The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-03-28

of our republic or governor OF
our state, did the incursions of the Indians
deyastate our fields or render desoiate our
homes. But now come to his career IN
our own state. I feel that this task Is
specially
DIFFICULT AND DELICATE,
for there are men here who witnessed MS
GLORIOUS career from the rising to the 60
ing down thereof, and to whom all can
say must not only be better known than
to me, but to them all and to all Iexans
who have read the history of their state
shall be but as the man who would STAND
on highway on a bright and glorious
day and point the passers-by to the glory
of the sun and ask them to hear hlm
tell the substance of its rays. But shsn
only ask you to bask in the beams, for l
might as we'll undertake to reflect the
splendor of Peruvian forest by tWlgs
from its boughs, or the cataract of the
Nile by handful of its waters. He came
to Texas in 1882 and was here but three
years when the agonies of the Mexican
tyranny which had so long tortured and
and tired US drove US to open resistance
and proclaimed war. This country at that
time was filled with great and good men.
There were no pigmies here trying to
raise an empire, bat "there were giants,
the sons of Anaok;" men whose capacity,
patriotism and courage rank with the
greatest names ia history, one of whom,
Stephen F. Austin, hail, as Houston pro-
claimed him, "father of this state" who is
worthy to bear that title because of his
l.. -,
is given and signed by him who had the
right to give title. When distinguished
orator proclaimed Austin
THE FATHER OF THIS STATE,
and read from the lips of Houstoa the
authority and commission to the title, he
paid the highest compliment to Houston
He recognized him as authority to issue
patents of nobility and of rank and dis
tribute titles and dignities among his
peers. His stamp on title is seal of
authority, and the name he put in com
mission was a password to the sentrles OF
the world. But the wonder and glory ls
that surrounded by many distinguished
men, long associated with, the history OF
our state, Houston, whose form was the
gaint and whose eye the bright star of
battle, animated by patriotism, courage
and the spirit of conquest and glory,
leaped to the front and became the hero
of the hour and WAS elected general of the
armies of that republic. Gentlemen, such
strides to greatness only come to men
who deserve to be great and wear their
greatness az mantle which nature has
made and fitted. One aid to his recogni-
ton was his magnificent presence, and if
it be what l have heard it described it was
so royal and kingly that if you had dashed
him like Mazeppa to the back of wild
horse and turned him loose on the plains
the irst tribe which met him would have
cut his cords and made him their king.
But it was not alone as hero of battle
that he figured; he was the most conspicu
Gus leader in the
COUNCILS OF THAT NATION,
chained its listening ear with his elo
quence, checked its intem perance with hi:
moderation, and, had his counsel beer
needed and his orders obeyed, there would
have been in Texas no Alamo, and the
massacre of Fannin was the direct effec
of insubordination and disobedienoe to
his orders. Defeats set in everywhere, ant
Houston was the only CLEAN of hope
lighting up the ocean of despair. Wher
at last disasters to others made him the
recognized leader of our armies, wheI
butcheries of savage warfare made civil
lied blood run liquid fire and thirst fOl
food, then the battle of San Jacinto was
fought, the sweet and smiling face o.
mercy became livid with eternal hate, anc
700 men under the angry cry "Remembel
the Alamo" swept like whirlwind over
the invading foe, and death held carni
val in which God and man joined in thu
work of vengeance. The detested tyrant
the saorileglous plunderer, the shameless
butcher and usurper, calling himself thu
Napoleon of the West, had all his budding
honors plucked from his brow to deck oul
heroes, and the Jewels which fell from hi
perishing hand were gathered by the PEG
pie. This battle proved that des potisu
and wrong, full armed and panoplied
cannot for a nom ent stand before liberty
uplifted hand. All along the pathway OF
our struggles his counsels were
WISE AND TEMPERATE
and his obedience to law and recognized
authority was his browning glory, fo
when the civil powers thwarted his plant
and insulted his authority, though b,
could have swept them from his way at {
word, yet he submitted to insult and bowed
his crest to The voice of civil authority
though it was weak, factious and contempt
ible. We desire to emphasize his conduc
in protecting Santa Anna from deatl
against the cries of an outraged people
ready to shed his blood in retaliation fo
the msssacres of the Alamo and of Goliad
telling them that the eyes of the civilized
world were upon them and that the lives o.
their own fellow-citizens in Mexican pris
ons we're necessarily involved, and point
ing, too, to the advantage of holding the
emperor of the enemy in the bonds of cap
tivity and through him debating the terms
of peace. These things show him to have
been the genius of diplomacy al we'll as
the hero of battle. He said, "Let US Offer
our vengeance on the shrine of humanity
Christianity will rejoice at the act and the
civilized world will look with proud emo
ton on course which will reflect so much
glory on the Anglo-Saxon race" And tc
this end he vetoed the action of the senate
and released the prisoner on his own re-
sponsibilitY. After the battle OF San ia.
cinto, SANDER, detrdction, defamation, al
aimed their envious shafts at him, but
when the nation came to select ruler
Houston was elected over his opponents by
VOTE OF OVER FIVE TO ONE;
I