Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-07-12

30, 0OO, 900 acres of school and asylum
lands at fair annual rental would be
the greatest stroke of public policy
ever witnessed by the enlightenef
world. If their theory Is correct the
men living in the very country where
these lands are located are badly mis-
taken, for there are none worth men
tioniug here who see IL that
way. Then why are these men who
are living In the midst of the practical
operations OF the lease law, opposed to
| ID? Are they blind to their own inter-
est? Is II necessary for them to look
to East Texas for light upon matters
concerning their own interest? This is
answered by the East Texas politician
or editor, that men making fortunes off
| of free grass will of course oppose II
lease law, and that is why we oppose
IL. III these self-cOnstituted leaders of
the party will go into what is known
as the stock district Northwest Texas
they will find the cattle kings In favor
of the lease and the farmers, small
stockmen, merchants, mechanics, law
yers, etc, opposed to 1t. Then show
can these things be?'' The kings ia
vor 1t because thereby they can in a
few years reign supremely over
this vast fertile region. Farm
ers and small stockmen oppose 1t
for the seine reason and for the further
reason that they themselves, 1t this
state of circumstances continues to
exist, must soon fold their tents and
quietly steal away. The proposition
Of leasing these lands never was heard
of until immense ranches began to be
stocked by foreign capital. And
right here another interrogatory Is
propounded. Who ever saw or heard of
foreign capitalists favoring free grass?
Syndicates, corporations and heavy
capitalists engaged or about to engage
in the stock business all favor long
term lease law. When asked for their
reason they invariably answer, BE
cause it will give us u claim-some-
thing tangible-by which we
can hold our range against
the intrusion of others. We
can't afford to fence our
range unless we have some lawful
right by which we can maintain pos
session OF IL for term of years" Does
not this very answer completely de-
molish the argument used that the
lease law does not deter and prevent
SettitileHt VI lle country. lne mucu
loved expression by the lease advo.
Gates, that free grass must go, )" simply
means, 1.-The actual settler and small
st0ckman must 60"
Democrats boot at the Republican
protective tariff idea and ridlcule la
boring men for voting with the Re-
publican party for the perpetuation of
that policy, The Democrats claim that
such tariff only increases the wealth
of the wealthy and the poverty of the
poor. The perpetuation of lease pol
icy in Texas operates exactly in the
same way, yet we see men protesting
TO be Democrats holding up for it.
oh, consistency, thou art a jewel
The Democratic convention to be held
at Houston may sit down on free
grass, ~ but the voice of the people is
the voice of God, and in laundering
tones it will resound from the ballot
box in November, 1.-The people yet rule
the glorious state Of Texasn The peo-
pie are thoroughly aroused to their in
terests and will assert their rights,
even If il disintegrate the Democratic
party or disrupt the state. Dema-
gogues and self-constituted political
parasites had better stand from under.
for you will hear something. drop on
election day. ACTUAL SETTLER.