The Russellville Democrat., 1885-08-13
The Clean Sweep,
Ipondencc of the Democrat.

Correspondence of the Democrat
The Rancho Industrial of New
Mexico had been in a turmoil for
several years, owing to the depreda-
tons of hornless black ram which
set at defiance all fences and OBJ
structions to lawless prowling.
He was followed in all his raids
upon the grain fields and pastures OF
the surrounding country by four
sheep of the same color as himself.
These had ne other thought in their
sheepish minds than to do as their
black leader did.
They snorted when he snorted,
they jumped fences when he led the
way, they trampled down crops when
he trampled them, they turned their
tails to the wind when he turned his
tail to the wind.
Seven shepherds had charge of
| the Rancho Industrial. 1t was said
that some of them had never seen
a Rancho before and it was whisper
ed that one or two Of them had never
even seen a sheep before assuming
the management OF the flock.
However what they lacked in ex
perience was made up in confidence
and the honest determination to
take care of themselves happen
whatever might happen to the
sheep. The chief spokesman of the
shepherds was Redeye so named, be-
cause that fluid was the only one
known to him for drinking purposes.
Redeye had studied law in his youth
for three whole weeks, but he had
forgotten all about it thirty years
before. The seven shepherds were
all very fond of the black ram, but
Redeye loved him and felt that here
indeed was kindred spirit.
But the neighboring farmers arose
in their wrath and In their might
and told the seven shepherds that
they must butcher the black ram
and his black followers, else they,
the farmers, would drive the shep-
herds away from the Rancho and
take possession of it themselves.
The seven shepherds were grieved
thereat, but as they had keen eye
to their own interests, they promised
the farmers to make mutton of the
four black sheep and their black
master. "And what shall be done
with the white shcep?" asked Red
eve. leave them In the Rancho"
said four of the seven shepherds.
Thereat Redeye roared out; "Fair
play gentlemen, even handed Justice
gentlemen, no discrimination gentle
men. Does not the law say that it
is better that ninety and nine lnno.
cent persons should suffer than that
single discrimination should be
made against any guilty person
Yes, gentlemen, what is law for peo-
pie is law for sheep. If we butcher
the four black sheep and their mas.
ter, the black ram, and spare the
white sheep, will we not be making
a discrimination against the black
sheep? Yes, gentlemen, we will be
making an unjust discrimination, an
unlawful discrimination, gentlemen,
a wicked discrimination, gentlemen,
and contrary to the eternal princi-
plies Of right laid down in the great
law book of Blackjack, which am
proud to say | mastered in my
youth"
The other six shepherds yielded
to the joint arguments of Redeye and
the immortal Blackjack, especially
when one of them put in this as a
clincher. "We have been Boosting
OF the peace and harmony in our
fock, whereas it is evident that the
white sheep were not in harmony
with the black ram, else they would
have followed him in his fence jump
ing and crop destroying raids. We
must slaughter them and then the
harmony will be complete" So the
white sheep and the black sheep
were all driven to the butcher pen
and people said that there had not
been anything like it since the IA
nous decree of rimour Beg, who
said to the people of the countries he
conquered, "Those ofyou who fought
against me must die because you
fought against me. You too, must
die, who did not fight against me,
because you did not defend your
] country"
The seven shepherds have re-
stocked the Rancho Industrial with
all unknown variety of sheep. Should
teere be another black ram among
them, there will be another glut Of
the mutton market. For all which
follow him, will be butchered be-
cause of following him. and those
which do not follow him, will be
butchered to prevent determinations
and to secure harmony in the flock.
In the course of time, choice mutton
can bought a. the Rancho Indus
trial at very low figures.