The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-04-25

the heart the names and deeds of those who
performed them. This is the meaning of
memorial day In all civilized countries.
The courage and the valor of
the dauntless and the brave should never
be FORGOTTEN. What we could not do, be-
cause we lived not then, our ancestors did
for us. They laid broad and deep the
foundations and outlined the battlements
of splendid republic, the franchises and
muniments and liberty of which are ours.
The Texas Veterans as I understand thes
term ere divided into three classes.
First--Those who espoused the cause of
Texas before and up to the establishment
of the republic.
Second-Those who antedated the Sec
! oud invasion of 1912 and yet took part in
that memorable event.
Third-All those who engaged in the
defense of the republic up to the period
of annexation.
But who shall distinguish between these?
Let him say who can show Us which side
of. triangle is greatest when all three
its sides are equal.
| The cause of these veterans was most
truly al d enphaticslly the cause of liberty;
and everywhere and every way liberty IS
the cause of philanthropy. In its fruits
we have civil and religious freedom. The
conscience is free. We have pure morals,
conner dale enterprise and the progress
If acG and science verytbing which IS
, dear to the free and al that renders life
! precious 10 the noble minded and pure.
! For the Sc reasuI.s al who have ever strug-
| lied 3ur liberty anywhere uLder the sun
have received the sympa ny of the pure
az d the brave.
The emancipation Of Texas was the ex-
tension of the princlpl,s of free govern
ment ov all the vast territory compre-
hended i'll your sple0Gid commonwealth.
1t opened tie wey through which'a CON
slant stream Of wealth and intelligence
have been flowing westward toward the
Pacific coast from that day to this.
The printed speeches, the public ad-
dresses, the circulars scattered like leaves,
the military orders, and their own splen-
did achievements all show the chaoteristics
of these pioneer men. They
were patriots and heroes. Their
hearts beat high for freedoms
cause. They were ready to pour out their
blood like water, that their cause and their
flag might conquer this land-thst flag
with the solitary star flashing from its
center.
This was not the first time that the
merlet, or fVe-pointed star, marked the
banner of rising or falling cause. The
student of history has, no doubt, read, in
the thrilling history of the "War of the
Roses, "that Edwards banner bore the sim
pie inscription the "Son of York." while
that of the earl of Oxford was marked by
the fve-pointed star. When the Lancas-
trian cause was annihilated that star went
down, and has never since appeared on the
banner flag of any cause or house or war
rior of the old world. 1t seems to have
been reserved by Providence to be the
banner sign of better cause than that
of either kings or monarchs-the ensign
of free people, that its radiant splendor
might light up the garden spot of
the western world. With that lone star
waving above them, they marched
through storm and rain and tempest.
In nakedness and privation and sorrow
they moved along as they heard the sad
news of the Alamo, and the death knelI
from Goliad fell upon their ears. They
longed and thirsted with lofty indigna-
ton for the hour to come when thsy
might strike the invader and make their
country free.
AhOob vi uhOhl nave ROu0 lubO buo eHSub
grave to sleep with their fathers. Weary
pilgrims, they have found their rest in the
soil of the state which was
theirs by glorious achievement.
Neither the storms of the winter nor the
soft winds of summer shall ever again dis
turb their calm repose.
But Providence has left TO mingle with
US to-day few of the venerable and the
brave that we, whose eyes have opened to
the light since that day, might see what
splendid specimens of courage, fortitude
and modesty our Texas heroes were.
Monuments should be reared to tell the
strangers where those heroes sleep. To
the few who survive every cottage and
mansion and palace in the state should
fling open their doors and bid them well
come.
1t is now my pleasure to introduce to
you Reverend Doctor Stribling, who will
deliver the memorial address,:
The Memorial Anthem" was then given,
with fine effect, by Mrs. Campbell, Messrs.
Galway and Edwards, with solos by Mrs.
Maxcy and Mrs. Mitchell. AS the music
died away,
REV. j. H. sTRIBLING,
VI nOohudlei We Gran nlm6el1, arose. he
is an old gentleman, tall and spare, with
an intellectual cast of ,countenance. He
!, said:
Veterans and Friends:
Under the smiles of an overlooking
Providence we are permitted to meet
again. The occasion and our surround
ings make it peculiarly impressive, in
this magnificent building, the Capital city
of The state, on this holy Sabbath, land the
memorable anniversary of the battle of
San Jacinto-and yet more, one o. her
event, that eclipses in grandeur and glory
all others, as the sun does the stars of
night, the resurrection of the worlds Re-
deemer, observed by the millions of
Christendom to-day. In our greeting
and Joy of the hour, and as we call
up soul-stirring scenes in the past,
the times that tried the souls
OF men, on the march, around our
camp fires, on the sentinel's post, facing
the foe, and other struggles that delivered
this country from oppression and tyranny,
a shade of sadness comes over our joic-
! ing As we look over this annual gather
Ing ct our contradict, familiar forms and
fac that met Us III the past meet as no
more, no more. The tear, the daep hesv-
ing sigh and the parting pang has cast O
cloud of gloom over loving hearts and