The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-04-22

pledulng ana practlce. lneSe were pre-
sented to the Nineteenth legislature by
the learned judges composing the court
of appeals, but the ax-grinders permitted
these intelligent recommendations to fail
of enactment through inaction. 1t is not,
however, of this that it is now designed to
speak. First of all, the labor imposed on
the two courts is too hard, and exacting.
The state must either reestablish an ad-
junct court, similar to the late commits
sion of appeals, or, what is preferable, in
crease the number of judges. We have
recently seen an ornament of the supreme
bench, citizen of Austin, stricken
dopn in the maturity of his powers,
by the wearing demands of his position.
What is now true of him will be true of
others of the two superior courts, unless
their burdens are lightened. Again, the
salaries of these positions are entirely dis
proportioned to the dignity and respon-
sibility of the offices, and to the amount
of labor performed, The great state of.
Texas is not a niggard to stint its SER
wants. If so let its places of honor and
trust be farmed out by contract or let to
the lowest bidder If present salaries are
adhered to, one of two things will follow:
Either the judicial offices will be filled by
lawyers who have Independent incomes,
or by political hacks who have nothing to
lose. Certainly any lawyer whose attain
ments entitle him to this elevation is able.
to earn more than $3.50 per annum.
This is depression from the original sub
ject, but San Jacinto day is a good day
for telling the truth, and these observa-
tions are known to be true by every
thoughtful man in the state.
AS before said, the S. r. found two
judges laboriously sitting bills of excep-
tions for merits which the court below
had failed to find Not wishing to dis
turb the consultation, look around the
room was taken for objects of interest
In one corner of the room was seen
historic stone, which had before, to this
gazer been but memory absorbed from
history. The form of the stone is that
of truncated pyramid, and its history
may be read in the following inscriptions.
On what may be termed the dedicatory
side is the following;
"To THE COP OF THE FEARLESS AND
FREE is DEDIoTED THIS ALTAR, MADE FROM
THE Ruins OF THE ALAMO"
In these burning words, reverence for an
overruling Providence and deathless
patriotism are the prominent features.
Turning the stone to the left, the next
side is thus inscribed;
''BLooD OF HEROES HATH STAINED Me:
LET THE STONES OF THE ALAMO SPEAK,
THAT THEIR IMMoLATIoN DE NOT For
GOTTEN"
"Stones of the Aamor They speak
to-day, and will continue to speak until
the Rio Grande retraces its course to the
mountains that gave it BIRTH
Turning still further this inscription is
) found
"BE They ENROLLED WITH LEoNIDAs IN
> THE HosT OF THE MIGHTY DEAD"
The muse of history will send the names
of Travis, Crockett and their
compatriots sounding down the ages"
{ as long as there is left a native or adopted
4 son of Texas to bequeath her his
blessings.
d On the last side of this quadrilateral
stone are these sad words:
"rHERMopY1AE HAD IT'S MEssENGER OF DE-
FEAT; THE ALAMO HAD NONE"
J, No, not one of that devoted band sur
yived to tell to the startled settlers its
, mournful story Thermopylm has been en-
, balmed in story anG in song, yet it was a
sacrifice to prevent the interruption of a
heathenish mummery. The Alamo was q
voluntary immolation of patriots, who
| died in all the grandeur of accepted death;
of heroes who in their hearts despised
fate and
''pREFERRED DEATH TO SURRENDER"
That mute stone is volume of history,
{ 1t tells of sacrifices made and priyations
s endured; it tells of days and nights of
+ weary waiting for the help which was not
+ to come, land grander for than all, it tells
v at the last how sublime thing it is for
d man to die for man. IL speaks with an
& eloquence unattainable by orator or bard
o "Tully was not half so eloquent as thou,
o Thou nameless column with buried base. w.
\ This stone is part of the monument
- which stood in the vestibule of the old
II capitol and with the exception of a
;. globular stone which capped the monu-
II ment, is the only portion of that historic
, work of art which survived the destruc-
e tion of the building by fire in 1882. These
n two relics of Texas age of chivalry were
!. rescued from the burning building by
y Presiding Justice John p. White, of the
o court of appeals, in whose watchful care
. :, they now await deposit in the museum OF
70 the new capitol, when that edifice shall
a have been completed and turned over tc
"a the state. There is that in our common
n nature which does not permit us to pass
unmoved over any spot which has beer
,e illustrated by valor or dignified by patri
n otsm The voiceless stone has been to
|, the newsgatherer more potent invoca
"a ton to a warmer patriotism than the
"a tongues of myriad of babbling orators