The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1874-05-14

SheLey 1oiloWeQ IN snort ana pleasant eX-
temparaneous address.
A resolution was offered and adopted re-
questing copy Of the address from Capt
Josselyn for publication, and that the address
be spread upon the records of the association.
Col. Sweet, editor of the 7s1as Nel0 Yorker.
kindly offered to publish the address IN e1tens5
in his paper, and send the same broadcast
over the State, without expense to the asso-
citation.
After the address, the members were again
escorted to the Fitzhugh House by the Travis
Rifles, when the President announced that
the next annual meeting will be held at Aus
tin on the eighth day of May, 1875.
JOHN s. Ford, President
Il. w. STANDS, Secretary.
ADDRESS OF CAPT. ROBERT JossELYN.
FellOao Soldiers of tie Merican War, Ladies
and Gentlemen, 9oAO hare h0nOred as acith
yO,tr presence-It is now so long since have
attempted to address public assembly, that ]
must acknowledge degree of embarrassment
which, IN some measure units me for the
duty which have undertaken. Yet more
and may make the confession without any
feeling of mortifcation-the infirmities and
the deficiencies Of age are upon me. am no
longer even what 1 have been, nor are you.
Time, the great destroyer as well as builder of
individuals and of nations, has long been busy
at his tireless work on me, and on you, and
all OF us, here and elsewhere, the few remain
ing of the brave comrades and companions of
other years and of the long ago. His defacing
and relentless hand has been laid heavy upon
us, until may well say, with little exaggera-
ton Of speech, that, with few exceptions, we
are now but the mere wrecks-the broken and
unsightly wrecks-of the gallant band, who,
twenty eight years ago, in the pride and flush
of youth and early manhood, at the call of
patriotism, rallied around the unfurled flag of
their fathers, and went forth, with the strong
arm TO strike down. and with the clarion
voice to upraise the exultant shout of victory
over the fallen and PROSTATE foes of their
country in foreign land. Yet, such as
we are, with the little of life and
strength. and hope left in us, we have
assembled here this day, in the spirit
of brotherhood, to recall the remembrance
and glory of the past, to sympathize with the
present, and to strengthen and make yet more
enduring the loving ties of the future. have
no fear, therefore, but that the kind indul-
gence, which we all so much need at the
hands of each other, will be generously ex-
tended to me, your humble speaker on this
occasion.
The war with Mexico, the commencement
of which at Palo Alto this day is the ami
versary, was one of vast importance to the re-
T,llhlia and 10 of dAsr Iaiats-io interest Tnougn
overshadOwed and somewhat obscured BY
the mighty armies and sanguinary battles of
the late terrible civil struggle, yet its Incl
dents, its achievements and its results were of
a character so grand and romantic, that they
were the theme of universal adulation at the
time and attracted the admiring comments of
the civilized world. Itwas the first great war,
which was attended with unvarying success
to our arms, and the first to establish, beyond
doubt, our reputation abroad as an essen
tally military people, capable not only of
defense against all foreign aggression, hut of
the invasion, the punishment and the conquest
of the aggressors. Other wars had been wars
OF defense, wars for the attainment of liberty
and independence, for the protection Of homes
and firesides, of wives and children, of all
that should be dear to any people, worthy of
being called people, and calculated to bring
out every particle of manhood within their
bosoms, if any existed-wars which were
marked with reyerses and disasters, If not. oc-
casional disgraces, and which finally closed
with the bare accomplishment Of the great
objects for which they were prosecuted, and
with little particular glory otherwise to the
country. The old War of the Revolution,
which separated the thirteen colonies from
Great Britain, was of this character. 1t was
long and wearisome, exhibiting in high de
gree the noble attributes of-fortitude and en-
duranee, but its victories on the tented field
were few and its defeats were many. Sara
toga and Yorktown were the only important
successes, which threw lustre on our arms,
ana IN the last which was but siege with
superior forces, we were ably assisted by the
chivalry of France. The war of
1872, which has been called the war for free
trade and sailors rights was carried on with
the same great power, with little honor EXCEPT
IN l.,
and especially in the invasion Of Canada,
brought us little credit as a military people
Our capital was invaded, taken and burned
by force contemplate in numbers-and had
not this war ended by the brilliant victory of
Jackson at New Orleans, il would have fast
ened on US record, to say the least, so far as
our armies were concerned, not very satisfac-
ioTy and gratifying. "tf
Our various Indian wars, though accom-
panied with many deeds of individual hero
SIN, were too brief and insignificant to fix
he attention of foreigners, and. as a whole.
we're not overcreditable to our arms. Eventhe
var for the independence of Texas-which
nay well term an American war, for it was
Mostly fought by an American people-was
hardly more than succession of disasters and |
the fierce struggle of a few heroes |
or existence, until the electric shock of San |
Iacinto flashed over the continent and illu- |
minated the old world and the new with the |
Dlaze of its undying glory.
1t was believed, with much show of reason.
10Th at home and abroad. that the American !
,eople were not suited 20 wars of invasion
nd conquest, and that their proves could /
My be brought forth in defense of their per
ons and property, and within the limits Of
heir own country. But the war with Mexfco
Utterly dissipated this illusion, and proved Us
o be, what we are and are now allowed to be,
be equals, if not the superios, Of the proud
st military nations on the face Of the globe.
When, at the irSt blast Of the trumpet.
thousands throughout the land, and especially /
q the section nearest 20 the scene Of action
UP own loved cline Of flowers and sunshine /
ushed forward 70 proffer their services
lOre, far more than could be accepted
rhen, the freest Of the free, they became
bedient to discipline and underwent al The
Fivations and hardships Of foreign warfare
nth the patience, the steadlness and the reiia-
ility Of veferans-when the brilliant. little
ict0ries, first won BY our regular soldiers on
he Rio Grande, were followed BY Monterey
nd Buena Vista, By Vera Cruz, CerFo GordO,
hurubusc0, MOlin0 del Rey, ChapulieDec
nd the Belen gate-when, with the annihila-
on OF dispersion Of every opposing army,
OWeFer formidable IN numbers and bravery,
ie starry banner 81 the Union waved IN n
mDh over the ancient capital Of the Azfees and
le stored halls Of Moniezuma, then L was
al the verdict Of enlightened civflization /
as pronounced in cur favor, and We stood 4
nth in our fun and fair proportions. the
esh, young, strong. conquering and unc0n- I
nerable giant 81 the Western hemisphere.
To Texans, the war with Mexico must ever ,
! . subject Of peculiar and esDecial iniererl. ]
scause II was TIE natural II not inevitable I
lnssuuence o. Tens rebellion aad Texan IN 4 Z
r,ar.1nrre With nnneraffnrl -rrrs1, fI.r 81 1 J
~ az the CnIon, q national war. soorer az | l
l6r. vas bound % follow. il Wns nof 70 81 I I
peeled hat Mexico, With all he pride and I