The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-09-12
THeoovERNoR. GREER couNTY
AND CAUTIOUS CRITICS.

collateral remark to the matter. Tho
News says:
"rexas, instead OF appointing COM
missioners, assumes the right TO take
possession of and lease the lands,
which may be construed To evince a
determination to abandon the Joint
| commission, or to seek a settlement
of the question: in the courts, since n
United States court has entertained
jurisdiction OF q case in which the
boundary question In at Issue. The
state may appear to have thrown
down the gauntlet, and PRESIDENT
CLEVELAND may take 1t up. He may
consider that the State has waived
the commission. The State is pru-
dent In contracting with the lossees
that the contract Ia dependent for con-
tinusnce upon the settlement OF the
boundary question. BY this con-
dition the lessees have no
claim against tho State, il
upon settlement Of tho question they
are elected from the lands, but this
very condition assumes tho right OF
Texas to hold tho country until that
decision. The president may take the
same view OF this POSSESSION that no
did with respect to the occupation OF
the Cheyenne reservation by cat.
tlemen under leases from the owners
OF tho lands leased"
A case somewhat, and indeed, ia some
features and quite similar to tho one
under consideration, Is not uni amiliar
to even tho school boy, and IL repro
duced now, not merely to illustrate
how. history repeats itself; how jeal-
ousies, and envies, and projudicos are
tho same tho world over and at ali
times, aud how proper and wise acts
arc howled at by chronic opposition,
but to us0 prediction that tho results
Will DO alike. 1t was in the
beginning Of tho present con-
fury and during the first prosidon-
tial term of Mr., JEFFERSON, that he
determined tho Louisiana Territory
should DO part and parcel of tho
United Statos. His prophetic vision
recognized the value of the possession
by tho United States, and the special
appropriateness OF SO important sec
ton being under cur own control. AS
In the case of Greer county, tho boun-
Diary lines were in dispute, and tho
rights of others were involved. As in
tho case OF Greor county, tho Western
settlers were resolved on possession
rs against the other claimants. In the
magnitude of tho event MR.JEFFGRsoN
disregarded these minor details, and
pressed, through menacos of prob.
able war with tho then owners by
those hardy picneors, by suggested
measures as to intended international
aid and cooperation with BoNApARrE,
and finally, under tho persuasive in
iluenoe Of gold to that restless mon
arch, who was Just entering on most
extensive military operations, and tor
ribiy needed available assets in tho
shape of cash, rather than then useless
barren lands on distant shore, pur-
chased the entire estate for $l5, OO0, 900.
And all this no did without any
authority whatsoever under tho con-
constitution, nay, in direct antagonism
to certain provisions of that instru-
ment Not only this, but no thus was
guilty of reversing and belieing all
his former doctrines, policies and pro-
tostatlons rs political doctrinairo of
the strlctest democratic sort. But con.
sidoringalone the great good that must
80 flow to his country, and tho
advantages that prompt action
and possession would secure, he
cared, for the time bong, but little
how emaciated might become his now
political philosophy. Fault-Gnding
immediately commenced. But the
ally sophistries Of bis csrpiug critics
wero swept away like 10 many cob.
web strands, and the howlings of his
federalist opponents he treated with the
severe contempt of silence, well enough
Knowing that timo and tho good senne
OF tho nation would sanction tho not OF
the statesman, submergo thepo,ty pol.
itlcian and bring to him and his poo.
pls the full measure Of reward, as sure
enough 1t did do. Tho case of Texa,
with Greer county Ia infinitely
clearer.
Tho people Of Texas may, therefore
possess their souls In patience tina
Greer county Ia indeed the property o.
this State, and that In q littlo whilc
the status will DO duly 30 docrood
: Bat suppose that tho case DO other
wise, Is Texas any the worse Oh for tn,
, governor having leased tho lands: w,
would merely have to turn over to th,
government, at the very extreme, wha
we had received from the Day Lant
and Cattle company, and others
) "Only that and nothing more" Ant
besides, it must DO recollected that thl
corporation leased tho lands with th,
full knowledge of tho condition of III,
title, and took all the chances. Sup
pose tho title to DO decreed to rest IL
Texas, then the COVER nor would hay,
boon raspod for having refused /,
lease, to tho great loss OF the state
No, he has done right, and that crili
cism Is all fustian. What silly vapor
ings, thon, these Galveston News ar
ticles are. Ever sinos that journal
went down so ignominiously undel
tho challenge OF the land board TO OK.
pose tho corruption 1t had charged
against II, and which never existed
as now demonstrated, Il has inglori.
ously sought 10 cover its retreat by
divcrting public attention therofronl
through means Of rafting fusiladC
with only powder Tor noise aud nc
balls for harm.