San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1888-10-04

demand for great highways to the
Pacific was deemed imperative, while
their construction was believed to be
unattainable without the help Of the
public lands. Moreover, the value OF
the lands granted was not then un-
derstood as it is to-day; nor did any
one then foresee the rapid settlement
and development of our western
states and territories through which
the building of these roads would be-
come q work of practical accomplish
ment without the aid of the govern
ment. 1 add that / believe that it
was universally understood that the
lands would be promptly restored to
the public domain on the failure OF
the companies to comply with the
conditions of the grants. Ii this had
been done the mischief inflicted upon
the country would have been com.
paratively trifing. The recreancy OF
the republican party was not 80 much
in making the grants as declining to
enforce their forfeiture and succumb-
ing to corporate dictation. If con-
gress had done its duty, the great
body of public lands given away
would have long since have been re-
stored to the public domain; but the
roads were allowed to proceed in
their laggard way and hold back
from settlement and tillage during
many years vast areas of land which
had never been earned, while it is
we'll known to every lawyer who prac-
tices in the federal courts, that their
rulings in controversies arising under
these grants have sometimes been
colored by railway influence. At
tempts were made in congress at var
ious times to declare these grants
forfeited so that the lands might be
restored to the people, but they were
bafled by republican opposition.
This happened year after year, while
the railway lobby played its strong
game in Washington, and congress
became the servant of the corpora
tions it had created and 80 richly en-
dowed. More than one hundred mil
lions of acres of the public domain
were thus illegally held in the clutch
es of these corporations, while an ad-
ditional area almost as large was
withheld from the people under exc
cutive orders, covering the even
numbered sections withdrawn pend
ing the survey Of the odd numbered
ones and indemnity lands unwarrant-
ably reserved. The truth is that for
more than twenty years prior to the
Inauguration of Grover Cleveland the
general land Office, to fearful ex-
tent, was mere bureau in the service
of the railways, as I have demonstrat-
ed in carefully prepared magazine
article published few years ago.
But congress, at last, under the
pressure of public opinion, was con.
strained to act. Bills were passed
in the forty eighth congress declaring
forfeited 19,610,880 acres, and in the
forty ninth congress 80, ,811, 800 acres,
making a total of 80, 482,247 acres.
These measure were initiated by DEM
ocrats, and the opposition to them
came from republicans. Since
Cleveland's Inauguration 52,437, ,373
acres improperly reserved have been
restored to the public domain by ex-
ecutive action, while the present
house of representatives has passed
a bill declaring forfeited 53, 735, 562
acres. which bill, it is generally un'
derstood, will fail in the republican
senate. If to those sums we add TO-.
794,542 acres already recommended
for recovery, in cases now under CON
sideration in the general land office
and department Of justice, we shall
have an aggregate OF l67,459,7l7
acres. This democratic record is not
complete without the further state
ment that the house of representa-,
tives has passed bill repeating the
pre-emption law, and SO revising oui
land laws generally as to set apart
for actual settlement the whole oi
our remaining public domain which
is fit for cultivation. This measure
lit is much to be regretted, will in al
probability be defeated in the senate
which has repeatedly refused to con-
cur in its essential provisions.
Mr.. Chairman, think / am justi
fed in saying that this wholesale res
titution to the people of these mil
lions OF stolen lands under past leg
islation is as honorable TO the demo
cratic party as it is damaging to it,
/ opponents. 1t certainly furnishes nc
reason for turning out the present
I administration and restoring thu
T. cast off dispensation of public plum
der which has SO long scourged th'
( country.
= Allow me TO refer TO a more par
/ ticular and localized illustration o
I republican devotion TO the rights o
$ settlers. Naturalists tell US with tn
= aid Of q single joint Of an anima
: they can Determine its entire strnct
E urs. Let me see il / cannot give yo'
r a pretty clear apprehension Of tho ma
s ture and makeup Of latter-day re
s publicanism by examining the join
= Of il which is supplied from NeV
{ Mexico.
! When The United States acquire
this territory it was encumbered b
q old Spanish and Mexican land grant
o covering a claimed area Of about 81
D teen million acres The gOTernmen