San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-02-23

The LIGHT returns thanks to Hon.
Joseph D. Sayers, for the Congressional
Globe and other public publications.
WHILE the rain did much good, a lit
tie more would do better. a good hard
shower to make stock water would be
very welcome.
The Laredo Times indOTses San An
tonic for the place Of holding the next
Democratic State Convention. Shake,
and may the Laredo Times always pros
per.
SOUTHWEST TEXAS starts into the
spring season under most favorable cir
cumstances, and the outlook for pros
perity In cattle, sheep and farm pro-
ducts was never more favorable.
TIE people Of the Fourth Ward are
waiting for the Mayors proclamation
for an election to fill Mr.. Pauly's place.
Does the Mayor intend to leave va
canCy, or is it case Of "manana'?. If
the late Mr.. Martin Muench was alive
the Chief City Executive might he re-
minded OF his duty.
An OBsEEyGNG stranger remarked to-
day that he had always doubted the
stories Of the depth and richness Of
Texas soils, but he was now fully pre-
pared to verify anything that could pos
sibly be said on the subject. lie had
just taken q walk up Houston street to
the PostofiCe, and back Commerce street
to Main plaza.
APROPos of the present discussion of
the Blair bill, it might not be out OF
place to reiterate the prediction of some
of the profOundest Of philosophers, that
the only safe foundation Of q popular
government is intelligence; that no man
should be allowed to cast ballot who
cannot read and write the legal Ian
guage Of the country in which he lives,
and who has not been an inhabitant of
the country long enough to familiarize
himself with its institutions. 1t is con-
sidered only a matter Of few years
when the right of franchise will be based
on intelligence. Then probably, some
Southern congressman would not so
strennouSly oppose receivinga little fed
eral aid in the work of education.
The Northern Texas papers are Low
occupying themselves with discussing
the probabilities Of the near arrival of
the AtchisOn, Topeka and Santa Fe
Railroad, and all the ambitious cities of
that section are bidding for its terminus.
The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fs
Railroad Company is one OF the richest
in the United States, and will not allow
itself to be dictated to. The present
break in the trans-continental railroad
pool is the result of its independence.
This being the character and independ-
ence OF that company, it is folly to sup
pose that it will stop in Northern Texas
and be at the mercy Of the balance of the
railroad companies in the State. If once
it concludes to come in this direction, ii
will never stop till it reaches the waters
of the Gulf OF Mexico. The scramble for
its terminus will be between Arkansas
Pass, Galveston and Sabine Pass. Right
here the LIGHT puts in bid for Arkansas
Pass and invites the Atchlson, Topeka
and Santa Fe Railroad via San Antonio.
"
SEVERAL of the most influential of the
papers of the State, and particularly the
GAINESVILLE Standard, do not want any
man elected as Senator or Representa-
tive in the Legislature without he will
pledge himself to refuse all railroad
passes. This is sensible move, and if
thoroughly followed up would result in
getting good and pure men to legislate
for the people. But as matter of fact,
all corrupt legislation does not begin or
end with that which benefits the rail-
roads, as it has been proven that too
much legislative tinkering has retarded
railroad building and railroad en-.
terprises in the past few years.
to very apprsciable extent. What is
wanted in a legislator is man of bust
ness and honest purposes, one who
comes from the people with a know
ledge of the peoples wants. He will
not be called upon to draft many new
bills, for his time can be prOftably
spent in devising some means by which
to enforce the good laws upon the stat
ute books. But it is we'll to know that
he is beyond the petty bribery of rail-
road pass during the time he is repre-
ssnting the people.