The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1875-05-13
THE OLD SOLDIERS ON THE STREET
AND WHAT 1T SIGNIFIES.

There are many sunburnt, gray-bearded
old soldiers in the city to-day Many of
them have not seen Austin since 1867.
Then they moved towards the Mexican
capital, and now they meet to con over
events of more than a quarter of century
ago Then Austin was a little village,
Texas an insignificant State, save in its
boundless capacity for greatness, and the
whole country was full of progressive
strength and peace and prosperity and
hopefulness. Great changes have been
wrought and mighty gulf separates events
and memories of 1867 from those of 1875.
Most of those who shared in the war in
Mexico and still survive have taken part
in subsequent more terrible conflict,
and the incidents and facts of two
wars will be discussed to-day by
these vigorous veterans, who look back
nearly thirty years when they recall delights
by camp fires that once lighted up the way
from Vera Cruz to the City of Mexico, or
from Resaca de la Palma to Buena Vista
Everywhere in all this broad land, just at
this juncture, there is strong tendency to
look backward and revive old memories.
The close of the first century of Federal
life induces the whole country to scan the
course of events, and American history has
value in the eyes of the people and of
patriotism never before confessed. There
are no old soldiers to tell of what they saw
and did in the war whose memories are to
be celebrated next year throughout Amer
lea, and especially in Philadelphia, and
very few to recall the events of
1925, but most of these veterans
whom we meet to-day have seen soldiers
who served under Washington, and thus
there is single direct link connecting the
soldiers of the two eras in American his
tory, but when the next centennial of 1876
is celebrated, there will be no man living
who has seen Washington, and perhaps not
one who had seen a hero of the then half
forgotten war of 1S4G-7 with Mexico. But
the recollection of the gallant deeds of
these soldiers should not be suffered to die.
Tradition as well as books should tell the
story of their lives and deaths, and that
posterity may not forget, celebrations
like this of to-day should recur with each
successive year. Gallant deeds of brave old
men thus hallowed by time, ever frightened
by the touch of history and poetry
and eloquence, such as that to which we
listen to-day, becomes an heirloom in each
household, and children, ever contemplat-
ing it, become of necessity worthy of the
fame and deeds of their forefathers. The
saddest, dreariest, darkest day that can ever
dawn upon Texas will be recognized by pa
triotism when the sun floods plains, rivers
and prairies in splendid effulgence on these
anniversaries that distinguish Texan his
tory, and the press, telling the story of the
ol6en time, tells that on this day, in a
by-gone age, our soldiers won San Jacinto
or Buena Vista, and yet there are no bon
fires or illuminations, no professions, no
funereal honors rendered the memories of
the illustrious dead, no peans of praise
lavished upon the names of those thronging
to-day the thoroughfares of the Texan capi-
tai.