The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-04-27

lion and laws, aud through them to advance the
honor and interests of the State. and tie pros
periry ana happiness OF the people,
inaugural Addres. of L eaIenaut Gov
ernOr Hubbard.
Fsllon citizens, Senator's and Representd-
tices-'rhe highest tribute to the wisdom of
republican institutions is the simplicity of
their laws and the absence of ''pomp and
in their administration.
When in Kingdoms and empires new
rulers, whose only claim to power is traced
back to the loins of some rude conqueror,
are called to the helm of State the event is
celebrated by the expenditure OF millions
Of treasure grgng from pOverty-stricken
subjects, while bontires and illuminations
and martial array attend upon the corona
ton day. Under Our Constitution and laws
how grand the contrast and how infinite
ly superior to all this vain and transitory
mockery Of royalty rises The genius of con-
stltutional lIberty-when, with confding
trust, the only pledge the republic asks Of
her officers aud representatives entering
upon the high places OF power is the simple
oath to administer her laws faithfully and
in the fear of God. In the name of the
people, the source of all legitimate power,
and with this sacred pledge, freely offered
upon her altar, We enter again willingly
upon her service,
Called to assist ia the executive depart
ment OF the State government by political
majority OF more than Il hundred thousand
OF her citizens, in this great presence of
their representatives, we acknowledge with
profound gratitude the confidence which
that voice implies, and beg to assure our
countrymen in return that the trust shall
be held as sacred as our life and Our fdell-
ty to her honor Know no ''variahieIess or
shadow of turning"
The past belongs TO history. We cannot
undo its deeds il we would. The part many
of us have borne in the hOnored councils
of ate must abide the criticisms-some-
times sharp and bitter-oi our contempt
rarles and the cislner arbitrament of pos
terity. if f4Gt .4..
Claiming no exemption, fellow citizens,
from the errors of human alignment, or the
fralitles of our race, we feel that generous
people will throw the mantle of forgetful-
ness over the honest mistakes of their pub
lie servants if, in that service, there has
always been kept in view, Ike polar star to
watchful sailors on the sea, an unyelding
and ever-burning devotion to the honor and
prosperity and glory IF Texas-.T, xas, an
dteided now, henceforth and forever.
The present administration, of which
your distinguished bodies constitute an
honorable part, looking back over the trials
and triumphs of the recent years-to the
last crowning achievement of 1S76-cannot
be just to its friends or itself, unless, at the
same time, generous to our foes, conceding
that mere differences of opinion are not in
consistent with common love for State and
country. Ha r.E.t .H
Recognizing in its full force the changed
relation of these States and of this State to
the Federal government, and renting to
the tribunal OF history the ca1ses which
led in bitterness and in strife to these
changes; and believing, as we do, that
the political faith we espouse has been
handed down from the fathers; that 1t
recognizes in a broad and national spirit
the Constitution as it Is j; fidelity to the
Union, and obedience to It's laws, enbrac-
ing alike forty millions of people, native or
foreign born, rich or poor, as our common
coUntrymen, wherever floats, on land or
wave, the flag of our country.
In this spirit to-day We invite the earnest
cooperation of all parties and of all races
in our common purpose to develop our re-
sources, built up the shattered fortunes,
reclaim the waste places, and to prepare the
way for the coming of that period in her
history when Texas shall take her place the
peer, if not peerless among all the sister
hood of States. Our children will live to
see that day, as their fathers even now catch
glimpse of its splendid dawning. We
have but to be true to our vows made upon
her affairs, to realize this rich fruition, ere
this generation is gathered to their
fathers Forty years ago, scarcely fifty
Thousand population, poor and friendless,
constituted her household, while to-day
nearly two millions of people are standing
sentinel within her gates. Then she had no
commerce, only now and then some stray
sail of the sea found its way into her waters.
Now she sends more than six hundred thou
sand bales of cotton to the worlds
markets and receives in return mil
lions of treasure; she sends wheat and
all the cereals even to Kansas and Missouri
and the great Northwest and supplies in her
cattle-trade ten millions of meat stuffs in
value; she has now growing cities of the
inland and marts on the sea, at whose
wharVes ships of all nations ride at anchor,
freighted with ncilly-ldden argosies; wealth
and enterprise have built and arc building
thousands OF miles railway, connecting
US with distant States; digging ship chan
nels even now TO our inland ports, through
which ocean steamships will come and go.
taxable property of three hundred mil
hons OF vaiue--a right rlyal heritage of
eighty millions of public lands, with untold
mineral wealth sleeping III their bosom, ana
a soil as generous as ever rewarded the
husbandnan for his toil-with this and
pictures such rs these of our re0t Ifs, why
should We, on day and in year like
this, not rejoice at the splendid strides we
have thus FIR made while only yet in the
manhood of our yearsl Such heritage
and such prospect impose grave responsi-
blities upon each department of the govern
ment. Material wealth atone constitutes
but a small element of the greatness of a
State. Let US, therefore, continue to in
cucate rs government the widest dissem-
lnatiOn of Intelligence among the people,
respect Tor public and private virtue and
faithful obedience to the laws. The execu-
tive, legislative and judicial departments
of the State government are utterly power
less IN their execution of the laws for the
preservation Of public order and the pun
ishment crime uni, IS fearlessly supported
IN their high places
Codes, and courts, laws and lawmakers
are but things of straw before the breath
of the mob unless sustained by the virtue
In conclusion, my fellog-citizens, / can
not permit this occasion to pass away from
the memory of men without invoking a re-
newed devotion on this anniversary year,
to our common country. 10 the spirit of
patriots and Statesmen let us remember that
Notwithstanding the bitter memories of the
past, its quarrcls and arrangements, we are
still ONE people, descended from the same
great ancestry sneakinrr the same Isnonaoa
ard inheriting the same love for liberty,
and should go forward hand in hand to
meet the same glorious destiny.
1t is true that the fierce war. from which
We have emerged as from a furnace, cut
down the best and brsvest of our comrades
and brothers, our ires and sons of either
section. But they died not in vain. Wheth-
er wearing the blue or wearing the gray,
their lives were offered up freely as libations
Of water for what each dying soldier
deemed for the RIGHT and for natice land !