The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-07-26
PRAlSING THE PIONEER.
AN ADDRESS TO OLD TEXANS
Delivered by Mr. Robert Il. L. Knight
at tho Late Meeting of the County
Society, Held at Shady
View Park, Dallas

At the exercises of the old settlers,
or Pioneers meeting, on the 10th
instant, among those named for
addresses was Mr.. Robert Il. Knight
Subsequently resolution was passed
asking Mr.. Knight to furnish the
same for publication. Following is
the address:
Venerated Pioneers OF Texas.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:--As you
have just been advised, am de
scendant of one OF the early pioneers
of Texas; to me a proud boast-my
richest legacy. To address an assem-
bly, SO revered as this, is a privilege
overtowering my most exalted aspira-
lions, yet, 1t Ia all the more appreciated
because so kindly proffered. And il
is with a profund. appreciation Of the
distinguished honor conferred, and q
heart full of gratitude that accept.
Since the effulgent sun of Christian
Independence burst the bsnighted
spell OF Pagan darkness, which had
through dreary ages shackled the idol
atrous Orient, it has been a beautiful
custom of civilized nations to COM
memorate with appropriate ceremonies
whether it DO the Olympian games
Of Greece, the Saturnslia of Rome, or
the festal revelry of the modern celo.
bration-the proud deeds of their he
ross, the great achievements of their
sages and patriots. In perpetuatiOn
of this time.honored custom, we are
assembled hero to-day, to pour fourth
in purest strains Of rejoicing, the
treasured reverence of our souls in
lauding the virtues of Texas pioneers,
both the living aud the dead. My
friends, history records not q Drawer, q
truer, more ardent self-sacrificlng,
God-fearing, and liberty-loving PEG.
pie than the immortal pioneers of
Texas. AS soldiers of the cross, and
as benefactors Of the human race, they
rank second only to the Pilgrim Faith
ers. Their early privations and toils,
their terrific struggles tor life and lib
erty; withal, their uncompromising in
tegrity, steeled courage, lofty patriot.
ism and sincere piety Is ono of the
subllmest records that guild the pages
OF history. They were not d rapaciOus
people, deserving the land OF their
birth for conquest and plumber In for
eign lands; but they were actuatod
hence by the purest motives that over
fired the volition of man. They quilted
the blooming folds OF their chilhood,
and sunny climes OF their birth, that
they might better their temporal con-
dition, and worship God according TO
the dictates OF their own conscience,
To do this, wisely did they seek
land far from the toeming haunts of
men,unpollqted by the countless vices
that are identified with the moro
densely populated portions of the
earth. Hence, they came to this fair
and beautiful land, where all was ioy
and peace; and where the purest at.
mosphere Of love and liberty was ever
prevalent. IT'S true, pioneers, you on
Dyed not the finer luXuries Of civiliza
ton; but II was not yours 10 suffer the
untold calamities Issuing therefrom.
Ills true, your daughter was deprived
OF the gaud aud tinsslry that ombell-
iShod the moro fashionable circles oil
the interior; but within hOr honest
breast palpitated the purest, the truest
heart. Sho bowed not at che hollow
shrine OF heartless fashion, but the
proper culture of her soul and intellect
was her hourly Thought, her all-ab-
s0rbing theme, Your society was sim-
pie; but pure. Your daughter enter
talned her company in tho parlor, in
stead Of the outer darkness OF night,
lounging on the front steps or swing
ing on the back gate. You are tho
fatbsrs and mothers of bravo sons aud
dalr daughters, and you taught them
that Tor tho severe struggle OF life
their armour should DO more than
mere glitter ana splash. You taught
them that life was not a ball room,
whore the music decides the step, ana
that bow and place and graceful
swing oil long trails COuld not make up
for common sense. Therefore, you
reared not masculine grasshoppsrs
and feminine butterflies, but gallant
sons and lovely daughters have bless.
cd you. No Haunting, broad display
OF Tustling LOUNGES marked the gem
Ito airs of your dutiiul daughter; but
like the soft breeZes OF tho light.
winged May, she glidod gently,
smoo hly on, her simple duties to per-
form. She scoined, too, TO yield her
slender waist to the treacherous arms
OF designing strangers, In the giddy
whirl of the ma2y dance, that she
might please the distompered taste of
sentimental SWANS. As your dgugh-
tefH were modest and dutiiul, so your
sons were brave and true. Their aspl-
rations, thank God, ran higher than
flaming necktie, toothpick shoes aud
silk caps. Nor did they possess the
-proseging procliviues of that
filthy stripping that infesis modern
society, familiarity known as tho foo!
For that irresponsible, soft.handed,
soft-headed, ever-to be-pitied institu
ton called the dude, with his hair part
cd directly In tba centre, according TO
the compass aud the minuteat maine.
NAUTICAL accuracy; his pants drawn as
tight around his pipestems as the bark
on hickory limb;so highly perlumed
that the ofdoriiic emcnations from his
exquisite form are moro shilling TO the
sense OF a gentleman than the musk OF
a skunk; who can Loaf all day on
street corner, and earnestly discuss In
nnitesimal nothings They entertained
the tenderest compassion. Nor were
the sons aud daughters or pioneers,so
lar advanced In family ethics as to al.
dress their tndulgent parents az the
old man and the old woman. The plo- |
hV'f~ Noao y nONpltholo people, Ino |
doO1s of their humble dwellings were |
always open TO their friends, as we'll |
as to the iriendless stranger, and toll |
worn wayfarer. Their bounty, tits |
true, consisted not OF the rarest deli. |
oacies, nut IL was abundant In Its sub. |
stsntlai.y. They nursod the sick, fed |
the hungry, clothed the naked, and |
did aims TO the distressed wherever
found. They, too, were an honest peo.
pie. They sought not to rob their fol. |
lowmen, either legally or illegally. In
those days, society was purified 10
such u high degree that it was ever
safe to consider n man a gentlemen,
until he proved himself otherwise; but
now you are compelled TO consider all
men tscoundrels until they redeem
themselves In your estimation. In
those days when pampered trlcks,er, |
taking advantage OF that abominatlon |
OF our statutes--the bankrupt law
robbed his toiling minions OF their
hard.earned gains, he WAS immedi. |
ately arraigned before the bar of pub. |
lie sontimont, branded as thief and |
accommodated from the holy saora |
ment of decent society. But now, how
changed With his spells, his ll.got. |