The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-04-06
EVERGREEN, CEDAR BAYOU, !

harrls TO-, leXas, Jan. Zs, 'oz.
The Hon. Francis r. Lubbock, Formerly Gov
ernor Of Texas:
My DEAR GovERNoR-Ih have read
with great interest your letter of
the 22d instant, on the movement
formerly set Oh foot tor " the erec-
ton of a monument to the heroes of
San Jacinto." The facts and con-
siderations mentioned in your let
ter revive dear and cherished men,
ories of eventful times in the early
history of Texas, and of the
manly spirits since taken away, who
achieved its independence, and who
laid solid and wisely the founda-
tions of this great state.
Your recollection of facts is strict
ly accurate. The enterprise of erect
ing a monument to the heroes of
San Jacinto originated and was or
ganized on the field of San Jacinto,
by the side OF the graves of the
brave men who laid down
their lives on that great battle
field for freedom of thought, free
dom of speech, and for the right of
self-government. The blood shed
there redeemed this broad land of
Texas from the insecurity Of person
and property, and from the tyranny
of Mexican misrule, aud consecrated
it forever as the abode of law-abid-
ing freemen.
1t is eminently fitting that you
should revive the plan for erecting
this monument, tor you were
conspicuous in its origin
and in its organization
and thanks are justly due you for
reviving the plan with the funds
formerly contributed: unimpaired.
AS you intimate, was chairman of
of the committee of which you were
treasurer, chosen for the erection of
the monument. 1t may, therefore,
be permitted to me to speak conf
IDENTIFY of the accuracy of your rec
elections.
1t seems that some person has
questioned, at one time, the wisdom
of you holding the monument funds
in hand instead of investing them
for such interest as might have ac-
crued. Your course has been emil
nently judicious. The funds are in-
tact, instead of existing in the shape
of bankrupt, worthless bonds. The
contributors showed their estimate
of yourself in appointing as treas
urer q gentleman of honesty and
judgment.
You suggest the, inquiry, where
IIthe monument should be placed.
Unquestionably either on the field
where the battle was fought, over
looking the graves of the buried
dead, or in the capitol of Texas now
about to be erected in Austin, in
some conspicuous pOcition, as CEN
trally in a hall or rotunda. Your
suggestion as to who or whose
wishes shall decide this matter of
location, strikes one very favorably.
1t is surely fitting that the surviving
veterans, who are to meet in April
at Waco, should decide where the
memorial monument of San Jacinto
shall be placed. 1t is my fixed pur-
pose to be present at the meeting.
While considering the revival of
the proposed erection of a monu-
ment to the heroes of San
Jacinto we may be INDUCED
in single reflection, even
in private letter like the present,
on the great and lasting Importance
of that battle. Thoughtful men who
look at history beyond dry details of
arithmetical and chronological facts,
rate battles by their enduring i'm
portance and especially by their
practical influence on the social and
political condition of countries and
of peoples. 1t is not the number of
killed and wounded in a battle that
determines its importance, but the
practical merits which flow from it.
We can now, my dear governor,
speculate surely on what would have
been this broad land of Texas
had Santa Anna been victorious
on the field of San Jacinto
The wholesale massacre of Goliad
tells US that Santa Anna would
have executed to its bitter end his
threat to put to death every man,
woman and child west of the Sabine
who could iabber English. Had
Santa Anna conquered, this
great state of Texas, with its
territory, civilized hundreds
of thousands, millions, of to-
day and in the near future with its
bright promise of abounding pros
perity would have remained a silent
wilderness, in which wild buffalo
and wilder Indians would have
roamed. Where railroad trains no W
sweep along by cultivated fields and
through prosperous cities, the white
man would continue to-day to trl-
verse 1t as he then did, well