The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1880-01-22
"A LITTLE TEXAS EARTH ON
NV BREAST

Johnston might nave risen IN lame, ana 4
We all had confidence in his dong so,
but he died too soon, as Stonewsll |
Jackson died too soop, for US to say
what he would have done under the
alter and altered conditions Of the
war" Southern leaders have been
in placing Johnston in the
very front rank OF generals and military
heroes. His strategy at Shiloh, and
the ease with which he crushed the
magnificent Federal army at MAJ
sssas, entitle him to fame won as a gen.
eral, but it is largely due to his moral
excellence that good men of all par
ties have respected and admired the
character of Gen. Johnston, even
when they do not love his cause. A
contemporary says of him that he had
grand equipoise of qualities which en-
abled him serenely to judge men and
events in the clear, white light Of
truth. To these he added charity so
broad that 1t took in foes as well as
friends. His death was owing to this
forgetfulness of self. He compelled
his own surgeon to leave him in order
to give succor to wounded Federal
prisoners. His integrity was spotless.
Johnston was d worthy officer in the
army of the United States previous to
the war; in fact, he had the highest
rank among the elective officers Of the
army, and was even offered its chief
command. He had said many years
before, that az the call of Texas he
would return to her service. He had
even refused 10 surrender his citizen
ship to gain an important lawsuit, put
ting its franchise above price. His
only request as to burial was ga little
Texas earth might rest upon my
breast" and, true to his request,
the Confederate government had
the great chieftain's remains
brought to Texas, and they lie
within the sandy hill beyond Waller
creek, covered, just as the hero hoped
they would be, only with a little
Texas earth"
Some time ago the STATESMAN men,
toned the fact that Mrs. Rutherford, of
Houston, had small sum of money
that she had raised, two or three years
ago, at time when general PROPOSE
ton was made that the women of Tex
as provide a fund to be used in appro-
J priately marking the spot where rests
the remains of Johnston. Had nine
other persons raised the same sum
each that was raised by this one, there
would have been provided total OF
oyer $1,000 for the purpose named, but
there was only flourish with several
grand ideas presented, while only this
S101 was ready for tomb-builder.
Not long ago, learning that:this sum had
be en- kept deposited in Houston bank
for its original purpose, and that Mrs.
r. proposed to ladies of Austin that
they take it and add enough
to it to place monumen;
oyer the grave of Johnston,
the STATESMAN made free to
mention the facts, and to suggest the
propriety of Austinians at once doing
something in the premises. There
-u.As-A naihnr A,ifAr-and- then a coll
the pockets of these people. One gen.
tleman,of course, proposed, when q
few hundred dollars were talked
about, to make it ten or twenty thou
send dollars, and one lady said cheap
thing would not do, that 1t, must be
something grand: and then an aspir-
ant for oratorlcsl fame wanted lee
turing tour insugurated, by which he
dreamed that dollars could be gathered
in from all portions of the State, and
that thus Johnston's grave might be
covered with grand msusoleum.
And so the weighty propositions, as
they always do, broke down the light
ones, and not dollar left its sweet
resting place in pocketbook or port
monte. Probably it was thought that
the ''little Texas earth" honered John
ston enough. Well, it is pure, and he
loved purity and simplicity, and Texas
earth. His spirit no doubt rscoiled at
the propositions to weigh the earth
with vast structures over these mortal
remains, while other patriots rested
there with no sign of recognition. The
rays of the early morning sun strikes
the crest of the hill where lies John
ston's remains with a gentle, mellow
touch, and again at even tide the great
day orb tints the spot with the gsyest
ruby hues. Then the moons soft hight
kisses the spot, and the stars sweetly
look down upon 1t, while dew drops
molsten blades of grass that are nour-
ished by the '.little Texas earth" that
rests upon the hero's bosom. Nature
builds modestly, and, after al, the i'm
mortal spark may cherish natures sim
plicity more than it would appreciate
architectural grandeur, with which
these people are SO eager to mark the
spot.