Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-12-20

wisdom of the Twentieth legislature let
it be said, this is now. being made.
Enough has been definitely ascertained TO
convince the country that this state is
rich in mineral repositories. These will
and are responding richly TO the touch of
the manufacturer. [ will only mention
the leading one. The iron of Texas
cannot be excelled by that of
either this country or Europe. This has
been demonstrated, and this land is
scattered broadcast all over the state.
In this great era of railway building,
how important to Texas that these splen-
did mines should be developed, and it is
a matter of satisfaction to know that
they are being developed. Much of our
iron is imported from Europe. Iron
rails, angles, bolts and nuts for one
mile of road will weigh 120 tons,
and charges upon them from New
York, Pennsylvania or Missouri will be
approximately $4,000. We have an mex
haustible repository and it is superior TO
that of either OF the states mentioned. [
now approach a subject the most indirect
aIlusion to which in this day and genera
ton, should certainly seem altogether
unnecessary. While n student in an
Eastern university l was in favorable po-
sition to know the opinion of the people
of those states with regard to the social,
political and educational life of Texas.
In this day, when the power of an intel
ligent press is flooding the continent with
facts and figures that can not be
overthrown or questioned, setting
forth the advantages mad resources of
this state, it is q matter of the most su-
preme astonishmt tenhat the people of
the North and East do not yet under
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of long standing peremptorily refuse to
be convinced. Others, honest and intel
ligent, with an earnest desire to know
the true conditions of chr state, although
confronted with evidences that ought to
force conviction upon them, re-
lapse into the belief that their
political or social right would be leopard
lied by a residence in Texas. They fail
to understand that lawless element, the
camp followers of the pioneer into all
new and undevelOped countries, has long
since fed before the giant stride of new
and splendid civilization. They fail to
understand that the brains, energy and
capital of those of their own states have
contributed to the development and gran
deur of Texas, and that those who have
so contributed have lived in Texas during
all these years, cOutentedly surrounded
by their children, and their children s
children. When these sceptics hear Of
drouth in Texas they imagine that the
entire state is suffering, when in truth
and i'll fact the stricken region of few
counties is larger than their whole state.
When upon some outpost some reckless
fellow ina drunken brawl looses his life
by violence, the whole state of Texas is
imagined in arms against their neighbors.
From personal observation and study of
the social conditions OF the peo-
pie, | know that life, liberty
and the pursuit of happiness is as jeal-
ously protected and defended in Fort
Worth, Galveston Austin, San Antonio
or Dallas as i'll Portland, Boston, New
York or Cincinnati. When will the peo-
rive in the history of this country when
those of other states, especially young
men, will understand that they cannot
enter Texas with deadly weapons swung
to their persons, and loiter ON our streets
without paying the penalty of pecu-
mary fine and spending at least
twenty days in dungeon made
for that purpose. Yet they enter this
state apparently with the belief that
every man is well stocked arsenal, and
our centerS of culture, refinement and
wealth nothing more than aggregations
of the vicious and lawless. Taking all
into consideration the age of our state,
what she has had to contend with in re-
moving prejudices existing against her in
other states, resulting as has been said
in many instances from a knowledge of
superior resource and advantage (Which
too often actuates individuals, ) l say tax
ing all these things into consideration,
l desire to arise in my place and pro-
pound the inquiry "What IS the matter
with TeXas?' In the face of these facts
will any man hereafter be bold enough
to deny that ''she s all right?' With a
rapidly increasing population, with i'm
posing colleges and churches and the
most colossal educational endowment the |
world ever saw, with the smoke stacks of |
factories and railways bristling
all over the state, who will dare decide |
what Texas will be when the children of |
this generation shall have arrived |
at the estate of men and |
women. Imagine the 1nancia |
and political power that Will belong to |
this state. 1t is not unlikely, yet it is
probable. that Texas is to be the pivot |
upon which viii turn for veal or woe the
political destiny of the greatest govern
ment III the world. In the midst OF all
this accumulated grandeur and wealth,
greater than that which Milton
declared belonged to ''Ormus or Ind -
stands Fort Worth and here for centuries
will stand that beautiful and imposing
building dedicated to the uses
of commerce and trade. Here it
will look down within few
years upon surging scene of an hum
dred thousand souls, silent yet living
witness to the wisdom and enterprise of
those who plant it here. Within its pala-
tial halls the great pulsatiOn of trade will
send driving through her arteries the
life-g giving current of commerce to
country and a great people. Congre-
gated within those massive walls and
spacious corridors will be found the chill
1ren of distant generation of
men. A few more years and those
whose hands shall have fashioned
the form and finish, and those whose
voices will mingle in the lowering of that
corner stone shall have passed from
among men, and their names shall sound
strangely to thousands of Fort Worth
Their dusts will not go aforementioned by
those who knew them, and their mem
lries will be as a sweet aroma around
which viii cling the gratitude and love of
who behold so beautiful q
monument to their energy, their enter
prise and their patriotism. The honor,
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