The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-02-16
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
What a Farmer Thinks OF His Recent Rec
concentrations.
10 the Editor of The Statesman;

concentrations.
10 the Editor of The Statesman:
CEDAR PARK, Tey., Feb. 10.
The people OF Texas and Of the
whole country have recently been re
gaIed-I use the term ironicalIy-by
the most horrfying details of the late
atrocities occurring at Paris. Gov
ernor Hogg, rs the chief executive of
our state, aftera careful iInpressment
of the necessity of taking some
steps TO prevent Iuob VIC
lence In Texas and insisting
that the Paris affair is but nh illustra-
ton to what extent the mob spirit will
20 wh"n the laws are inadequate to
check It. proceeds in II series OF recon-
mendations to our state legislature to
defiue the kind of legislation needed.
Before that honorable body shall de-
eide to respond To the demands OF the
governor in the directions indicated,
/ as one of the humblest citizens of the
state submit:
First-Are the laws OF the state and
the machinery by which they are en-
forced adequate for the suppression of
such crime as that which iullamed
the people of Paris2 If so, why are
rape and murder on the increase?
Is it not IA principle Inherent in "a
Democratic republican government
that the creature, law, is subordinate
to the creator, the people? If, 40 then
was the action OF the people of Paris
and Lamar county in setting aside the
statute, and executing without legal
process the perpetrator of II crime
that has no parallel in the |
history of the country fo- diabollcll |
atrOciDusncss the work OF u mob? Or !
is the principle just alluded to held by |
Mr.. HOgg as integ'a in its relation TO
the people OF ihe state aud thus de
ni,d TO % &c immunity Or a cpun-y or
counties. as it was in the case under |
his condemnation? would appeal as |
an American citizen, justly proua of
Texas aud the nUbleness Of her man
hood, and ask where and by what
right can the governor define and re-
strict sucn an uprising Of men known
and believed by all the world to be
good and law-abiding citizens?
g. Would the governor give creden;e
from his exalted position TO the theOr"
that taxation is powerful and inilu
eIllIdl Glt tlltllb vi SuuNibll W ltHul ohD
mission uuuer such circumstances As
he describes rs having occurred at
Paris? Would he have the members
OF n Texas legislature believe that any |
respectable community in this state |
would place Tor single moment the
safety OF its women in the balance 10 be
weighed against n possible loss OF IA |
few thousand dollars to its property !
holdersY Has the peace AID safety OF |
our homes no greater protection than |
this2 God forbid, and to this let every |
honest Texas statesman and citizen
say amen and amen.
have no desire to continue further |
these comments on the governors |
message, but in conclusion will say of |
his suggestions generally that To IL
man who has grown up between the !
plow handles, they seem 10 offer II |
capable of enforcement, Il premium TO |
che known vicious and depiaved OF |
society 10 turn loose their heli-h lust |
until not n family from the Sabine to |
the Rio GTande and from the Red !
river to the gulf. but shall feel tue !
terror of its deadly and occurs .d |
poison. Let the governor try his |
hands on the jury law aud the code ot |
criminal procedure and then dlshar |
two-thirdS of the lawyers Of the !
state and say TO the other third |
don't monkey with the goddess Of
Justices aud then will the great clock of
destiny tick out the wrong aud tick in |
the right-while we hasten on toward !
the hour of high noon in the sovereign
~ of state hood where there viii I've
no such spectacle possible RS our ex-
ecutive standing himself condemned
as "A criminal before the civilized world. |
DAN NJ. MCRAE.