Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1885-02-25

I
the legislature was expressly Ia order
that they should "undertaks the re-.
probabilities" referred - by the Sun
Hlnc IL r tic
VirtuouS indignation, or Confessed Guilt 2
The Legislative committee whose re
port on tho condition Of the state pen
itehtiaries has produced such reason.
able astonlshmCnt ard such natural
indignation, was composed Of three
senators and Eve members OF III,
house, al gentlemen Of unimpeached
veraoity and recognized standing and
integrity. They were not interested
In any contracts, swayed by any re.
sentiments, partners in any crimes,
nor related to any criminals, so far a.
we have been informed. The report il
certainly not couched In extravagaut
language, colured by any apparent
prejudice, or VI hemence OF atyl.; nor
sre tho conclusions forced, se-
we're or harsh, or the recom-
mendations eKtrrme. The commit
tee, on the contrary, nre extremely
guarded aud conservative In their con.
clusiOns and mild In their recon.
mendaiions, and have rather kept
within than transcribed the sphere OF
criticism belonging legltimately to
public servants charged with the re-
spousibility Of guarding public inter.
esis against private speculation, and
Of shielding the helpless unfortunaies
in this place for repentsnce' and
reformation against the violation b,
those In charge Of the laws provided
10y the state for the government Of
prisons and prisoners. We shall refer
to these laws and their violation In an
other place.
In the present connection, we DEERE
to express our surpIise that so many
harsh and hssty conclusions have been
reached In different quarters, impugn.
ing the good faith Us we'll As the cor.
rectness Of the report of the Legislative
committee. DOea "the called Jade
wince?' Why should It be tro4dly "a.
sumed thst the committee has falsified
the record? II will take more than
the quick resignation OF the penitea
tiery board, 'ho wrsthful denlals and
hasty imputatlons OF the superiuten.
dent and financial agent OF the pepi.
tlary, TO oonylncs THE GA2ETT. and
its Thousands OF readers Il ~ there II
no truth In this Commute, report
In the nature OF the cas-,
tho prcsumptions Of truth are all IA
favor Of the committee and against tn,
superintendent and other peuiientlaiy
authorities.
or course we do not desire TO do IN
justice TO the officers. We do then
but simple justice when we demand
Ia the name Of the people Of Texas
when we demand in the name Of hui
( manlty and justice, full, open apt
) thorough investigation of tho Who'll,
: matter. Rumors OF dark aud crue
/ atrocities In the punishment Ct ri, on
, era, extending even TO brutAlit,
r and murder, have come TO a
/. through unavailable sources Ion,
{ before this committee report
Distinc. charges have apneare,
through the public prints from ey
I WITNESSES, indeed from 'lusl eufIti er
from these horrible and iuhumsu BIN
e talitles. II the prompt resignat n
: and indignant denisls on tho part q
i the pnson authorities are preliminaI,
e to q thorough vindication, afi,r
u thorough Investigation, the peopl,
with THR GAZETTE, will Join in +,
d pudiatlng the committee report q
Il scandalous and unwise. Until tina
h Investigation shows the report 10 b
It false We must decline any whltewast
ing defense 81 the accused. AS wi
+, ness In his own bebslf the convlt
s. cannotbe heard ina court OF Justice. bu
the policy and the prisoners Of the Ia,
protect him from outrage and murder
10 and humanity demands that one :
. utterly detenseless shall not be sub
d lected To the unrestrAIned brutality q
II deprsvcd guards and keepera, nor lei
2. 70 their mercy through the careles,
ness and negligence OF superlntend
d ents and their assistants.
Z Let the investigation proceed, an
" between the legislative committee an,
those public servants whom the
IS charge with unhIthtulness, TaE GA
:, BETTE only desires that the peopl
J, shall not be csjoled nor swlndled.