The Waco evening news. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 1891-1894, 1892-02-27

the blessed assurance that we shall
enjoy the fruits of that labor withou
fear of molestation upon the par
either of government or of individuals
and that by the exercise of frugality
and economy and judgment in oul
business affairs we may be enabled IL
the vigor of our manhood to accumu
late suficienoy for our support wher
old age comes upon us2 Shall we sur
render this glorious right and privilege
merely for the sake of controlling rail
way corporations which are perfectly
comfortable without any such sacrifice
Are we afraid to trust our own courts
with the decision of questions Affect
ing our railways, which are our heavi
est tax payers2 When our constitu.
tion says that all persons shall have
the right to appeal to the courts for
protection of person and property, it
means something substantial, 1t does
not mean that this right shall be
granted as special favor, or limited
by any conditions. 1t is an absolute
right, to be exercised by the citizen at
pleasure, and free from punishment if
it develops that he is mistaken in
judgment. Frequently we appeal to
our courts, believing that the law and
the facts are on our side, and that we
are entitled to the relief demanded,
only to find that there are two sides to
every case, and the court cannot be
impressed with our views. And yet
there are no punishments lurking near
to dev our US because we are proved to
have been mistaken. How would a
citizen feel if he knew that he could
secure Justice in the courts only by
the gauntlet of destruction in
case he failed? not destruction merely
at the hands of his adversary, but at
the hands of his State, whose duty it
was to protect him? This is the bur.
den we have cast upon railway owners.
and how does it compo with that
guarantee Of the Federal constitution
ghi,h forbids State from denying to
my citizen the equal prote otion of the
aw? Any person can sue railroad
without danger if he fails; but, under
his law, railroad cannot venture to
ue the State, no matter how gross
he oppression or unreasonable the ex-
ction, because if it fails it means
leath to itself. And when sued by
itizen, it is not allowed to defend.
Jan we wonder then that capital is
and confidence DESTROYED?
Jan we marvel that the outside world
etuses to trust us any more, and in
nswer to our assurances point with
erision to these laws as a true index
f our intentions? ask you to pom
er upon this and to give your verdict
t the polls, and let that verdict be
That it ought to be, coming from men
rho love justice and respect the guar
ntees of the constitution.
Fellow-citIzens, there is another
esture of this commission law which
J calculated to strike a Democrat with
larm 1t is a fundamental doctrine
18th US as party, that all power is
Inherent in the people, and that the
erpetuity of our institutions depends
together upon their virtue and intel
gence. If the people are incapable
administering their own affairs of
oyernment in an intelligent and con.
orvatlve way, then there must be
oeedy end for popular government.
he idea of the Democratic fathers
as, among others, that power in any
rape, except when abiding with the
cople, should be watched with jealous
igilance. The tendency of all gov.
whether republican or mon.
rchical, is to grasp at favorable inter.
ais fresh acoretions of power and ,
lthority. There is and has been al
avs constant war for power between
overnment and people. These op. I
osing forces, which may be styled l
lie centripetal and centrifugal forces
/ government by reason of their OPP t
osite tendencies, serve to maintain l
roper equilibrium between people
nd government. If the people be. {
,me careless and allow government S
arrogatc to itself constantly all i'm q
ortant powers, they are liable to wake
p and find themselves slaves, for
rong government means weak peo- t
eople, and a weak government in a
public nearly always signifies strong a
dividuality on the part of the citizen. 3
his thing OF adding to executive pa. 6