The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-05-15
The Del Rio Troubles.

Hc Del hlO lfOuDleS.
The situation at Del Rio is jibe |
upon the state government. 1t is a
to the general ineflicien-
cy of the administration which will
not and cannot be overlooked. Here
within the borders of Texas, within a
short distance of one OF our most
populous cities, and within easy
reach of the state capitol, on line Of
railroad, and thus in daily intercourse
with the very seat of the state gov
eminent they kill, burn and destroy
as though there was no force within
the state equal to the task
of enforcing respect for her laws.
These same laws are shamefully dis
regarded, trampled under foot and
disobeyed and yet no sort Of effort is
made to correct matters. Military
force is necessary to restore order,
protect life and property; but it is not
supplied by the state. The federal
troops are doing duty as a state consta-
bulary; and but for them there would
be greater disorder than already ex-
lists. This, too, with state militia
competent in every way to discharge
the duty now devolving upon the
federal forces. The situation is not
mitigated or softened when we recall
the fact that just at this moment the
cream of our volunteer establishment
IS at the Interstate drill at Hous-
ton, and could be modified at a
moments warning for the
or any other duty. 1t has just come to
this: The military will have to be
called in these cases of disorder, le-
cause the civil force is inadequate.
The ordinary peace establishment of
the state can only protect it when it
needs no protection-whcn everything
is quiet. But any such outbreak
as the one at Del Rio, it is totally I'M
fit to grapple with.
A mere handful of Mexican citizens
raise, and to avenge some imaginary
insult or other injury, they do not
hesita to lire into house filled with
people and altogether unapprised OF
he meditated raid. 1t is not sufli-
cient to say that the victims are bad
people-deServe death, and all
that sort Of thing. No man
deserves death until the courts
of the country declare he has
forfeited his life by destroying the
life of another, or by destroying the
virtue of a helpless and innocent wo
man. We hear of no effort on the part
of the state administration to meet
the situation at Del Rio, although the
STATESMAN has within the past few
days published the damaging particu-
lars several times. 1t lis high time
the state government wakes up to the
situation. This temporizing and weak
policy of showing aside responsibility
is most reprehensible and it ought by
all means to be speedily aban-
doned for one of the utmost
vigor and watchfulneSs not on
ly to avenge infrac lions, but to
prevent their occurrence. Texas has
been deeply injured already by this
weak, time-serving namby pambyism.
1t is time to substitute action for in
ertness, strength for weakness and
law for disorder.
The worst feature about the late
Del Rio killing is that the Mexicans
engaged in it do not fear, apparently,
that any bad or distressful cireum-
stances are likely to grow out of it
for them. They neither fear nor re-
spect the law. They may kill with
impunity and never give second
thought to the consequences.
Would this be the case had we a vigor-
orous and manly administration? The
frontier battalion is brave body of
men, but, like the typical policeman,
it is just where it can not reach disor-
der until somebody else has quelled it..
Texas is sleeping upon her opportunity
by such policy. Shehas pursued the pol
icy long enough. Aside from the many
real reasons why it ought to change,
we say that the substitution of a
manly and aggressive policy of enforc-
ing the law for the present weak one,
would be, as polite stroke, the best
that could be made for the present
administration. Let it treat itself to
little of the satisfaction which will
surely attend upon change of policy
in respect to the question of lawless-
ness. 1t will do it good, and injure
nobody else.
THE San Antonio Times is very
sanguine that we will yet have a tariff
for revenue only. 1t doesn't think
the defeat of the Morrison bill serious
at all. 1t is not considered az an affair
to affect the final adjustments of
the tariff question, but it is very seri-
GUS in the light Of the DEM
ocratic party's responsibility for
the failure, to the country, AMI the
disastrous effect the failure will have
upon the election this fall. The loss
of the measure in the house destroys
all hope Of democratic success unless
the platform of the party at Chicago
atones for this failure of congress to
act, by adopting a ringing tariff re.
form plank. Now will be seen the
necessity Of sending delegates to
Chicago able and with the requisite
nerve to stand and fight for such a
plank, no matter what may betide.
1t is a shame that a democratic house
had MOI TIE erye TO f &c Ike tariff
issue, but because congress failed, it
does not follow that the rational con-
yention will fail.
TIE Herald has DO wcr,l 10 say edi
torially of the eteni appointment of
a commissioner by lie GOVERNOR. 1t
Is the only paper in tho state which