Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-01-19
tration.

tIttitu.
Goback TO the beginning of the So
cal troubles in this state ana 90
serve what the course of the governor
has been, and then say in what
respect different policy could
have accomplished better results. In
the incipiency of the fence-cuttng
war, when appealed to he consulted
the constitution and shaped his course
by its demandments and its circnm-
scriptions. A vitiated public senti-
movement, seeing in the fence-cutters'
ment at first only retaliatory action
against wha. was termed the "aggres-
sions of capital" which. 1t was too
often true, was Obstructive of public
travel and lawlessly greedy of prl-
vate gain, sympathized with and
threw its protection around the oilen-
ders of the law. No demand was
made on the governor for assistance
from the only source authorized TO
make such demand-the county au-
thorities, pleading inability to enforce
the law. Had he then adopted
extraordinary measures for the sup
preston of fence-cutting, he would
have had no assistance from local offl-
GERS, and the people at large would
have Distracted his movements and
crippled his efforts. An when, in n
few instances, yielding to the impor-
tunities of individuals who had suffer
ed loss Of property at the hands of the
fence.cutters. he dispatched state
rangers to the scene of the trouble,
they have been snubbed by the county
officers, who claimed to be able to deal
with the offenders, and wanted no as
sistance from the state. AS the move
ment grew. and the public became
cogniZant of its true nature and the
class of people behind it, n demand
was made for the power of the state
10 put down the evil Yielding to the
popular clamor, knowing his own
weakness under the law TO supply
remedial measures, and averse to
straining the prerogatives of his office,
the governor called a special session of
the legislature, that he might take
counsel with the members of that
body, fresh from the people and re-
spon-ible to them for their action, for
means to enforce the law and break
up lawlessness. At the meeting of
that body, in his message to it, he
asked only to be armed with the pow
er to compel local officers to greater
vigor aud vigilance in dealing
with the lawless element. Given
this, he would take upon himself the
responsibility for any continued fail
ure OF the law TO sustain itself All he
asked was reasonable room for action,
and If necessary, temporary invest
ment with extraordinary power, to he
relinqnished when the emery, ncy
that called for its exercise should have
ended.
The legislature has endeavored to
meet the governors request. 1t has
shown reasonable spirit in granting
the means To enable him to execute
the law. But the method proposed \
does not commend itself to a people !
who hold themselves sovereign, and |
are ever jealous of military interior
ence. They resent the arming
of a military to traverse
aud the state. The governor
himself condemns the proposition to
enlarge the state militia and put him
in the field at its head Ever mind
full OF Democratic traditions and prin-
ciples, he sees in this proposition de-
parture from the spirit of his party.
He sees the weakness of the situation
as it IL, and suggests the remedy.
The state jude AIRY and cOn,tabulary
must be reinforced with ENLARGED
powers, and the performance of their
duties must be made compulsory: but
| am utterly opposed TO military
methods" This is the wisdom of
craftsmanship. 1t il not wisdom be-
cause jain Ireland uttered il, but be-
cause 1t will secure the greatest results |
OF good, The means of deliyerance |
advocated 10y the GAZETTE. which
Senator shannon has incorporated in
"a bill now pending, is approve d
by the governor As the true corrective.
That is, the arm!ng of sheriiis with
larger powers, and giving the governor
authority to compel the local eXecu-
ton of the law by removal of ineni-
clent officers. Such IA law brings the
r.sponsibility directly home to the
governor With such power to re-
move officers who will not, aud an
point Others who will, execute the
law, he can act effectively. Then If
II" does not suppress fence-cutlinc. LET
him bear the blame, and put In his
pace next year some man who will.
Who ia the Oensor2
1t is said that politics sometimes
makes II rang. hoIf.II,.,, a