San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-07-16
BROWNSVILLE LETTER.
To the San Antonio LIGHT:
ppnwNsyIIJE July g.

RESPONDENT is accused of q quote his
own words) "writing anonymous let
tiers to Governor Ross. In a letter
dated June 22d, in the most cheeky
and disrespectful manner calls on the
governor of the state to assist him in
driving out the Spaniards and Next
cans out of Cameron county, as he
claims that they have taken control Of
the city and county schools. Cover
nor Ross has referred these letters to
Judge Ferto and Sheriff BritO for in
yestigation.u The writer is acquainted
with many Mexicans and Spaniards
whom it is an honor to know, and
and though a seeming Insult
to their intelligence, I would
say through your excellent jou-na
that were anyone so foolish as to write
an anonymous letter to the governor
of the state, he could not so debase his
high position as to give it, even in his
private Office, the least attention,
much less insult the judge and sheriff
of Cameron county by referring 1T to
them. Besides, the schools are entire.
ly without the province of the sheriff.
Should the judge and sheriff permit
this amazing insult to the governor of
the state and to themselves to go I'M
rebuked, it but proves your corre-
spondent's assertion true, that they
depend upon the ignorance and not
the Intelligence of this county to
maintain them in the offices they dis
grace.
Your correspondent was informed
some gentlemen had, or were going to
call the attention of the state superin-
tendent mot the governor) to the man
agement of the schools in this county.
Probably this has been done, and
hence the attempt to carry favor with
the Spaniard and Mexicans and at
the same time injure your correspond
ent, of whose identity they think
they are certain. Intelligent people of
whatever nationality, of whatever po-
ltical opinion, know and deplore the
present condition of affairs, even if
they condemn the making it public.
1t is safe to say that not one-fifth of
the Mexican population of this
country can read even their own
language. 1t is not entirely their
fault, for the schools are such out
rageous frauds that they are disgust
ed with them, and will not patronize
L
telligence in a school for three ten
months terms and not able to read
the simplest paragraph. Without
ambition, living in abject poverty,
with no very keen sense of honor or
morality, they readily become the
prey of evil designing men, who teach
them not respect for the law, but that
to escape it's meshes, is all sufficient.
How revolving, and yet how piteous
to be told by some of them that
they came to town to vote
in the municipal election for the sum
of 25 cents. In their very ignorance
lie their innocence of crime against
the law. Who was the greater crim.-
nal the payer or receiver, is left to
moralists to decide. That such things
are true is not disputed by anyone,
but oh, the howl, if one dares to say
it.
A prominent ringster has ex-
pressed desire to lick" your cor
respondent. Well, being a burly fell
low he might click" and to the con-
sistency of a mush poultice, and yet,
not detract one iota from the truth of
any statements.
The article above referred to, you
may read if you choose. and judge for
yourself the desperate predicament of
the ringsters. Presumably, they put
forward their best defense. Truly;
contempt has a descending quality
but there are depths it cannot reach. !"
Your correspondent is no politician.
1t is of very little consequence wheth-
er a man is a republican or democrat,
at least in local affairs; the question
should be is he a man who will re-
spect his oath of office, or will he by
fair promises secure the office and
then shamelessly disregard it, and use
the influence placed in his hands by
the people who elected him, to main
tain himself in it regardless of the
wishes of the intelligent portion of the
people. protest, Mr.. Editor, against
your charging the democrats of Cam
erOn county with the present state of
affairs. True, the ringsters complain
ed of, were elected on the democratic
ticket four years ago; they have fully
proven they are and would be any
thing that gave them little authori-
ty. Democrats, men of honor and in
cOrruptible, see and know this, and
their heads are bowed in lowest
shame that it is so. These ringsters
would yell republicanism tomorrow
did it promise them the same
positions; some of them were
formerly most rabid republicans, in
deed, with few exceptions, we are a
facile lot in this corner of Texas, lit
tie of everything and nothing long as
the old adage has it. This same Blue
party howled itself hoarse for Tom
Ochiltree in 1882, and should repub-
lican president be elected two wears