The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-08-21
AN OUTRAGE ON HONoRED OF
FICIALS.

TO charge high officials OF state with
so gross derllictlon of duty as
"amounts to almost criminaliiy,"
without the best of reasons for such
charge, is wrong that ought not TO he
permitted to go unattended to by tue
people who placed these officials in PC
sition. But to charge them with cor
ruption, snd then again with "intolli-
gent design" in such derelicti0n OF du-
w as "amounts TO almost crimlnality,"
with positively no proof whatever, de-
serves and demands rebuke proper
toned TO the wrong.
The case with the land board is re-
ally too clear for argument as against
the members. The News bowls because
tho land board has delayed TO enforce
Tao "Enclosdre Act" OF 1851. This is q
subterfuRo unworthy OF . leading
journal. The Enclosure Act has no
relation whatsoever to tho land law
under which the board acts. 1t was
passed at tho extra session, and in no
section of it is any releronco TO tho
land board or its duties. IL is penal
statute, and as such IL to BIO enforced
by tho local officers just as any other
penal law. II devoly0s no duty st alt
upon the board. The board had had
every reason to assume that the ordi-
nary channels, as in all similar cases,
would be- used to enforce tho proviE-
ions of tho act. But those failed
therein. Now tho board is sending
agents 10 gather information as to rail-
way, watered, dry lands, IMMORAL,
grass, wood, etc, etc., and tells these
agents 10 sse what lands are illegally
held. This the board does because by
so doing it may be able to handle tho
lands moro pro6tably Tor tie State and
its people; but not because any duty
is imposed by law in that direction,
These arc the facts. Aud yst in the
worry face OF this moot leudable effort
in the general interest, leading paper
in this State would bogmiroh before
the world the fair fame OF officials who
have each over borne Tho white flower
OF blamoloss life. II any complaint
had to DO medo why not place 1t at the
doors whore it belongs?
The Enclosure Act providing for tho
punishment OF only those who enclose
lands or hold their ca Ito on q given
area by limos riding, it becomes tho
duty of the authorities Within their roa.
pective jurisdictions to enforce the act,
and Attorney General Tomplolon is
doubtless equal to tho duo discharge
Of his part Of the programme.
And the question is prominently
pertinent how comes ii that tho News,
attending through one OF tha ablegs
journalists ofthe state, nearly all tho
Of tho board, with frees. nc
cess to all It's books and papers, just at
this late moment, and all Of sudden,
hops upon mares most, and prefers
charges of negligence, fraud, !
'V4l hi'blul4 why Nu1 llOL /
This done before? OF course
here ia reason, good reason, for
his Intelligence" Lo5tho News havo |
.he privilege Of first proclaimiug IL If
u so desire. Was there "intolligout
design in this business, in iris jour
nGhstig inortia2
II tho people of this State tolerate |
with silence or indifference such treat |
ment nj their honorable Gud h0norod |
public servants; II they thus pormit
thom to 30 recklesrly, ruthlcssly
pfltod, and the state by no much DIS
greced abroad, then good men viii
decline 20 accept public position, and
Il degraded and corrupt Ringism VIII
run riot throughout our Offices to tho
irroparabio injury Of ev0ry interest
aud every industry. Lot tho press
speak ont snd place the seal Of con-
domination on such pernioious practice.