Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-06-26
Duly Constituted Organ"

Duly constituted organ,
The Fort Worth GAZETTE has been point
edly charged with being the organ of the
ee.grass movement. The charge has been
made often and III various quarters. That
paper has ot denied the charge; on the con
trary,i continuesa vigorous defense of the fic.
grass party. Under the circumstances, II eau
only be accepted as n fact that tbs GAZETTE
is i'm full accord with the iree-grass sentiment
In the fullest sense OF the term; that 1t Is the
chosen medium o. expression for that sent-
ment. In The contest between the Democ.
racy aud the rebelious wing thereof in
Northwest Texas. TUE GAZETTE Is to be
taken MS the spokesman of the latter. The
prcss and people of the state know where To
look for premenitory signs of the threatened
bolt at Houston. Taking the above state
ments MS fixed facts THE GAZETTE is
called upon to answer the following
questions: What proportion 10 the
strictly agricultural area OF the state
does the grazing area bear What pro-
portion does the population of the
agricultural area bear 10 the population of
thegrazing area? In what state OF the Union
does the frce-grass policy prevail" Is there
any advanced or civilized country on the
globe where the ftee-land policy exists Does
TIIE GAZETTE pretend to say that 1t prefers
a wilderness with no exclusive enjoyment,
| II o society, no Inducements to Improvements,
to the theory of ownership in lee simple?
| Does IL hold that the theory OF free occups-
| ton OF territory tends to conserve IN oraliiy.
| law and COVE, nment? Does II hold that the
theory OF free grass comporls with the genius
of civilized governments: knowing, as IL Is
bound to know, that marvellous immigra-
tion Is pouring into Northwestern Texas
Will it admit that free-and policy assures
safe and satisfactory. homes TO actual settlers:
The position of TIKI GAZETTE invol yes both
| presumption and assumption. Its presump-
ton is found In arraying itself against the
wisdom OF the state legislature. Its assump-
tlon consists IN defying alt history, govern
mental and economic theory, In the position
II takes. A word as to the views of the Her.
aid is necessary TO show its liberal attitude.
The Herald want. all information attainable
on tie fTee-grass question. Its columns are
open for discussion OF the subject Its post
ton against free grass does not blind II TO all
sources OF inquiry. 1t is aware that the state
is too large and too diversified to be agreed
on the public land question, but II knows, rs
every one else knows, that some fixed policy
as TO the public domain must be adopted
ana 1t has taken the stand IL occupies after
diiigcnt Inquiry. aud with a view To- protecl
the best Interests of Texas dallas Herald.
For pure unmiXed gall, the above il
entitled to the cake; for doubled dis
titled gall, it is unparalleled. There
has been no change OF ownership Of
the Herald since 1850, and, therefore
we may suppose, no change of politi
cal hearts and, consequently, NJ
growth in Democratic grace. Fol-
weeks after Roberts was nominated
the present management of the Her
aid put forth every effort of which i
was capable to bring out a candidat,
against the regularly ordained Demo
cratic choice. Falling, not because o
desire but because of inability, the
Herald never did fall into the Demo
g cratic line, but paraded its iaiepead
/ cncc in columns of editorial matter
t The Herald's Democracy seems to b.
of the "only for revenuen kind; albeit
!. it has expressed no adherence of tn,
r present iniquitous tariff. The Herald
r AS q Democratic organ is sight won
: derful to behold; and as Il 7oras news
3 paper it should he viewed through tn
: medium0f its insane howlings in 1871
! for division Of the proud common
, Democracy. The name of the Dalla
If Herald is identified with no move
IS ment that particularly marks it a
It Democratic, but with much that Just
/ fies suspicion of why it even pretend
j. to be Democratic at this time.
9 THE GAZETTE denies the right @
e the Herald to catechise ii In Demo
IS cratic principles or state policies; bu
8, for the sake of argument, will answe
l. the questions put by the Herald whe
e. they are plainly stated, and will waiv
y the arrogant insolence of this new col
IL vert to the faith in its allusion to tn
If "rebellious wing" in Northwest Texa
g Now, let the Herald tell us what
W means by "the strictly agriculture
y area" and "the grazing area" of tn
Of state, and we will reply.
IF The Herald wants to know Il
o. what state Of the Union the free era.
Is policy prevails. The United Stat:
is and Texas are the only possessors ,
Or eminent domain In this nation. an
at the United States never leased any ,
N, the public lands at any time, but Ike,
re them open to actual settlement: !
OF Texas has acted up to the present tim,
-, and II Is reversal Of the time .honore
o. policy OF the state, this new-fangle
I'D embargo laid 10y legislation ON the Sc
TO Element of the state. The policy ,
ne the general government with its pul
es lie lands and the policy OF Texas u
ne to 1881 have not resulted in "a wilde
It's lass with no exclusive enjoyments, n
MS society. no inducements to improy,
10 ment,' etc, and the growth of I'll
RS Western states and the growth ,
I'd Texas are unanswerable endorsement,
Dy OF the "free-grass" policy. To ca
this "free-tand" policy is trick col
ly sistent with the usual modes of tb
GO lease advocates consistent with III
lis whole tenor of the Herald's articl,
It's The policy Of the general governmer