The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-08-14
Wicked Expenditure.

Wicked Expenditure.
The Terrell asylum affair is one
which will give US a good deal OF
1other in the future. We have not seen
,helast of that affair by good deal. If
such thing had been done by Davis,
while he was governor, and the ap-
pointee had been republican, the
whole state of Texas had been
thrown into fits, before which epilepsy
or "kenipshun" had been indeed tame
diseases. Think of it, a radical legis-
lature passing law to build an asy'
lum which would consume two years,
before a single patient could be ad
mitted, or before there could have been
the least semblance of need for a |
physician or superintendent,
and radical governor appoints |
a radical doctor to the place, because
in pleasing the friends of another
doctor he disobliges those of Wallace,
and to placate those of the latter, the
hOW doJ 1uui, WAiNh I'D, do rCt, HlOHOAo
form or substance, and the patients,
who are expected to fill it, many of
them have not yet gone crazy, must
have superintendent, and the super.
intendent must have salary, garnish
Ell with perquisites, etc. All! had
Governor Davis done such thing, the
state OF Texas would have rung with
the indignation of the people.
The democratic papers would have
been wild, and public meetings
from one end of Texas to the other
would have voiced the indignation of
the people in very emphatic ways and
in no uncertain or ambiguous words.
Now we may not have very clear con-
ceptions of the difference between
democratic and republican admins
tration in such things. But we can
not see if it were wrong in "a republi-
can, how democratic administration
can do such thing and escape con-
demnation. Nay, not only that, but
use such a policy as leverage,to pro-
cure another term, a reelection. All
chatting aside, but isn't this carrying
things with rather too high hand ?
Indeed it is well that we have
one hundred thousand majority
to enable us to push policy such as
this. Now radical or democrat, the
man who projects such policy, who
approves it, who defends thought not
only to sacrifice his political standing
with the people, but he ought to be
made to restore to the treasury of the
state a sum distracted in such man.
ner and upon such fiimsy excuse
There is not an insane man near Ter
rell that d1ligent inquiry has as yet
unearthed. Then why should DIR
Wallace, skillful and all that he I'M
doubtedly is, be- paid an enormous
salary to look after and
superintend an asylum there which,
yet, has no legal or other existence
whatever.
This is not only downright num-
bug, but it is worse, it is downright
dishonesty. and his excellency and TIE
beneficiary are both equally. or nearly
equally guilty of receiving and pay
ing out the money of the state when
no service has been or could have been
performed whatever. 1t won't do to
slur over such thing. The time will
come when the people, the indignant,
Woodworking, tax-paying people of
Texas, will ask ugly questions anent
this affair. Stripped of all the
garnishment of words and the matter
will stand thus: Wallace, by appoint
ment of the governor, has been paid
two thousand dollars year for two
years service as superintendent of the
Terrell insane asylum, and that
| asylum is not yet built, or if up it has
not now, and never did have, a single
patient within its walls. The thing
doesn't look right. Nay, that is
too mild. 1t looks wrong. 1t
looks rascally. 1t is both, and
the democratic party of the
state by re-nominating and re-
electing Ireland endorses the
steal, adopts the policy and as
sumes the duty of defense. Can de-
Tense be made? Can anybody con-
ceive what excuse can be made for
this wholesale raid on the state treas
ury, simply that Wallace and his
friends may be placated and converted
from active partizans against Ireland
into passive friends. In the whole
history of Texas there is not furnish
ed another instance of such unblush-
ing and inexcusible favoritism. How
reckless the man who undertakes TO
defend before an intelligent and an
honest people raid of this kind.
And yet are there men and thick
and thin newspaper organs, which not
only tolerate and excuse such policy,
but actually defend it, and hold it up
as meritorious, and ask the people to
re-nominate and re-elect Mr.. ireland
for having done it. 1t Is shame,and
it just such enterprises as this, such
wanton disregard for the interests of
the people as will eventually procure
the utter and crushing defeat of the
democracy of Texas. and we do not
hesitate to declare that it ought to
do it.
The Rule at Houston.
If the two-thirds rule is tempered
with, suspended or abrogated ct
HonSton If 10 olonr thot IL rrill opl.