The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-02-07
THE DAY OF ANARCHY.


would prefer cheap necessaries to
cheap whisky.
THE DAY OF ANARCHY.
IT MAY be truly said that the most
noted period in the history OF Texas
is now upon us. Is it not painfully
apparent that ourstate government
has been in effect, usurped, by the
most lawless and desperate bands,
keeping our authorities in subsection,
and our people in mighty ave. This
dreadful condition has been growing
worse for months, and what has been
done; what will be done? When
the executive found himself made
quate to duty, the issuing of the
extra session was unreasonbly
delayed. The urgency of this
time demanded measures prompt
and stern, and lawlessness and crime
could have been crushed out,
thus saving many millions to the peo-
pie and to Texas. When the call
call was at last made the day fixed for
the meeting was sufficiently remote
to give the lawless ample time to Or
ganize-to band themselves well to-
gether, and even to finish up their
dreadful work of destruction. They
improved the time allowed them to
the utmost. When the legislature, at
last met, the people for time, proud
ly hoped that the day of their deviv-
erance had come. But alas! how soon
were their hopes changed into des-
pair. Though our solons had
ample time to devise remedies
for evils producing the widest rui2.
still majority of them seemed to
have come here unprepared to pass
any remedial laws. When Judge Ter
rell's statesmanlike bill was introduced
instead of pruning and amending it
in few of its Objectionable points
senators went in shoulder to shoulder
together to oppose and defeat it. If
that bill had been but slightly amend
ed and passed into a law, would it not
have been well calculated to restore
peace and security to the state. In
stead of discussing the merits of this
bill they ungenerously turned a
way to the discussion of Judge Ter
relPs record in other matters wholly
unconnected with it. Was not this re-
sort to trickery to defeat a measure of
vast public Importance? May not
the people say, that, instead of oppos-
ing Judge Terrell, it would have been
far better for both themselves and
the state had they followed and sus-
tanned him. May they not shortly
determine, that, in this trying emer-
gency, Judge Terrell has made for
himself record OF which he and his
numerous friends may be justly
proud. The record which Judge
Terrell made at the regular sesston,in
defeating the penitentiary lease,
certainly places Texas under the
highest and most lasting obliga-
lions to him. Can all those who have
recently assailed the senator refer
to their own records upon this cele-
brated penitentiary lease with equal
pleasure and pride? Might it not be
well for some of these gentlemen, in
future, to be more mindful that those
who live in glass houses should not
throw stones. When they discuss the
records of others they should be more
mindful of their own, and wisely de-
termine that the least said
the soonest mended. But the
most discouraging circumstance
OF all is the countenance given
by even some of the members of the
legislature ito the absurd demand for
free grass, or that man may pur-
chase land solely for the grass it pro-
duces, and pay for it and pay the taxes
thereon, and that another man shall
have the right to herd his live stock
upon it and to thus destroy the
grass and pay nothing. Ought any
man to ever be sent to the legislature
who thinks this should be the law.
If from accident, mistake or other
wise he should find himself in a legis-
lature, ought he not to come to the
conclusion that he had disap pointed
ed his destiny and Immediately
step down and out? Ought
not his constituents to be ashamed of
themselves for ever having placed
him in position? But why talk about
having free grass. If a legislature
could be found unwise enough to
pass law providing that all grass
should be the common property of all
the people of Texas, who does not
know that this grass would still le-
gally remain the private property of
the respective owners of the land on
which it grew ? Who is so igno-
rant as not to know that gov
ernments are established and laws
made for the protection of each owner
in the full and undisturbed enjoyment
of his property Who can be so
lost to all sence of right and wrong,
as to think that a legislature can pass |
a law taking away one mans property
and giving it to another. Should any
legislature pass such law, what |
would be the inducement for any man |
to toll for the accumulation of proper
ty for the support of those dependent |
upon him, if others would have the |
right to enter and take it away for |
nothing? Would there be anything |
in this different from highway rob |
berry? When this doctrinal point is |
raised. is it not time to drop argu-
ment and appeal to government and |
resort to brute force? Is it not the |
day of anarchy and not one of social |
organization for the peoples protec-
ton?
CAN it be possible. asks the World, |
that President Arthur wishes Mr..
Frelinghuysen to surrender his port