The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-02-18
THE MEN NEEDED.

state and national. Texas is passing from
n chrysalis to a normal condition of poll
teal importance. For years the state has
been in developing condition with an
uncertain policy in regard to her laws and
possessions She has had wealth of land
unequalled in the history of states, arising
from the fact that she came into the
union holding safe in her hands her own
territory, and for that reason her legisla-
ton upon that subject had no precedent
10 guide the wisdom of her policy. Her
public men very justly regarded her pos
sessions in land of unlimitable fortune and
inexhaustible in extent. With this
idea it is no wonder that her legislation
was often irregular and unwise. In fact
while this idea OF illimitable domain was
prominent in the thought of her public
men, at the same time the knowledge of
the fact was equally as prominent that
these lands were largely imperative in
aiding in her Development as they we're
for many years unmarketable and unsala-
BILE. The politicians knew that the state
had a large reserve of strength and wealth
in her public domain, but that 1T was i'm
possible to avail of this for immediate ad-
vantage and it is no wonder that the pub
lie domain was not treated with the care
full policy that such reserve forces in the
assets of a state demanded
OF course the policy of the Legislators
was largely experimental, and it would
now be wrong to hold her earlier law
makers to strict accountability for the
policy adopted by them in regard to her
public domain.
No one will blame the politicians for
offering such an extensive domain for the
building of capitol, for at that time
land in Texas was unsaleable and it was
the only thing that could be offered for
the much needed and indispensable build
ing. We also gave away with unstinted
hand to encourage he building and com
pletion OF railroad system throughout
the state. This was important and nee
essary to the development of the state,
and whilst our legislators were liberal in
donation, 1T was necessary TO be SO, to give
the state the development needed and
which could alone be secured by the build
ing of railroads throughout her borders.
On all these subjects we can all see now
wiser and more polite course, but then,
under the circumstances surrounding the
state, perhaps no wiser or better policy
could have been adopted.
All of these circumstances and surround
ings have suddenly changed. We find
ourselves, from the force of rapid immi-
grafton of the best classes of citizens,
fully abreast the times and equal to any
other state of the union, holding at the
same time all the natural advantages of
soil and climate, and still possessed of
great wealth in an almost unlimited public
domain. To-day the state of Texas is the
only state in the union that can offer,
in her own right and under her own
patent, home to the industrious and
actual settler. To-day she can offer
more advantages to the pioneer than
any other state, and is even unrival-
led in that respect by the United States
NJ, al 60, hn nHaraI
by the United States az can be offered to
the settler either from abroad or the
eastern and middle states of the union, as
can be offered by the state of Texas.
Under these circumstances, with such a
great responsibility resting upon us, it is
an imperative duty to elect men, to our
state and national legislatures, with minds
of the most enlarged and broadcast states
manship, with honesty of purpose and
uncompromising integrity, men with a
fixed and known purpose in dealing with
these great interests, mel upon whom we
can fully rely in any unexpected and un'
anticipated emergencies in the develop.
ment of a state of such wealth and unlim.
tied possibilities.
We need more than ever before, honest
and able men, who will not, for an instant
swerve from the most patriotic motives
and disinterested policy, to enable US tC
avail to the fullest extent, of our mag
nifcent abilities.
Let us, then, in this great emergency
forget the petty aspirations of petty poll
ticians, forget the ambitions of small men
and our own advantages from this cleo
ton, and give the most disinterested anc
patriotic vote of our times to men o.
broad calbre, both mentally and patriot
ically. Let US put men at the helm il
whom we can have the most implicit trus
in their wisdom, courage and patriotism
If we do SO, Texas will lead the march o
states in progress and prosperity, anC
thus we will bequeath to posterity tn
richest and proudest legacy of free
prosperous and splendid state.
THE PRICES OF LABOR
1t is interesting in these times o
labor troubles to find that i'll some por