Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-01-16

order through local agencies, and the
administration of justice with the view of
protecting every real and substantive
right, while leaving all else to the unfet
tered
ENTERPRISE or THE CITIZEN
under the regulation of that moral power
which springs from self-raliance, en-
lightened conscience and a cultivated
intelligence, erystalized into a devoted
patriotism.
have been led the more earnestly to
these views because in my Judgment one
of the most serious perIls threatening the
integrity of our government turks in the
growing tendency on the part of the peo-
pleSto underestimate their duty and
power and to call upon Hercules for aid,
when their own shoulders are ample 20
move the wheels if applied with vigor
and energy. How oftea do we see Of
ficials who are consePVatOrs of the peace,
with law-abiding community subject TO
their direction for the Vindication of the
majesty of the laws, proclaim the want
of reliance in a local community, and at
the same time putting iraplicit faith in
the ability of a half dozen rangers,
clothed with the symbol Of state power,
to give needed protection and restore
order, thereby probably unavoidably
forming and encouraging the growth
and spread of sentiments adverse
to proper feeling of seif-dependence
self-reliance, and self-maintenance,
rather than a sturdy independence and
manhood among the people, so essential
for the healthy development and con-
tinuance of form Of government like
ours.
This reasoning might be carried to
much greater length, and applied to the
tendency of legislation towards destroy
ing the individual enterprise of the citi-
zen by an unreasonable extension and
continuance Of corporate powers and i'm
munities for purposes that could as well
be conducted by individual effort, taking
under such protection all classes of bust
ness and every character of industry or
enterprise, the greater part of which can
with much greater safety to the commu-
nifty be confined 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 corpOTator under these
privileges from the same care and LA
bility that is exacted from
THE INDIVIDUAL CITIZEN,
and shields him in failure whether from
want of care, extravaganza or lack of
attention TO business, from loss beyond i
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 monied
combinations likely TO become heavy
burden if not disastrous to the general
public, and presents a serious considera-
tion as to whether it is not the part of
wisdom to curtail its privileges rather
than to extend them further.
There is another feature involved in
this line of thought with a 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 a fuller
realization of the Importance of that in
dividual enterprise and independence
which is SO necessary to prosperity. We
have state surrounded with exceptional
advantages in climate, and
soil fertile to exuberance in the
production Of all the staple products and
cereals, and peculiarly adapted to the
creation of such wealth as is incident to the
farm or stock ranch, and yet the statis-
tics exhibited by our agricultural depart
ment shows that nearly 81 900 900 were
expended abroad by our people for -four,
bacon, lard and syrup supplying us with
indlsputable proof of the extent to which
other people less favored with natural or
artificial advantages are achieving the
magnificence of their states and the pros /
peTity of themselves at the expense of
our own. This has its punishment in
poverty, and every interest is suffering
that punishment which this improyidence,
want Of frugal habits and dependence On |
Others begets. Self-reliance is the great
element of success in this world with |
states and individuals, and as elf-preser- |
walton is a natural duty binding upon all !
alike, and there being no constitutional |
amendment that I am aware of compel /
ling our people to send to our northern |
neighbOrs for everything we need, from |
a hoe handle to n steam engine, without |
the least trace of hostility or bitterness / !
would invoke them to a more perfect re- |
lance upon the energies and the re-
sources which they can find within them |
selves by the
DEVELOPMENT OF HOME INDUSTRIES,
home markets, and individual enterprise |
History does not record an instance of |
greater power TO conquer adversely than |
our people have proven themselves capa-
BILE of in times past when the necessity |
was upon them. 1t has been but a little |
while since our state was wholly pros
trated in its material resources and over
whelmed by the rapidly succeeding waves
Of unprecedented reverSes, political trou-
bles, social disorders, and financial
arrangements; her works of internal
retarded or abandoned
capital stunned her borders
because of the unsettled condition, and
sought safer and more prosperous chan
nels of employment, leaving industry
paralyzed and labor to contend at odds
with want. But happily in course of time
the superior intelligence and energy
of the people made their inn
press and established their do
mnion, and the plowshare of in
duStry was run deep among the shoulder
Ing embers of strife, turning them under
the soil TO be watered by the showers of !
prosperity, and by methods of
peace the wisdom of her rulers intro
duced into her governmental affairs those
pauent, painstakmg, economical habits
which characterize, the conduct of sue
cessful private business, and to capital
and honest industry they promised en-
protection and the enjoy