has 80 interest IN
the development Of this state, and