The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1866-07-07
Mutilatlon Of the Alamo Monuments.

MutilatIon of the Alamo Monuments
General Gustav the supercilious tyrant of
Texas, whose unmerited elevation seems to
have turned his head, swore before the Com
mittee of Fifteen that the State of Texas is
still disloyal" and he might have added
that his business in Texas was to keep it so.
1t is not to be wondered at that the Tex
ans--a brave and high-spirited people
should continue to grow more and more dis
loyal if such transactions as are narrated by
an Austin correspondent, are not stopped.
He says:
The behavior of the conquerors, invaders,
or whatever name is best chosen or best be-
comes these gentlemen, is most characters
tically illustrated in the unchristian, unciv-
iliZed and inhuman cOWardly mutilatiOn and
DETACHMENT Of the monuments Cf the pre-
cious revolutionary dead-the noble found
ers Of the Republic Of Rexas. The mOnu-
ment Of the Alamo stands upon the porch
in front of the State House in Austin. 1t
is an humble tribute erected by the old State
Of Texas, to the immortal honor of the he
roes who persisted in their defense of the
Fort
1t is about fifteen feet high, and is so stu
ated, that in order to enter the building you
have to pass around it. With four sides,
beautifully, but plainly ornamented on each
side; with shield above which are the skull
less murder by brutal mOngrel invaders from
the South. Above the shield the names Of
Crockett, Bowie and Travis. At the top and
each side are written these touching words,
which would move any civilized heart:
"Thermopyle had her messenger of defeat;
the Alamo had none.
On the south side
BE they enrolled with Leonidas as in the
host of the mighty dead,
On the north side:
"To the God of-the fearless and free is
erected this monument, gathered
from the rdins Of the Alamo.
On the shield was the name Of the defend
ers in raised letters. Such was the beauti-
full monument raised by grateful people in
the sacred memory Of the illustrious dead
Some Union soldiers have taken their knives
and cut from the stone the names of Crockett
Bowie and Travis, and instead, have inser-
ted their own names. On the skull they have
drawn with pencil, a huge mustache and
imperial The cast side of the square has
been broken in.
The disappointed Mexican greaser who
was not satisfied with the murder of the
brave defenders of Texas, would not insult
their names. But this crime was perpetu-
ated by men Of the nineteenth century-of
the United States of America-by the very
men sent to restore the State to peace and
/ quiet. Inc men VINO cOullhiGUeU bulS uupdE-
/ ralleled outrage, wrote their names and place
1 of residence 1t has been under the very
! eyeof the military officers. Gustav may glory
| in this as Hunter did in dismantling the
| Washington statue. Such man may well
/ have the face to swear that a people were
| disquiet under such treatment, and If they
were not, such an outrage would keep them
/ so.
1t was the policy Of tyrants in pagan Rome
/ to insult the people as to make them seek
refuge in despotsm. Texas that voluntarily
| Joined the Union, is sought to be degraded
/ by this process. The very men who be
/ queathed this beautiful legacy to the Union
are insulted in their graves by her troops.
! No wonder Gen Grant would suppress the
newspapers Of the country, lest these should
meet the public eye and call down the exc
crations of mankind. But I defy the mar
tial law of Vandals like Gustav, and scorn
the usurpation over the press assumed by
/ Grant-Thc Crisis