The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-01-24
DELIVERED IN THE SENATE JAN Is, 1881

Mr.. CHAIRMAN-When a man becomes sick,
1t is the custom to send for a doctor, but
quack is often called in and the pat, ent dies,
who might otherwise have lived for many
years. When states become sick, it is no
necessary TO send for physician. There are
p 'lticRl doctors anxious TO offer their service
and prescribe their remedies In advance of
the called session few of these patriotic doc
tors N politics met and c0ucocted sprcifc,
which they now say will, if administered, re-
move the ills that affiict our state. 1t has
many of the appearances of quack n.cine
Its virtues are presented with zeal and elo-
quence. and has been well advertised
vinegar BitterS w re never more industri
ously talked of, or more highly recommended.
There IL nothing that has given he SO much
trouble as the lawlessneSs prevail ne for the
last few months. 1t is a blot upon our ciyiliZ s.
ton. 1t depreciates values; rrtards the growth
and development Of the country, and worst OF
all, II not arrested will lead to retaliation, t.
feuds and blOodShed, the ills OF which our gen
Grafton will not outline. My Only motive be-
ing desire to do the little good III my power
for the people who sent me h re. can listen
calmly, patiently, and attentive y to those VINO
have any remedy. to propose, and ain glad
when / find anything, il matters Ot from
what source 1t comes. that promises TO benefit
mankind. After patient invest CATION, | am
forced to the conclusion, that this bill is
a Quack remedy and the doctors who com
pounded the SPECIFIC mIstooH the disease. u
their anxiety to introduce som thing thai viii
suit the taste Of everyone, they have intro
duced what chemists call ''IncOmpatibles, " and
have made compound as dan er0uS as d ma
mite. They have ais so sugar-co ted their
medicine as TO conceal the rea nature of the
compound, and hide their real motives and
purpose under specious .pretences of serving
the people and the school Oh ldren. The title
of the bill is fraud, and its preamble is a de-
luSion and snare. 1t Is revolutionary in its
tendencies and without consulting the Interest
or the wishes OF the great majority - people,
attempts overt1rn the customs under which
we and our fOrefathers have lived for ages. 1t
SEE ks TO crt ate new officers k own as grass
commissioners" with extraordinary and un
usual p,wers. authorized to march over the
country at will, 70 lowed by a martial band of
state troops. 1t seeks 10 make the STATE,
through her agents, armies aud grass commits
SlOnerS collect for the use OF the owner rents
On all the unencl sed lands of this st ,te. 1t
seeks 20 strike at the founda ion of the rig t.
of mankind by dragging the citizen hundreds
Of miles from home and forces him to appear
for trial at places the most reno and incon
venient that cruelty, and genius for nppres-
sion could devise hey tell US that this his; is ne
doubtless true, the Law would be
SO odious to the people that its
friends would need state as broad as the con-
tine mt, in which to find couftry suitable Tor
their purpose, or a jury who would ever send
man to the peniteDtiary for violating Its pro-
visions. The author OF this remedy tells US the
leave the Democratic party. Be It SO. The
Democratic party will be better off without
them. Lea them go to the opposition with his
bill AS their platform, and The opposite viii
be odIous. In the spring time, WHEN my faith. r
wished to improve the condition of a puny
horse. make him shed and look better, he gave
poplar bark. Ii called upon to prescribe for
the Democratic party. 1 would give poplar bar
till 1t shed all OF its leaders who have Tor their
motto, Consistency is The virtue Of FOOLS"
inconsistency, yascillating policy, an incli-
nation TO change with every breeze and StoOD
to take on every hobby, will shake the conf
dence OF the people In any party. The princi-
pies OF right and of justice, which shou d shape
the policy OF states and control the actions of
men, are as ancient as time and as lasting as
the hills. They are the same in peace and in
war, IN prosperity and in adversely. In tim-s
OF trouble we should only stick The closer to
them. 1t was by policy as inconstant as the
wind and as inconsistent and contradictory a.
the smartrst man could wish. that much of he
vid spread dissatisfaction which now exists
VS. bro hit about.
IN 18th and justice are always consistent, and
so should be all laws pas ed for the good of
he can, snuff discomfort in the air, he breathes
and can hear the rumblIng of the dis ant thun
der, indicating an approaching storm that will
sweep like cyclone over the land Frustrating
our liberties and our institutions. is not this
due to the beautiful inconSiste t pOlicv which
he has so ably helped to engraft upon the state
with hated breath and anxious eyes, watched
him balancing on the fence. not knowing till
too late upon which side he would jump. Even
now, solomon himself, after reading the sena-
tors able speech, could not tell upon which
side Of the febce he st nds. But t. come down
to the case In hand. The disease, they say, is
The remedy proposed is to compel them by
marching armies, the roar of cannon and the
rattle OF mu-ketry. 1t speaks of all 1.-The pride,
pomp and ctrcumst anceS of glorious war" We
can hear the strains of martial music. can see
th plumes modelling to the br exc, the 81 tier of
the bayOnet in the sun light and the prairie
dog making for his hole.
It Is not true that the people OF the west have
refused to purchase or lease school lands, OF
to pay for the grass upon which the cattle feed.
The eVents of he last few years show that this
charge Is a SANDER and false pretense, to
conceal some Interior design.
These lands In 1888 were put upon the mar
ket for lie, with restriction that, no one
could purchase more than seven sections. TIE
lands of but few cau tie, under that act were
offered for sale. The lands went 50 fast that
they had to be taken on the market and the
purchas rs we denounced by the advocates
of this remedy, as '-land sharks" and "swind-
lerS." About the same time some of the SUD-
portere OF Is measure placed the va ant
lands OF the state on the market at fifty cents
per acre. They were purchased so fast that
the virtuous indignation of the m ,kers of that
law, was aroused, ana the buyers were de
nOunced as "thieve-' and "SwindlerS.' Twelve
months ago some of us worked diligently for
the passage of a law providing for leaSing our
school lands in order to RAISE revenue for the
education OF the childreno the tale, TO whom
these lands belong. We met with bitter and
relentless opposition from the author of tn s
bill and his allies Of to-day They were then
To- any person, or for any purpose. but now,
with an inconsistency worthy OF the Wisest of
men. they propose not only to lease every acre
OF school land in the state, but to force men to
lease, or 10 sell their stock, by means Of stand.
ing armies and the use of military force.
The people of the west are only too anxious
70 lease or to purchase the lands upon which
their cattle feed. All they desire an OPP or
tunity 70 do 20. In the wake of the desolatl n
Of armies, prowis the hyena in search
OF prey, and 10 times of oubls
there are always John Hooks" {. be
found crying '.hresf. beef" When this special
session vas called, me1 looking to their owR
aalRAh lQtEeets aaa not 80 the eozatry's good.