The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1874-01-31
STATE PRIDE-ITs VALUE AND ITS
JUsTIFICATION.

JUSTIFlCATION.
Most of the older States have ha
their distinct historians. Connecticr
had Trumbull, South Carolina had tn
elder land justly celebrated Ramse,
! Alabama had Pickett, Kentucky ha
Mann Butler, Missouri had Alphons
Wetmore, Louisiana had Charles Ga
zarre, Tennessee (the best of all Stat
histories) had the younger Ramsey
Texas has had Foote, Yoakum AM
others, and Illinois had Rev. James II
Peck.
We have read most of the State his
tories named and several others, ant
through them chiefly we have been LEI
to honor the memory of the frs
! founders of each of those States. 1t Il
II part of our nature to honor andrevert
the men who, taking life at hazard
20 into the savage wildernessand, witt
rifles lashed to their shoulders and axes
in their hands, lay the foundations
for civilization, hospitality, comfort
abundance and religion where before
ali was bowling, savage waste. We
can have neither patience with, nor re-
spect for, men who do not appreciate
and honor such heroism.
We hold that State pride, in con-
federated government like ours, Is a
noble sentiment. Show us any State
whose people have no State pride, ami
we will show you a spirltless people.
Show us an Irishman who is ashamed
of his native country, and we will show
you degenerate son of his native soil,
despised by his countrymen in the
United States. Show us a German who
is ashamed of his Fatherland and we
will show you man like old HI,
in Galveston, in 1865, willing, fol
money, to manufacture brass knuckles
to be used in abusing his own country
men.
No! people who have no State
pride must be low spirited.
Admit these general facts, which all
enlightened and generous minds will
readily do, and it follows by the inflex-
ible verdict of history that Texans
have as much title to proper State
pride as any new people of modern
times.
The sober truths of our history take
rank in interest with the romance Of
history in older countries. From the
first effort to plant American civiliza
ton on the soil of Texas, fifty-thre'
years ago, to this date, not year has
passed in which there has not been an
illustration of heroism. virtue and self
denial worthy of the golden days OF
Rome and the heroic days of Greece.
Where on earth but in Texas, has
there been an Alamo? Where, in
modern times, has there been scene
like Fannin's massacre? In what
country, since the dark.ages, has there
been such scenes as the battle ofSalado
and Dawson's massacre in 1912, crowned
by the battle of Mier on Christmas day
of the same year? Or what event in
history, proportioned to its magnitude,
produced such results as San Jacinto?
In what country on earth has open-
hearted hospitality had such an abid-
ing place as in Texas? Name the
place or country. In what State or
country have there been SO few di-
vorces of husband wife? In what
country so few illegitimate births, or
so universally virtuous women? In
what land in the old world or the new
has woman been respected, elevated,
cherished and honored more than on
the soil of Texas? We challenge an
answer, and refer with pride to history
and statistics to sustain us in asserting
our preeminence on the points named.
Then, practically, when the young
father and mother are training their
first born, whether a native or adopted
child of Texas, is it not only right but
a solemn duty to instil into its mind
and engraft upon its breast rational
feeling of State pride? We hold that
1t is, and no State cat long rank as
great whose parents ignore their duty.
We can be proud of our.State as Tex
ians, and proud of our nationality as
Americans, with entire consistency.
But local OF State pride must be the
chief corner stone of all high toned,
chivalrous citizenship. So believing,
we shall on all proper occasions en-
deavor, through the columns of THE
DALLAS HERALD, to send out to the
youth of this country such truthful in
formation in regard to our origin, rise
and progress as State as may seem
best calculated to mculcate a sound
well-grounded and national State pride
No State ever had nobler pioneers
bigger hearted citizens, or more valiant
soldiers. We feel il and, so so far as
we are concerned, the rising and future
generations shall know it, that the,
may shape their lives in consonancs
with such glorious antecedents.
HONORABLE.
The Hon. C. c. Binkley, FISHERMAN
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