The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-01-17
MAKE PUNISHMENT EQUIVALENT
TO CRIME.

the causes leading thereto, the legisla-
ture must consider the magnitude Of
The question and apply the remedy, as
it appears to us, in proportion TO the
Importance OF evils. There is Il
vastness in these things, that,
great as is Texas, cannot be dealt
with with effect, unless the trea.-
meDt prescribed for the crimes
be fully in accordance with their
character. After all that has been
said about them, it is believed
they are not yet fully comprehended
in their damaging relations to govern
ment. The right arm of our great
state has been paralyzed by lawless
men; and their conduct has no paral-
lei in the history OF nations and states.
If the degree of a crime is to be meas
ured and determined by its results
its effects upon the industries of a
people and the advancement of a
state, its moral effect upon
society = and certainly there
is no safer way to measure
crime, then these evils of which a
whole people complain have become
but little less than high treason.
Here is incipient communism and
depotism, combined to destroy one of
the fairest and mightiest of states.
A distinguished gentleman and close
observer, who has lately been in all
parts of the state, where fence
troubles prevail, said to a representa-
tive of THE STATESMAN, that more
than one element has combined to
bring about this condition of things.
He says, not only are poor stockmeD,
who do not own ranges, engaged in
opening up oranges, but that rich ones
are as guilty, and that it is the money
of the latter that has made the Form
or bold to destroy. He says there
have been deep-set schemes to force
honest stockmen, who own both cat
tie and ranges. to sell, rather than
stand the annoyance, together with
the risk Of losing all they possess.
1t is widespread defiance of law, in
dulged in where m my would least
expect. There is much reason in
these statements, and indications are
that they are absolutely true. Money
and men are behind the evils, and
the powers that create them would, if
successful, in the end carve anarchy
out OF the fair body of Texas, to be
succeeded by a contest among the VIC
tors for spells secured through down.
trodden law and order. This same
gentleman said he had learned enough
to know that any ordinary punish
ment would not be adequate to the
necessities of the times; that these
people alho have their ends to sub
serve would laugh at ordinary pun
ishments; that they would mott be de-
tered from their evil designs
by the payment of small fines
or short terms of confinement,
If caught and convicted; that the men
who stand behind fence cutters
with money, making money through
their transactions, would but seldom
submit to fines and convictions, and
that when they did, the payment of
small sums of money on account of
their lawless agents, would be light
punishment to them. lie related an an
ecdote to be applied to fence cutting:
"a man once tried to raise sheep and
a breed of dogs not given to killing
sheep. He asked a friend if there was
anything that would break dog from
killing sheep. His friend said, yes;
cut off his tail. He proceeded to cut
off all his dogs tails, but they seemed
to have greater fondness for killing
sheep than before. lie complained to
his neighbor that he had deceived
him, but the neighbor declared not,
and asked him how much of the tail
he cut off. lie said nearly all. "Ah,"
said his friend, "the mistake is
yours, you SHOULD have cut off
their tails close behind the ears"
We must have law, said he, with
such penalties as will cut off the evil
close behind the ears. In this he is
correct. a law is wanted that will
not only cut off the entire body of the
evil, hut which will go down to the
very beginning of its root, and it
must be grubbed out until nothing is
left from which a sprout of evil can
start. The fence cutter should be de-
clared a felon, and he who aids, abets
or conspires with him should likewise
be made a felon. When the arms of
the law begin to wind about one
that is accused let him be given
the pleasure of the company, inside
the peniseltiary, of those who
aided and abetted him, or who me, =
have employed and paid hip' c,,,n.
NIT crime. Not oply sb.,ul,l the no,,;.
tertiary gates STAR siar waiting for
the reception of the fence cutter. but
LOT tnose who conspire with him.
Ine-I, too, they should be made re-
sponsible for all the damage done to
injured persons, and conviction should
be equivalent to a lien upon pos
sessions in satisfaction of claims for
damages. Fence cutting anu upright
eous fencing are twin evils, and
long terms and heavy fines and assess
ments of damages should be the pun
ishment affixed thereto. Penalties,
certainly, should be commensurate
with crimes for which they are en-
forced, and We know that these are
dangerous, not only to the peace and
dignity of the state but to its very
being,
THREE persons die every second.