Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-08-22
HISTORICAL MATTER.
Historian Brown Indicates the Bearing
of the Hardin Letter
From Stephen F. Austin, Showing that Inde
pendence Was Not His First Object, Inough
His Patriotism is Not Questioned.
Dallas News.

DALLAS, TEX, Aug. l5.-Ihe News VI
August reproduces from the Clepurne
Chronicle a recently eXhumed letter
written by stephen F. Austin at San
Felipe, October 5, 1885, to William Har-
din s. Bros. on the Trinity. 1t has been
heralded in answer to my communication
in the News of July %, to prove that
Apstiu was the father of Texas independ-
ence. Whoever caused its publication Is
uniformed as to cOntemporaneous anu
controlling facts, and does not UNDER
stand the real point at issue. The pa
triotism of Austin is not in question. 1t
is conceded by all well informed persons.
This letter throws no new light on the
subject, for on the same day AUSTIN
wrote q similar letter to David u. Bur
net. which was published several years
ago. And what do they prove! IhaC
Austin was ardently in favor OF the
movement then on foot by force of arms,
and in harmony with what was called the
Federal party in Mexico to resist the de-
struction of the constitution of 1924,
and, locally speaking, to make
| Texas into a separate state OF the MeXl-
| can nation under that constitution. III
tbat sense. as shown in these letters, he
was ardently in favor of war-of war III
! defense of the principles of that over
thrown instrument-with the view OF
| creating Texas into state distinct from
! Coahuila.
IT has been repeatedly said by at least
one jealous admirer of Austin thaC al
that time there was war party ana a
peace party in the country-the FORMER
| headed by Governor Smith, the Whar-
toms Archer and others; the latter by
austin and Others. This Is not true.
| outside of few isolated tories, unworthy
of mention. there was no peace party
AS stated by Austin in these two letters,
oil were for war But these elements
altered as to the objects to be fought
for. Austin and his more immediate ad-
berents advocated fighting for separate
c+atebood under Mexico. The othel
marty advocated absolute independence
This fact is as clearly established as th'
written declarations of Austin, III plan
English words, could establish anything
Briefly. let the facts answer. On No
vember 7. 1886, the first convention (th'
consultation declared that they haC
sstaken ND arms in defense of their right
and liberties and of the republican prin
ciples of the constitution of 1924.
But that they viii continue faithful L
the Mexican government so long as tina
nation is governed by the constitution
and laws that were formed for the gov
eminent of the political association.
strong minority of this convention
, earnestly favored a declaration of inde
pendenee, and this declaration was
compromise. This was one month an
f two DAYS after these two letters OF Austl
+ were written. The party of independ
ence. previously held in check for fear c
damaging Austin, then prisoner |
. Mexico, was now aggressive and rapid!
! raining strength Where did Austl
Q stand pending this issue? Let his oW
words answer. In a communication
q the provisional council on the 18th of DE
Q cember, 1885, two months and six dal
\ after the two October letters referred tC
q he said: 81 am of opinion that the pee
e ple ought to form [statel constitutio
: and organize permanent goyernmel
q without delay in conformity with II
declaration of the 18th of November las
especially with the fifth article, al
o without making any change in the pril
. clinics of that declaration In 9th
r words, under the Mexican constitution
1924.
In a letter written at Quintana, D