Brenham weekly banner. [volume] (Brenham, Tex.) 1877-1907, 1890-05-29
a vERITABLE BUGBEAR.

NEEITABLE BUGBEAR.
1t is more than passing strange
that men of the conceded ability,
sincerity of opinion and honesty OF
purpose (although they are few and
far between as compared with the
numbers opposing them) possessed
by some of the opponents OF the
proposed railw commission
amendment, should be SO quick to
raise the cry of paternalism in an
swer to the arguments of the pro-
commissioners. This appears to
constitute almost their sole stock in
trade and there is no doubt that
while some OF them are honest in
opposing the proposed amendment
on the ground Of its unconstitution-
ality and because of the alleged pa
ternalistic feature, they took their
cue from and were led into their
convictions by the cry of dema-
gogues. The constant cry Of pater-
nalism IS the most arrant kind Of
demagogy, and in making such an
appeal the demagogues have taken
advantage of condition of affairs
Brought into consideration by the
drift of federal legislation and the
politics of the republican party. The
minds of the people have become
stirred up from one end OF this
broad land to the other to such a
pitch by the many paternalistic
schemes that are constantly being
devised and set on foot by the party
of Capitalization, that it is subject
upon which the heart OF every patri-
OF whose love of country surpasses
his desire to secure mere partisan
advantage has become sore. They
are, therefore, in a fine receptive
state to listen to warnings against
acts of paternalism; and. like people
who, by allowing their minds to
dwell constantly upon the subject of
hobgoblirs and ghosts, can see one
of those mythical or supernatural
beings start up from behind every
bush, they are easily induced to be-
ieve that the proposed railway COM
mission amendment is paternalistic
and unconstitutional But why
should it be considered in reality
more paternalistic than the creation
of the Office of commissioner of in
surance to regulate and control the
underwriters business in Texas. Or
why more paternal;stic than the ap-
pointment of board of visitors and
directors of the state university, the
Agricultural and Mechanical College,
the state penitentiaries, the insane
asylum ? etc. Legislators are cleo
ted from all walks of life. They are
not omniscient. and when they go to
Austin and are appointed on stand
ing committees, the committee to
whom a bill affecting the insurance
laws is referred, goes to the COM
missioner of insurance for statistics |
and information; the committee to
whom bill is referred affecting the
land laws goes to the commissioner
of the land office; the finance com
mittee makes use of the figures in
the comptroller's Office, and so
forth. Every interest of the people |
and every branch Of the government
is represented by department or
head, except the railroad interests.
The railroads themselves are repre-
sented by powerful lobby, but the
interests of the people against the
railroads are not represented, and
the committee on railroads in the
is dependent on their
one sided statements for information
touching this subject of legislation
The cry of paternalism with refer
ence to the railway commission
is the veriest bosh and
the resort of demagogues.