The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1882-06-08

the FAMILY OF me Downs ana even the great
pampered French merino, rest where they are
let them wear blue ribbons if they will, for
tickling the palate Of the epicure and filling
the stomach of the gourmand.
We with our little merino grader will be
content to clothe the backs Of the sons and
daughters of America from the chilling wintry
blast, for many years yet to come, and pocket
their shining gold and silver in return therefor
Now then to accomplish this object and con.
duct the business as we do in Texas, we must
have constitution and wool, and where, under
the broad canopy Of heaven that covers every
cline, can there be an animal found to surpass
or even equal our American merino, descended
from the pure Spanish blood, in these two
grand prerequisites? No sheep on earth pro.
duces so great fleece of wool in proportion to
ca cass and amount of food consumed, and as
to constitution no sheep on earth has and will
stand the vicisstudes Of climate, with change
and scarcity of feed as does this same little,
independent comical animal. Why, you may
travel him over thirty degrees of latitude or
more, from north to south and from south
back north again, as high as fifty or fifty.two
degrees. stop the train or the ship, place him
on terra hrma, give him time to take good
breath of the air of his new climate, and he
will about face, commit an assault and battery
himself acclimated and ready for business.
power to stamp his progeny to such a marked
degree with his own peculiar characteristics as
the merino ram.
Then, gentleman, in this animal, for our
business in Texas, our every want is concen-
trated.
Wool and constitution among our flocks
being first considerations, we will stick to the
Spanish merino blood perfected in our pres
ent magnificent American merino.
And should our business ever be brought
low, and we reduced to povety, by the abroga-
ton of the tariff on foreign woods, and our
little plucky merno, our truest and best friend
to-day, shall be laid aside as cast off gar
ment that has served its day and time, and be
supplanted by the great mutton producing
breeds, our government no longer willing to
protect the growing of his splendid silky
fleece, but preferring to buy from ranches far
beyond the great waters, then, my friends, we
will prove that wool growers can be grateful.
We will not forget the noble little fellow, who,
in making our fortunes, also made the barren
rocks and non-producing hills, vallees, and
canyons of southwest Texas blossom with
gold, by diffusing his blood among the worth
less hordes of Mexican sheep from the Rio
oiduuC " TIC NOAOIduO IlNCI, duu even DC.
yond, and who has made the state of Texas
rich by raising her wild lands from Is cents to
two dollars per acre.
Then forget such friend? No. But should
such dire calamity ever overtake him and US
as free trade, then, as last tribute to his de-
parting glory, l propose that we all have a
grand roundup away out west, in some lonely
and secluded spot on the banks of the Rio
Grande, and chant in solemn grief death
dirge over his past usefulness, and our ruined
fortunes, and then and there erect monument
to his memory that may tell to generation
of free traders yet unborn what the wool-bear
ing merino has done for Texas, the United
States, and her sister republic across the
river, under wise system Of protection, and
what they have lost by not protecting the
growth of his fleece.
But, gentlemen, this is only burlesque of
future possibilities, gloomy picture, indeed,
which for Gods sake, l would not have you
believe or accept.
We have met here for pleasant, social and
business intercourse, and business generally has
been extremely prosperous. And far be from
me to utter a word that will cast gloom over
our bright future, on this occasion. For. in
truth, am among those who do not believe
that any man in this convention will live to
see the day when free trade will completely
triumph in America and ruin the many festered
industries which are to-day making US ma
ton great and rich.