Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-08-24
CALL IT HOGG'S LAW.
is THE GOVERNOR RESPONSIBLE
FOR THE ALIEN LAND LAW
Instead of Blaming Gossett and the Leg
isIature, Why Not Blame the Gov
ernor of the state.

Governor Hogg did not come in for an in
dorsement from the MacuneiteS at Dallas. lie
still maintains an unbroken record OF making
enemies OF the enemies OF the state. -. Even
ing Mail. August -
The GosSett alien land law has reduced
land values in Texas from - to - per cent Just
as the strength OF man IS lesscned by cup
ping him. The evil of the Gossett amendment
Is not Vet felt AS the years go by tre evil will
20 on. and some fine day this physician viii b.
driven from the bedside OF the patent and
some other counsel called in. Texas will he
Dled 10 death By the Gossett law unless some
thing is done 10 prevent. '-lGAZErrE Au-
gust 81
IN reading comments of the press upon
the alien land law, an uniformed person
Is al loss TO know upon whom to fasten
the responsibility for such suicidal legisla-
ton. The inference from the above clip
ping from the Evening Mail would he tl.at
the Nacune, Alliance, Sub-treaSuTy, PEG
pies party had originated the measure
But the fact IS that the alien land law was
enacted by i legislature, every member Of
which was Democratic nominee, and ap-
proved Of oya Democratic governor, elected
by the largest Democratic majority ever
pollcd in any state election, so that the Ma
Cuneites are only the little shouting demons
dancing around the fires Of hell lighted by
I Democratic Lucifer and his angels.
The GAZETTE and other papers call the
law the Gossett amendment. and brand the
OLl1llIl OF u GtlltIb lIt INC hLlIlDL Ol
all the woes visited on Texas, because Of
the alien land law. In so doing they OYER
lock al the folly of the other sections OF
the act" which are. in every wy. rs bad
Us the Gcssctt Amendment, VIZ: The hold
ing Of deeds void 20 aliens. or corporations
il which any stOckholdcr is an alien; the
overriding and disregard of treaty obliga-
tons made by the United States with
friendly powers, ard the provisions Of III"
'.,Xv fo1, rgufiSrgtlOp of The rggDpTry of
aliens by cscheat 10 the state.
The writer does not want TO relieve MI.
GoSsett OF any Of his responsibility; but il
IS not fair 10 make him alone the SCapc- goat
for the sins of the whole Democratic legjs-
laturc and when the people arise III their
might they viii hold every member of the
house of representatives and IT tie senate
responsible, and will tTa,nple upon and dc
stroy each and every one of them as hjdeous
political lcpCrs.
The responsibility recognized as attach
ing to the membership of the legislature
has been met in two ways: First, 10y
those who. like Mr.. GOssott Judge \. ".
Terrell and the representative from Tar
rant, openly defend the law il al is mon
strosity. For such there is no hope-their
political sin will prove the objectionable
sin against the Holy Ghost The other
class OF legislators say they may" or
may not have voted Tor the law; that
they did not examine the act aud were not
informed as TO its provisions. This may Suf-
fec TO ease their conscience, but will prove
cold comfort to those unfOrtunates among
their fellow-citizens who will see their
property sacrificed and heirfalniies pcnni-
eSs because of this Ubiquitous law.
There IS. however. still another depart
mcnt OF our state government which is Gi-
rcctly resp Onsible for the murder Of our
property, ana which has by some
III
reproach. The act could not have
become law had The governor
Of Texas honestly regarded the
obligations CT his Office and vetoed the bill
Under our system of government the gov
.rnor. by virtue Of the powers of his Office
IS a greater factor in legislation than the
combined majority OF the members of both
houses, ard factor only exceeded by two
thirds OF the whole legislature. Where
then was the pilot when the ship of state
was threatened with destruction Can he
escape responsibility for his own neglect. by
proving that the wreck was caused by polit-
cal roustaOouts and coal-heavers
on the ship Why did he permit the ship 10
be Steercd and guided by these unIcClinCs
amid the storm and the breakers, Where
was the pilot while the ship was tossing on
the waves and grooming in distress! Can
he escape the doom which will be the por-
ton of the rOuStabouts who helped him
wreck the ship We think not; and instead
of calling this the alien law or the Gossett
amendment, it should be called the ''Hogg
law of Texas.
Does the governor rate himself, intcllectu-
ally, with those members of the Legislature
who originated and now glory in having
secured the passage Of the alien land law
and is he ready with them 10 confess 10 this
objectionable sim, or does he attempt to
escape responsibility by pleading his own