The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-09-14
TEXAS CENTENNIAL GRAFTON BY
GOV. n. b. HUBBARD, OF TEXAS.
Delivered at the National Expedition at
PhiladelPhis Sept. Al, 1876.
Mr.. President and Gentlemen of the

s. Centennial C0rnDltssSon:
Nearly two centuries ago the Sienu. de Ia
Sale, brave and gallant knight of France,
crossed the Atlantic in ships of war, and
planted on the shores of the bay of Mata-
gorda, in the wilderness of Texas, the
standards of his king and the cross.
Searching for the mouth of the Mississip-
pi, his sails were borne westward of the
great river, and landing, his followers
erected, from their own wrecked vessels,
the first human habitations for white men
ever known before in that strange country,
bordering on the land of the ancient AZ
tees and the Montezumss. This bold
French navigator had, three years before,
passed down the Mississippi to its mouth,
and borne bacl: to his sovereign the roman
tic story of the great inland water and Its
majestic entrance to the sea.
After thirty years, the colony of La Sale,
through mutiny, desertion and pestilence,
and at last by the msrtyrdom of their he
roic leader, passed away to live only in the
traditions of the centuries to follow.
The kingdom of Spain then succeeded to
the possession, by armed occupation, of all
that splendid empire, once under tie eyes
of the eagles OF France, east Of Mexico and
west of the "Father of Waters" From
1715. and more than century thereafter,
Texas remained the subject of the Spanish
crown, and until the revolution which sew
cred Mexico from the mother country. Our
history during all these years-down to the
early part of the nineteenth century-bears
no fruits of civilization, no trophies of war,
or the ''aTts of peace" The only relief to
this picture, the. only CLEAN of sunshine in
this long and weary night, were the labors
ard oaori6oaa If dauofed Hhriofiop man on6
women, who erected temples to God in the
solitudes OF the desert and died for the
faith. The ruins of these old missions still
stand on the banks of the San Antonio and
near ancient Gcliad-glorions monuments
of Christian heroism of men and the piOus
and deathless Gdelity Of woman to the
Cross, centuries ago.
The shackles of Spanish snd Mexican des-
potism, Texas, more than forty years ago,
burst asunder, ard through the blood and
storm of battle walked forth into the light
Of new dsy--bearing on brow and bosom
the scars of the conflict between the OPP
pressed and the oppressor. Since that day,
her political history IL known to the elder
generation OF these States, IL not to the ma
lions of the earth. 1t was wonderful and
heroic history, that Of q deeply-wropged
people struggling against the treachery of
the knaVa and the tyranny of the despot--
an unequal contest of fifty thousand against
eight million Of people; contest waged
by ragged soidiery in poverty and hunger
poor in purse, but rich in yalor apd forti-
tude and devotion which, amid burning
homes, rapine and plumber. was willing to
die for their country rather than sue for
dishonorable peace, or kiss the rod which
smote them to the. earth-a contest which
bore upon its bosom, and to the front. the
great heroic names of Houston and Rusk
aud Lamar aud WhsFton and Sherman and
their eOnfrers, who. like Cardigan at Ba.
laklava, rode down to death spd victory at
San Jacinto. On that historic 6ele-re-
Numbering Golisd and the Alsmo-inde-
pendepce was won aud the Republic OF
Texas ives born unto the free nations oi
the earth.
For nearly seven sesrs she maintained a
separate nationality, and was so recognized
by the great powers. Her struggle was
not on SO grand theater as was that glo
rious seven years revolution of our fore
fathers, nor ives il illustrated by noblei
fields than Bunker Hill and Saratoga OIL
Yorktown, nor by grandsr fortitude than
that which stood by Washington and his
army amid the SHOWS Of VALLEY Forge,
stained by the blood of their naked feet.
But We do glory in the fact, my country
men, that our Independence was achieved
by no ''holY alliance" Of emperors OIL
kings, and that 10 ''trod the wine press'
and won the victory aions. In the darkest
hours of the Revelation, France, with La
fayette. came TO your aid. and her gallant
soldiers followed Washington 81 Monmouth
...1 81
ures tilled your scanty Golfers, sud her ship,
bore down to your relief, through the
tempests Of the ocean. No foreign greet
ing came 70 she struggling army of Thirty
siA, and no voice Of Kindly recognition
came to us til gfter our )nfi.et WsA ended,
and the vic. DRY was wonl
Mr.. President, you have asked, and my
State has commissioned me to speak of 0slI
AissDry, our present. and our hopes Tor the
future. ! would not be true to that history.
did not remind you Of the fact that Texsa,
free and iadspsRdsnf. not from fear or force,
bat because OF her ancestral love and blood,
sought place in the American Union. She
was descended from the same English.
speaking and liberty-aoving people. and her
struggle was for the same great principles
Of free government.
As the apple of Newton, in physics, tsll
to the earth, 20 the young RepebIic gravl-
tated to the bosom Of the Father Land.
You purchased with gold, from lettering
dynasties, Florida and Louisiana, out Of
which have been carved other common
wealths. now sparkling like jewels in your
Other nations, al along through the
ages, have extended their ares By bloody
eooquests. In the eternal war Of The strong
apon tha weak. The great republic did
not purchases Texas with either gold or
blood.
Il vail be rems1nbeked too-it is part Of
the history Of those stormy times-tkst al
ready BnSlsDd bad proposed q become euF