The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-01-21


can they be persuaded to recognize the
rights of others. and we regret to say
that these classes form no inconsiderable
per cent of our population, and these UNI
fortunate people because we must call
them unfortunately seem to exist in
larger proportion according to population
in Texas. than elsewhere, and more es-
pecially in western Texas, and there
seems to be more trouble in reforming
and controlling these refractory elements
here than elsewhere, and the local officers
! seem less equal to the task.
1t has been our lot to be familiar with
the troubles incident to controlling them,
and we believe nothing short of the
most rigid enforcement of the criminal
laws VIII ever be sufficient to relieve our
beloved state of the unenviable reputa-
ton she in this respect bears, and which
we regret most deeply to say, she too
much deserves. A. ~. 81. ...
The question, therefore, presents itself,
what Is the best method to, adopt as a
means to this end? Is it to weaken the
strong arm of the law by RELOCATING the
most important Of all our projections
against theft, robbery, SANDER, murder,
etc, to back seat, and under taking to
enforce the criminal laws of the state?
To decrease crime by increasing the OPP
portunities for the commission of crime?
To prevent by removing the most i'm
portant part of the prevention?'
| If this is to be the course of reasoning
by those bent on reform, and whose
greatest delight, it seems, is to clamor for
some measure looking to the ultimate
burdens of taxation, then mercy, justice
and humanity all demand that this
class of reformers be dealt with in
charity and tenderly dealt with, as the
infant who cries for the toy of painted
poison. ~,
Strange as it might seem, and as it
does seem to us, we have been advised
that an effort will be made by the legis-
lature, about to convene, to abolish the
ranger service '(than which, we. believe,
not even the very courts of the country
are more important to the ends of good
government in Texas), and this, we are
told, is with view to economy. How
passing strange that any one who has
ever given the subject even cursory
examination can be SO unpardonably
stupid as to believe that such a license
to crime could result in anything but an
unparalleled era of expenditure by the
state. 1t is but the repetition of stop.
ping the spigot and taking out the bung.
Again, We believe that no one who will
reflect for moment can reach but one
conclusion, and that is, that there art
but two classes who could have serious
convictions for the retirement of the
ranger force, and that is the man whose
opinion is utterly unworthy of serious
consideration, or that class of people t.
the successful prosecution of whose
rangers, but the Texas Penal Code form:
n serious impediment; and certainly
there could be little sense in considering
the claims Of either of these tw,
classes, and especially of the latter.
AS before intimated, we have, perhaps
in this locality, the most pressing neet
of extraordinary protection of any por
ton of the state. A veritable reign O.
terror has been experienced by the citi
zens of this county for more than tel
years, and while we have had efficien
officers during this, time in all other re
spects, they have been obviously made
Quate to the suppression of the mol
. violence, committed by mob existing
in this county, which has been the terro
and dread of every person who woul,
not wink at such atrocities as, in thei
unbridled greed for gore, they have Per
petrated on the innocent objects of thei
wrath.
Many of our best citizens have give
up their lives, leaving penniless widow
: and starving children, only because the
| Were 81 unfortunate aS 10 Know, or 10 u
, suspected of knowing, some Of tn
diabolical secrets of this band of red
T handed, stealthy assassins. But, thank
! to Him from whose eye no secrets ar
: hidden, our officers finally becam
: aroused to the gravity of the situatio
and appealed to yourself and Governo
Z Culberson for Texas rangers to proteC
: our citizenship against the outrages of tn
! devils incarnatc, and future generation
l will rise up and call You blessed for tn
promptness with which you responded [
the peoples wall of distress And jus
Z here, while we want to appeal to you
u use all the influence the Importance G
y your position can bring to bear upon tn
, legislature to not only make an abundan
u appropriation for the maintenance of tn
: present number of rangers, but to il
. crease the appropriation so as to put int
$ the field 200 instead of ~, we wish |
an especial way to thank you for the az
ton you have taken in bringing about
cessation of the crimes that had bee
and were so foully committed in our cour
+ ty, and we believe you could not hav
exercised better Judgment in sclcctin
from among all your brave and nobl
/. men Sergeant w. j. l.. Sullivan to tax
$ charge of the detachment sent 10 thi
l. county. He has the unlimited conlidcnc
of our bfst citizens. and his conduct ha
been controlled by that sound discrctio
that seems to characterize all his oliici,
t conduct to the extent that he has nc
G only made himself well recognize
i source of protection. but he has mad
v himself both feared and respected b
y those whose sins he came to uncover, an
At the same time he has given no ground
: or cause of offense to even the most III
J. worthy Of the gang he was placed her
J. to catch.