San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1885-06-04

SAoh "vuiu law bSoh PAohPtiy tohN'NAt ~
as to give the grass chance to grow, and
give chance to NOW it when grown-but
nothing Of the kind.
And we wound up by inquiring: "Can
nothing be done without there is some sort
of Job in it?" This article, as the print
ers know, was written and put in type some
three or four weeks before its appearance.
It was crowded out from time to time, and
we hoped something might be done to make
its publication unnecessary. We mention
this to show that We were forbearing and
reluctant to censure. But nothing was done,
and the article appeared giving, as it seems,
most deadly offense to the Hon. Judge and
Commissioners. Again, in our paper of
April 80, we renewed the subject We quote
the following passage:
Bear in mind that we are not arguing in
favor any elaborate or expensive laying out
of the grounds, but simply clearing off the
stones, brush and other rubbish, filling up
the gullies, spading up the earth around
the trees and shrubbery, extending and
graveling the walks through the grounds
taken in by the new fence in short, only
what any common private citizen would feel
ashamed of himself if he did not do with
respect to his own grounds about his dwell
ling.
Here, reader, you have in brief the whole
story of our action in this matter, and it will
prove to every unprecedented mind that we
were actuated solely by what we conceived
to be our duty as public journalist. What
we have said, and the extracts we have CIV
en-, will also be found to nullify large part
of the Judges article, such as his essay on
Fromme's plat, his eulogy on his heroic Ia
bors cutting grass, weeds etc. AS to what
he says about the citizens Of our town agreeing to
take charge Of the grounds, and the Commissioners
turning them over TO the town, II was evidently
mere talk we find no entry Of anything Of the sort
on the records and besides, 1t takes two parties 10
make bargain. II was simply absurd to suppose
that the citizens OF the town would undertake any
thing Of the kind or that Judge Kone and the Com
missioners could thus shirk their duty. As we'll
might they have turned over the building OF the
fence to the town.
His account Of his interview with us on the sub
ject is equally questionable. It is true we met him
At the Clerks office, and were surprised to hn him
very .msd'. TO his objection to the word 'yob".
We told him we used 1t as popularity COMMONLY
used outside in speaking OF some OF the acts Of the
Commissioners. and not, as he alleges, 'because we
be for the Judges ignorance Of ordinary
English words and phrases. The fact that We quoted
the word Job showed that we used II as we have
stated. We did not say that we did not know
what we meant BY it". but did assure him, then and
there, and stated afterwards through our paper.
that we did not question the integrity ofthe parties
concerned, and this with gentlemen. ought to have
ended all Ill feeling But We were guilty OF what ne
ing In opinion with X. r. Kone, and questioning his
infaliblity. and hence he makes tho great mistake
Of supposing us to be his liter enemy.
To the Judges indignant protest against the idea
that he ever chopped cotton. we venture to suggest
that there doubt plenty Of men quite as bril-
liant az he is, who are engaged In that commenda.
BILE and honorable business. As to what re says Of
Judge Fisher, we have been credibly informed that
Judge Kone recently Iabored under the halucination
that he set out most II not all the shade trees about
the court house, but the witnesses called did not
sustain his claim. Now he only claims 20 have as
sisted In the work. II his claim is just we can only
express our regret that he has not continued as well
as he started out AS to charge OF $50 for an ad
vertisemet in 1875. we will say 1t was over three
columns in length. longer than our present delin-
auent tax list-and the charge was not unreasona-
bic. Would he have had us work for nolhingf The
Judge says McLemore made his bid on Monday-we
the next day. Wrong again we made our state
ment also on Monday.
The Judge di sclaims taking any part in regard to
the printing; but he cannot thus escape RESPONSE
bility. He represents San Marcos, and Mr.. Mccarty
this large and populo.s precinct. They therefore,
we hold, are far more responsible than the other
members Of the court for the condition Of tho court
house grounds, and also for discriminating, or at
tempting discrimination, against an old established
paper at the county seat. in favor Of transient al
fair Of another town. He asks why he should have
used his influence In our favOr2 We answer, that
duty TO his own locality, IL nothing else. should
have decided him to do 30. where, as we have
showu nothing more than a difference OF opinion
was involved. AS President Cleveland justly seys.
such things are matters Of business purely, and no
long as we did the work satisfactorily, we should
have been sustained The Judge says 1t Ia not the
object OF the court to keep up newspapers, yet we
find them engaged In aiding one, apparently In or
der to secure "foot -licker' TO use the elegant
Language Of the Judge) at the expense OF another
that was too Independent to suit them,
The Judge repels the idea that Northoraft Is the
''power behind the throne" Of the Commissioners
Court and says that he has never attempted to in
huencs thsm. How about that court house roof
matter Judgei Did not Northcraft use his infiu-
and the commissioners that the roof was giving way,
and that 1t would require $500 to $500 to make II
goodi And did not competent workmen show that
this all afallacy, and that - so was all that was
required in the easel We know several OF as good
men as are to be found In the county, who are ready
to respond to these questions In the Affirmative or
was willing to sacrifice himselffor $500 $500 hro
the presumed gullibility OF the Commissioners'
Court. Certainly notl
As to the Judges declaration that Mr.. Northcrsft
prosperity Of this town and county in any month OF
bis residence here than have been worth or done
for Il Ince came heres 1t becomes us not 70 speak,
and we leave readers to decide the question But
II the Judge had said that Northcrat had received
moro from the public crib during any one month Of
his residence here than we have during the twelve
years since we settled here and that too. as the rer
suit Of much less care aud labor le would no doubt
q benefit to the county, we have already freely con-
coded but the idea that he ever intended
anything but to benefit himseV, would
community. SO will be Judge Kone's entirely graf
uitous assertion that the county saved from $500
$4,000 by giving the building Of the jail to North
craft instead Of advertising for the lowest bidder or
that be ever Intentionally sacrificed $500. or any
sum short OF the largest pay. for any public enter
prise In which he ever engaged IL the Judge real
" believes otherwise, we must say he displays
remarkable degree Of verdancv.
The Judge charges us with being In the way Ola
live Newspaper here. We believe he was one OF the
editors OF the old "San Marcos Tines" for few
weeks or perhaps months, and OF course Knows Just
what live newspaper should be. From what ne
further says one might suppose he thought we
had captured Q fortune here In abe newspaper bus
mess, and yet no man knows better than be, that
what little we possess was the result OF the saw
ipgs Of Q former period.
We are surprised at the Judge for tagging In the
school question, our only crime as 70 which consist
ed in presuming to differ with him, and when the
people, by large majority .usi aimed our view Of
the matter and set the seal OF their condemnation
especially on Judge Kone.
As 10 bis concluding reference to Rsop's Fables.
we submit that the yndge's inner consciousness
must have suggested the reference 70 me long-ear
ed animal az portrait Of himself; we are willing 70
Iesve Il 10 "our mutual friends" iii is not better
one Of him than Of Us. The long ears have always
e stuck out'' through his official mask. As he Is
known TO be man Of extensive reading, he 10 prob
ably also acqusinted with the congenlal pages OF
Mother Goose, In which be may end the following
admirable summing up Of his course With respect TO
the Court House yard question:
There was man in our town
who was vondrous wise.
HeJumped into brier bush
And serstehsd out both bis eyes;
And when be found his eyes were out,
With all bis might and main,
He lumped into another bush