The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-04-25
TEXAS VETERANS.
The Closing Scenes of the L asst Day
of the Annual Meeting.
Flowers Strewn at the Feet of the
Veterans-Eloquent Speeches
by Messrs. Workman, Bryan,
Handy and Miss Ayres.
From Tuesdays DaIiy.l

filed into the gate and arranged them
selves along either side of the walk. The
veterans then resumed the march, enter
ing the capitol grounds. Preceding them
as they marched up the walk beVy of
young girls, consisting of Misses Ora
Hamilton, Julia Bertram, Fannie Brown,
Annie Glenn, Ardie Smith, Nettie Works,
Pearl Quinn, Mamie Liddell, Minnie
Koppinbrook, Ora Jones, Otelia Murchi-
son, Florence Rundell, Annie Stevenson,
Annie Morris, Lottie Finley, Olga Maskly,
Rebecca Sayers, Elsie Gilbert, Bessie Mad
dox, Ada Craven, Fannie Gordon, Laura
Hirsohfield, Genie Slaughter, Bessie Jan
que, Daisy Doss, Textile Press
Ter, Lena Paggi, Julia Paggi,
strewed the walk with flowers, while those
along the walk tossed roses at the feet of
the veterans.
Reaching the capitol, the veterans were
received by Governor Ross, the heads of
the departments, the judges of the high
courts and the faculty of the University
of Texas.
The association, thus escorted, arrived
in the hall of representatives. President
Walter p. Lane called the association to
order.
On the speakers stand we're Governor
Ross, ex Governor Lubbock, Ex-Governor
Roberts; Colonel Stephen W. BIourt,
| signer of the declaration of Texas indie
Mayor Workman, Reverend Doctor Strib-
! ling and Gen. W. R. Handy.
Rev. j. H. Strlbling invoked the bless
ings of the Almighty upon the assembly.
Hon. Guy M. Bryan introduced the fol-
lowing resolutions, which were adopted:
Whereas, When the Veteran association
was formed sixteen years ago, Texas was
under radical rule, and bill pending IN
congress for division of Texas into two
states, and the question of division, was
frequently discussed in Texas among
those in power.
Whereas, The association was formed
for no political purpose, but for renewing
old ties of association and perpetuating
the unity of Texas. Then there were
many times more veterans than now; then,
as now, the veterans had many descend
ants and friends, and their influence has
been exerted by holding their annual re-
unions in every section of Texas, by
bringing up the scenes of the past; there
fore,
Resolved, That to-day no one wants a
division of Texas, and the veterans of
Texas invoke the sons of Texas for the
good of Texas to maintain Texas, "One
and indivisible, now and forever"
General Lane then introduced
ACTING MAYOR W. B. WORKMAN,
who made the following address of well
come:
Mr.. President and Veterans of Texas:
Because OF the absence of the Hon.
Mayor it be comes my pleasant
duty to welcome you to-day to
the hospitalities of the city
of Austin upon this your annaul reunion,
and in doing that, let me also thank you
for the honor done Austin when you
selected this as your place of meeting, for
honored indeed is the town or city where
you hold your reunion.
If there be any body within the broad
confines of this fair state who are and
who should be welcome to the hospital
ties of the CITY of Austin and to this i'm
posing structure, this structure built with
lands from which you ran the savage, it
is the Texas veteran and the hero of San
Jacinto.
1t must indeed be pleasant for you old
men to look upon these massive walls,
that towering dome, upon the many evil
dences of civilization and thrift that sur
round us and compare the present with
the past, see now the prosperous mer-
chant, the happy farmer the contented
herdsmen, when but short while ago you
saw only the treacherous savage. Think of
Texas fifty years ago; see her to-day and
undivided. What must be her future-the
grandest of all these United States.
cannot imagine more fitting thing
than that to-day tina gates of the city of
Austin should swing back upon their fast
enings, her people take you by the hand,
lead you in and bid you welcome, which
they do through me. This
splendid demonstration, this crowded
hall, are but feeble evidences
of the estimation in which you are
held, not only by the people of Austin but
by the people of the entire state of Texas.
1t is proper that you should have this
meeting within these walls where hang the
pictures of the ajestic Houston and the
dauntless Austin. These notices, this
gathering of the faith ers of Texas, these
Bonded forms, all tell US that an occasion
of unusual occurrence is taking place--the
men are meeting who wrested an empire
from the despot and bequesthed it to pos
terlty, and as the time rolls on their deeds
will become the brightest upon history's
4 pages--and the time will come when
the artist end the sculptor will put upon
canvas and into marble for coming gen
erations, the names, faces and forms of
those who gave us Texas. As yet no mon
umeht high tells of your glorious deeds;
every hamlet, every city, every school
house with its hum of children's voices,
every church with its spire pointing heav-
onward, is a monument more lasting than
marble to your valor.
| The shrek of the locomotive as it CO.
reers across our matchless prairies; the
splash of the paddle of the magnificent
ocean steamer as it touches upon our
! shores; the buzz and whirr of the saw mill
as it outs into our exhaustless forests,
all sing the praises of the Texas veteran
and the hero of San Jacinto.
1t is not my province, nor is it my In
tention to consume your time, for tongue
more eloquent will tell you of Goliad, of
the Alamo, of San Jacinto and of your
overthrow of the self-styled Napoleon OF
the west, and of the old Texas flag
"The hsg of the free hearts hope and home,
BY angels hands to valor given;
Thy star hath lit the welcome dome,
And all thy hues were born in Heaven.