The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-01-17

these views because, in my Judgment, one
of the most serious perils threatening Tue
integrity of our government TURKS IN 'ne
growing tendency on the part OF the peo-
nle to underestimate their duty and power
and to call upon Hercules for alo' "nen
their own shoulders are ample to move
the wheels if applied with Vlgor and en-
ergv, How often do we see officials who
are conservators of the peace, with law
abiding community subject to their OIL
rection for the vindioation of the majesty
of the laws, proclaim the want of reliance
in a local community, and at the same
time putting implicit faith in the ability
of half dozen Rangers, clothed with the
symbol of state power, to give needed
protection and restore order, there
by probably unsvoidably forming
and encouraging the grown
and spread of sentiments adverse
to a proper feeling of self-dependence.
self-reliance, and sef-msintenance, rather
than sturdy independence and manhood
among the people, SO essential Tor the
healthy development and continuance OF
form of government like ours.
This reasoning might be carried to
much greater length, and applied to the
tendency of legislation towards destroying
the individual enterprise of the citizen by
an unreasonable extension and continu-
ance of corporate powers and immunitleS
| for purposes that could as we'll be con-
Quoted by individual effort, taking under
such protection all classes of business and
every character of industry or enterprise,
the greater part of which can with much
! greater safety to the community be con-
fined to personal competition and liability.
1t is conceded that many business ventures
involving large capital Justify corporate
powers, but it is hard to understand the
character of justice that exempts the cor
| porator under these privileges from the
same care and liability that is exacted
from the individual citizen, and shields
him in a failure whether from want of
care, extravaganza, or lack of attention to
business, from loss beyond the amount of
stock owned. The extent to which this
power is drifting, under cover of law, seems
to me to be Fastening the growth of
monopolies and moneyed combinations
likely to become heavy burden if not
disastrous to the general public, and pre-
sentS serious consideration as to whether
it is not the part of wisdom to curtail its
privileges rather than to extend them fur
ther.
There is another feature involved in this
line of though with more direct bearing
upon the prosperity of our state, but
which statutes, however wise, cannot reach
or remedy, mentioned with the hope of
bringing our people to fuller realization
of the Importance of that individual enter
prise and independence which is so neces-
sary to prosperity. We have a state sur
rounded with exceptional advantages in eli
mate, and soil fertile to exuberanoe in the
production of all the staple products and
cereals, and particularly adapted to the
creation of such wealth as is incident to
the farm or stock ranch; and yet the sta
tlstlcs exhibited by our agricultural de-
partment show that nearly S7,OOO,OOO
were expended abroad by our people for
flour, bacon, lard and syrup, supplying us
with an example rich in undlsgnised and
lndlsputable proof of the extent to which
other people less favored with natural or
artihclal advantages are achieving the
magniticence of their states and the PROS
perity of themselves at the expense of our.
own. This has its punishment in poverty.
and every interest is suffering that pun
lshment which this improvidence, want of
frugal habits and dependence on others
oegets' Self-reliance is the great element
OF success in this world with states and in
dlViduals, and, as self-preservation ia a
natural duty binding upon all alike, and
there being no constitutional amendment
thst am aware of compelling our people
10 send to our northern neighbors for
everything we need from hoehandle TO a
steam engine, without the least trace of
hostility or bitterness, 1 would invoke
them to more perfect reliance upon the
energies and the resources which thew can
md within themselves by the deve,on-
ment OF home industries, home markats
ana individual enterprise. History does
noU record an instance of greater power
10 conquer adversely than our people have
proven themselves capable of IN times nast
Wnen the necessity was upon them t.
mas been but little while since onr stoto
was Wnoily Frustrated in its material re-
sources and overwhelmed by the rapidIv
succeeding waves of unprecedented re-
verses, political troubles, social disorders
ana financial arrangements; her works of
Internal improvements retarded or anan-
u uonea altogether; capital Stunned her
oo.uers because of the unsettled condit;or
a ahu sought safer and more prosperous
onanhels OF employment, leaving ipdnstrv
paralyzed and labor to contend at GA.
WIN sl.h want But, happily, in course of
Slhe theEsuperior intelligence and ener-
~ Oh the people made their i'm
press and established their domin-
ion, and the plowshare of ~
austry was run deep among tbe smon,dol
tbs s emU s OF strife, turning them under
m ma sUl W De Watered by the showers of
---1.etlai prosperity, and by methods of