The Lake Charles echo., 1894-05-11
GOVERNOR H0GG on GOXEYISM.

We PUBLISH beAON LIlc IoiIoNItS eAtl'Itt
from a letter by the iliustrious chief mag
istrate of Texas to the laboring 4nen of
the south, The governor gives sound
advice and deals in plain facts
To the LabOrinG Men of Texas;
Executive Office, Austin, Texas May
>, 1S94.-InfOTmatiOn has reached mt that
nonresident agitatOrs are now i'll tbs
state for the purpose of inducing labor
ers temporarily unemployed and those d.
cOntented from other causes, to join in
the so-called ''march to Washington"
In this scheme hope no self-TespeCtlAg
Texan will take any part whatever. No
good can result from it to any labOriIg
man or other patriotic citizen, but the
enterprise will necessarily aggravate the
unfortunate financial condition of our
federal government, and may produce
other more serious consequences. The
movement is childish, for these bodies of
grown men helpless as children, to go to
beseech the government for what they
can not reasonably expect to get. 1t is
foolish for in large crowds they cOngre-
gate ill city away from their homes and
friends where they must sleep out of
doors, beg in the streets and tramp i'll
rags of poverty, without the slightest
prospect Of relief. 1t is revolutionary, for
if by these marching armies the coli
gress should be intimidaied into passing
resolution or bill in obedience to their
demands, the form of our government
would be changed by coercion, The effect
would bea Centrahsm supported hY stand
ing armies in many Ut the states to sup
plant local self government. to oYerawc
and Cypress the masses OF bloody anar
ely to distrOy the civil institutions 81
necessary for the protection OF the rights
and Liberties Of the people and the labor
ing classes i'll either event would be the
first t. suffer.
Of all the chimerical schemes unpatri-
otto steps or foolish freaks into which tie
American citizens have ever been al
lured. this national tramp" j. the most
pitlable and ineNcnsable. So long as the
unemployed or tramps Of other states
have only passed through Texas Oh such
a mission, ] have not felt it a duty to
do more than TO see that they were not
lelt within the state to tamlsL or starve,
OF IT, render the conditions Of our own
IHbUriHg class more embarrassing. When
the movement, however, from whatever
source it may have been lustigated.
reaches the state for the purpose Of dis
turbIng peaceful relations among the
citizens. OF to inveigle any OF them INTO a
menace OF assault OH the federal govern
memt, must interpOse my objections
Our state is infinitely better of than
any other iii the American Union Our
labOrlng men not voluntarily idlers. have
little excuse for complaint and while
SOME laDOrerS may be out Of Employment.
there il but little necessity for this con-
ditiUu 10 remain long anyweTc in Texas
l.
that respects his state or his pride fOI.
himself and family 10 Join this tramp
through the country to Washington with
no better effect than to display his
credulity. TO expose his poverty. and to
reflect discredit on his occupation and
friends. Ifdeadbeats, loungers and snOOz-
ing idlers wish to leave the state, let
them go for they get along about as
well in OmU CalabUOse OF back alley as
another Setrespecting, and law abiding
labOring men, either with OF without Jobs
should let the trip alone, for they can do
better among their friends in Texas than
they can among strangers hanging around
the capitol penniless on a wild mission
without tangible OT laudible purpose.
! view the action Of the unemployed Of
other states with cUmmlserutiOn and pity
knowing full we'll that in their march
they have been deluded, misled into the
worst job of their lives. Their condi-
tiOu doubtless is len times worse than that
Of any set Of men in Texas, and We all
feel sorry for them. They have been
taught and educated to believe IN pater-
nalism-that the government would look
after their private affairs, MAINTAIN their
wages and supply their wants. Theyare
now going to headquarters i'll obedience
TO those false doctrines TO make their de-
mands, and as surely to become disap-
| pointed wrecked and starved into the
commission OF crime for which they will
| find themselves sooner OF later ID dun
| geOnB and felOns, stripes. Repulsive but
true is this picture. Within a few months
we will witness it's display in full pan0-
ramic cOlOrs before the civilized world, to
the shame Of American people.
In common with others Ofthis state who
| have worked with much success to relieve
! the conditions Of the lab0Ting classes
| through the instTumentality of whole
some laws, so that they could by fidelity
to employment and frugality and faithful
eXertiOns, become prosperous citizens,
! | should feel proud to learn that no lab
0rer from any community in Texas shall
so far lose his pride and common sense az
to take part in this wild, impEovident,
unpatFiOtic, dangerous movement.
J. S HoGG, Governor.