The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-02-28

| towards you, and the independent, manly
stand you have taken has given the
sovereigns confidence in themselves.
Texas can be welded by you, and by you
only, and her destiny is now completely
in your hands"
Those rude pioneers who had left their
cabins to defend Ahis land, as they stood
there in that camp leaning on their flint
lock rifles, had but one idol and with one
voice they denianded-Austin.
Thus he who planted the first colony,
framed the first code of laws, established
the first courts, issued the first titles, who
had twice diverted war from the settle
ments with its desolation, and was then
suffering as the first martyr of the colo
MES, became their first general. How well
he acquitted himself history proclaims.
Under his leadership Bowie and Fannin
defeated the Mexicans at the battle of
| Conception, and, after driving Ooss with
in the walls of the Alamo and burning the
grass westward, his capitulation was only
a question of time.
COMMISSIONER TO UNITED STATES.
Desperate and unequal war was in the
prospective and help was needed from the
United States; on receiving that help the
u6bbluy Vi IoAdS uluRous luolE dOlebO
men were needed for the work.
Again all men demanded Austin, and
with Wharton and Branch, 7. Archer he
was chosen commissioner to the States,
and hurried forward men, munitions of
war and money.
He never sought or desired militry fame.
When notified by the consultation that he
was needed as a commissioner to the
States, when General Coss was penned
up and his capture sure, no murmur es-
capped his lips. He wrote to the consulta
ton: 81. am at all times ready to serve
Texas in any capacity in which can be
most useful, but should I leave at once
some prudence will be necessary to keep
this army together"
HIS BETRAYAL.
From May, 1888, to July, 1886, every day
of Austin's life was given to the state.
Journeying to and from the Mexican cap
itol; urging there the separate statehood
of Texas; suffering in the dungeons; chair
man of the committee of public safety;
commanding the army; soliciting aid from
the states-such were his employments.
Daring that time he had blindly trusted
those who were associated with him in land
interests, and never until just before his
death, in 1886, did he discover that his
name had been used by those associates
in the acquisition of lands by means hat
he did not approve, Writing TO his
brother-in-law just before his death, and
referring to the incident, he said: "Since
these men have betrayed me and turned
land jobbers, who shall trust? l once
thought all men were honest until they
we're proven dishonest" and then he said
that this discovery almost induced him to
reverse the rule.
THE FATHER OF TEXAS.
We have been increasing in population
80 much faster than we could assimulate it
that the question is sometimes asked from
ignorance, what did Austin do that should
entitle him to be called the father of
Texas? Let Generals Houston and La
mar, the presidents of the republic, an
swer. On the floor of the Amer
lean senate on the LIST day of August
1854, General Houston said: "Stephen L.
Austin was the father of Texas. This is
designation justly accorded him, as will
be testified to by every man who is &C
quainted with the primitive history of
Texas or its progress as long as he lived.
Stephen f. Austin is entitled to that honor.
1t is due to his friends to whom his mem
DRY is most dear and sacred. Sir, posteri-
ty will never know the worth of Stephen
F. Austin, the privations he endured, the
enterprise he possessed, his undyIng zeal,
his ardent devotion to Texas and Its in
terests, and his future hopes connected
with its glorious destiny"
General Lamar said: "The claims of Gen
eral Austin on the affections of the people
of Texas are the strongest kind. He was
not only the founder of the republic, but
soaroelv blessing has flowed to our coun-
try which might not be family attributed
to his unwearied exertion for its welfare,
whilst almost every calamity which has
CONTINUED on Twelfth Psge.l