Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1896-04-04

hIlElIE lNAAUtE AA1 u AAAe%aA ~ NNtNAf7Tf -
may have been his fortune 70 fire the
shot that sent an antagonist equally
gallant to IN untimely grave. II Is
possible that reflection upon such an
occurrence would In the mind Of a
thoughtrui person be more uncomfort-
able than the memory Of having as
sisted 10 ria society OF a pest more
disturbing and dangerous tnan a crazy
elephant or diseased dog.
To the denunciatory verblage OF
Judge Sllgores criticisms the Gazette
has no reply to make. It neenih to have
been Inspired by the idea that the con-
duct OF the Territory courts has been
impeached by somebody. We do not
recall an Instance OF such criticism.
The appeals have been not for a
change OF courts but for change OF
government. or rather Tor the estabiisl-
inent OF n government that viii govern
II testimony wcro lacking to show the
need Of such change It is furnished
BY Judge I1ilgore In this Significant
admission which goes to the
heart Of the case:
..The citizens OF the United States
here are without any government, eN-
cept such ga 81 afforded thcm by the
United States courts In the indian
Territory. and the great zeal energy,
courage and determination which they
hring 10 bear TO aid the courts and
Jurors and oflclais IN this territory.
can be accocntcd for on the theory
that Il Is matter OF self-preservatinn
with them, and every man IN this
country feels an Individual RESPONSE
billty on him In the enforcement Of
the laws and the UNFOLDING Of the
courts and officials IN that work. It
constitutes the only safety for the peo-
pie here"
II Judge Kllgore does not know that
the judiciary as organized under the
American plan. however Just and az
gresslve. Is UNITED and unable to adj
minister the executive duties OF gov
eminent. be has much 10 learn about
the principles OF the Republican sys-
tenn as well as about the basic prinei-
pies OF the law he has been appointed
to administer
II would be idle to discuss the aues-
ton whether there IS any need for a
change Of conditions In the Indian Ter
ritory. II IS the deliberate Judgment
OF the whole country. founded upon
the cumulative testimony OF an un-
praccdented history Of crime and OUT
lawry. that the existence Of these
conditions Is grave reflection upon the
virtue and integrity Of the federal
government.
It Is true that many. perhaps most OF
| the crimes that have provoked this
popular Judgment were committed by
aliens. Yet the Texan who was lynched
ut Wichita Falls developed Into an OUT
law as a resident Of the Territory, and
the AllssourlRn who was lynched there
got his diploma as criminal OF the
highest degree from the same college.
There are many good people in tho
Indian Territory. and We are quito
\ willing TO admit that the proportion
OF good caucasians is as large there as
In Texas. That Is an additional reason
why that section. so favored by Nature
should be freed from the banefui In
nuenoes that now operate against 1t.
4 Texans and Mlssourians who desire to
engage in the profession OF desperado-
ism should not be permitted 10 do so
there with impuni,y.
Judge Kligore has referred to the un-
Willingness OF express companies to
operate in the Indian Territory. Has
he been too long enshrouded in the
haziness OF Washington atmosphere
not to know what produced this tlmld-
i,y OF these companiesq Is he In igno-
rance OF the fact that they have paid
and paid dearly for their experience ?
Does he suppose that corporations Or
gnnlzed solely Tor profit reject business
for sentimental reasons. or that they
! have abandoned their schemes OF
rnoney-maltlng to traduee the con-
dltions existing In the Indiar Territory
out OF a spirit OF natural maieyoleneel
TO be candid about II, what does
Judge Rilgore think OF the federation
OF such conditions In the heart OF
American civilization that have led to
\ the avoidance OF that territory by peo-
pie travelling by railway with eonsid-
cradle sums OF money on their persons
and by express companies In the ship
ment OF money! Is 1t not a national
dlsgraee9 Does Judge Kilgore believe
that any treaty requires In good CON
science the tacit approval By the Fed
eral government OF conditions that en-
danger the weil-being or organized so
cIety on their border. and TX a limit ts
progress where they eNlst7 Does he no
know that the United States has as
aumed tho guardianship OF the indians
II 80, why does he deny 10 IT the au
thority OF other guardIansg Has he no
yet discovered that the Indian fo
whose rights he pleads H. under tn,
present system. alternately prey I,
npoliation by the perIpateuc adven
turer. and victim Of his own undis
cipiincd habitss
Does he not know thatit all the scan
dals growing out OF the disordered az
fairs OF tho Indian Territory were writ
ten In sobeineas and verify IN one pub
lished tale It would amaze the worl,
that they could have been possible un
der the Immediate view and super
vision OF a civilized government
These abuses do not diseredlt the ter
ritory Judges, because they are beyon,
the control Of the bench. That Judge,
Klipore lnrfu oar ava a,..la ,ra ,...s...