Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-06-02
DEAD IN EARNEST.
A Day Among the Democratic People
Of tho West.
Free Grass the Shibboleth Of the Aroused
Masses.
VIII the Democracy Heed the Auttcr
ings Of the Storm.
coyrespoudcnce q tne oA,e,,e.

| ALnANy. May 81. - The man
who attempts to decieve him
self into the belief that the grass
Question IL not an issue In the cam
lpaign and will not DO heard from In
the state convention should travel west
ward. The startling rapldity with
which his ideas will be readjusteti
would puzzle one OF Barnum's aero
bats. Aroused well, the word Is too
moderate to express the condition Of the
people. They are elcctriied---on fire
II Is as volcano bubbling over with
the fires of long pent-up wrath. The
whole West to-day Is one political
cauldron, seethlng, cracking, bubbling,
boiling. The people are beginning TO
think, aud thoughts are burning into
words. From Fort Worth 10 Colorado,
with the tributary territory, there II
enough concentrated political aggres-
siveness To inaugurate u political revo.
luton. There il no discord, no doubt,
no distrust of themselves, hut perfect
unity Of purpose aud harmony of az
ton. The West II going into this
campaign with fixed aud unaltera-
BILE determination to
DEMAND ms RIGHTS
and u will neither he ignored nor re-
fused. II will have them at all hazards,
and politicians, whose petty selfish.
ness, causes them 10 attempt TO con-
tinue to drag the West, M lamb 10
the slaughter, a sacrifice TO selishness
aud demagogism, do not know how
near they stand upon the brink
of yawning gulf OF dis.
aster and ruin 10 themselves
and the party. The terrible earnest
ness of the people cannot be appre.
ciated save by mingling among them,
aud gathering tho inspiration which
they feel. There II no jealousy here
against the East, hut there II feeling
that the East IL determined to
SAP rIIE LirE-BLooD
OF the West for the nourishment OF ts
babes; that for the clinlS
Of cash In the Golfers OF the school fund
IL would damn this section 10 destruc-
ton, confscate the inheritance Of the
mau who braved the ierrors and dan.
gers Of the West, 10 help along tho
march Of civilization, and bequcath II
to the land syndicates ms perpetual
inheritance. The conservative ele.
ment, that IL the moro thoughtful
element conservatism which means
inaction has ilown-believe
that the people OF the East are not act
uated 10y jealousy. but blinded by the
artful tales of ambitious demagogues.
who would pawn the interests OF the
people, or sell their souls for an Office
They believe that II the East can he
gotten 10 understand the question
| an ha lhta tt,e
hang tho interests of every set
tier, and of every man To be.
come settler In the West,
all may yet be well, the damnablc
schemes Of the politicians defeated and
their authors rebuked.
Il WHAT THEY ARE SAYING.
Some idea of the aggressive senti-
ment which IL reverbcratlng along the
mountains and pralries of the West
may be CLEANED from the following
snatches al conversation, taken along
the line. There is not "A so-called free
grass baron" cattle king" or IA
man Of wealth among them
X. q. Luse, editor Roundup, Cisco:
1--WE don't want the land tied up In
long leases. IL " the most disastrous
thing which could happen TO this
country"
j. J. Martin, druggist, Cisco. 1.-The
last thing we want on earth In this
country Is herd law. The lease sys-
TEN is a Chinese WILL against its settle
, ment.p
David Il. Redneld. postmaster, Cisco:
IA man would almost 40 mobbed
, here who would propose n herd law
: We haven't IA single big ranch In the
county, but all ARE small farmers who
want commons for their stock. The
, leasing system by which large cor
poratlOns are enabled TO gobble up vast
bodies Of land, and In fact the whole
territory, operates directly against the
settlement Of the West. II we had a
herd law the farmers would have
to sell all their stock or
range for the latter course, even II
they had the money, the other would
be the only alternative
q. Park, "A prominent merchant Of
Cisco aud nm old-iime Democrat: II
am OF the opinion that unless the
Democratic party adopts "A free-grass
platform It's mnjorlties will go glim-
rnerlng. The people OF this country
heartily indorse the Republican
platform 80 far "a II relates
to the free-grass question. This
IL an agricultural section, and II Is
solid In opposition to the lease system
and IL In Iavor OF free grass"
Il j. M. Moore, member Of the legisla-
turc from Icaslland: III the Demo
cratic party should lndorse the lepse
lsystem or u herd law It's defeat In No
yember would he certain. This coun-
try IL solIdiy and enthusiastically In
favor of fres grass. The people regard
1t as the only policy 10 settle and build
up the country"
| y. II. Myers, editor News, Albany:
II am opposed 10 the leasing system.
II settles us up with pastures Instead
OF men. Free grass X the best imml-
grafton ageL I'VE can have. There IL
no doubt In my mind that 1t has
brought thousands Of immigrants and
millions Of capital Into the state.n n
Mr.. Walker, editor Telegraph. Cisco:
II am Q free-grass man all over. The
man who owns land should fence itup
n he wants 10 keep o.her peoples cat
tie of. A herd law would mean de-
strncti0n TO this country. The lease
sysiem II u barrier TO settlement and
should be repealed"
| Mr.. Mcconnell, surveyor, Cisco:
"Walsh's land policy has
worked incalculable damage 70
this country. Free grass IL an essen-
iial 10 Ii development and prosperI-
ty. The Iease sys.em Is q dangerous
and destructive policy and should he
speedily repealed"
DR.. IS. w. Henry, livery-stablc man.
Cisco; N'rhe leasing system Ii . high
mountain In the way q settlement aud