Year: 1878

when We have nothing to do, and con-
sequently have time TO play with it
Book warfare IS very interesting during
the reign of peace, bat when a state of
active hostiities prevail, activity. brave
ry. strategy, audacity and kindred un-
bookish qualities in demand Mack
and Miles complained that Napoleon
was running the science of war. True,
he was, so far as their theory Of that
science was concerned, but he was nev-
ertheless winning victories for France.
while according to rule, they were pill
ing up defeat upon defeat for Austria
But the Aulic council were satisfied be-
cause it was being done by the looks
and according to all accepted prece-
dents Their satisfaction was akin TO
that OF the dying patient who consoled
himself With the reflection that his
death was by the orthodox school of
sllopathy, and that was far better than
TO recover by unorthodox means.


Just now north Texas is throttled by
band of thieves who care even less for
rule and the books than Napoleon did
If they were only once safely and Sc
curely housed il Jail, our book-law and
preeedents would soon cook their
goose" and rid society of their haleful
attentions, that is, if their friends OUT
side did not disregard rule and prece-
dent, and tear down the prison and re,
lease them by other than the gaIlows
route Law and precedent will never
catch the Bass party. unless some more
active but less known principle of it is
evolved and invoked. We have an &C
tive mounted police of several years
experience, in Just such service as
that needed here now. 1t is nearly
two months since the band commenced
operations here. Why are not one or
two companies of these troops on the
ground now? Oh they were raised ex-
clnsiveiy for frontier service, and can't
be brought to north Texas. Simon
Suggs and negro boy we're playing
card. once, Simon's father bore down
upon the game and Simon ciutched
the stakes, notwithstanding the boy
plead the rule OF the game No such
case made and provided. ITO an aw>
full hi with the rule at time like
this said Simon. 1t was hard on the
negro. but Simon saved the money By
it. So it would be with the game the
robbers are giving the mail service and
express companies. The presence of
the. troops might not be exactly rulea>
bic, but the company would save its
stake (money) 1t wasn't exactly a,.-
cording to law for Conductor Alvord to
shoot at the robbers, and less according
TO rule for the robbers to shoot Alvord.
but it was very effective as the band
had one the less determined man to
contend with.


The discretionary powers of the ex.
ecutive are to be used as much as the
mandatory, and they were conferred ex>
pressly TO cover such exigencies as the
present troubles in our section. 1t
may cause a small outlay of money to
drive the robbers from their fastnesses
in the cross timbers, but every day they
remain will cost the state many thou,
sands by deterring people from coming
here, This is the "spiggot and bung'
doctrine on broader field than COM
mon, and our blessed governor, while
he is hunting for law and precedent. is
having his faithful liegemen bled in
person as we'll as purse. You see II
makes some difference as to the point
Of observation. The executive person
and purse are both safe under the shad


ow of the capital, but the liegaman i.
exposed daily The executive can af.
ford TO toy with formality rule and
precedent while the liegeman can't


And that contains the difference. al
would be glad to help you. but then ths
statutes have not provided" Sem


Hall and Jones. says the liegeman


"snd 10 an awful hi with the stat


utes.' That is strong homeiy Anglo.


Saxon, but it expresses exactly the sen


timeuts of the people. We want quiet


and order, and if rule and preceden


won't serve the object, why then W,


must try something else and not b.


very particular about it either, only
that it answers the purpose. which il


either to kill the rogues, drive them on


of the state, or make the cross timber


entirely too hot to hold them vii
not his excellency forget, for momen;


the rule and precedent he bows dow


before (Which is all goodl in its place
and send us evidence that the state e51
ecutive is strong enough to drive out
handful of even desperate robbers, an,
restore quiet to the troubled expires


man and the badgered mali agent?