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

!
savage; when 1 view thi;
magnificent building, the temple OF
our government, the seat of the power
that regulates and keeps in harmonious
action all the movements of this great
state, am more than ever proud that
am a Texan.
Texas, in half century, has increased
in population from twe2ty. five thousand
to two and hslf millions of people, and
1 believe the child is now living who will
yet see Texas with population of forty
millions of people.
The fathers of Texas were men of
thought, of energy and of craftsmanship
They laid broad and deep the founda,
tious of mighty structure.
The young Texan of to-day is as proud
of the extent and domain of our great
empire as are those who fought to estab-
lish that empire. With one voice they ex-
claim, "lexas, one and indivisible, now
and forever"
To-day we stand upon an isthmus con-
Meeting the pioneers of Texas with pos
terity. Generations may come and go; but,
as the years roll down the avenues of time.
the principles and the empire for which
the patIiot fathers of Texas battled will
remain and live as long as time.
The history of the world shows that
time changes and men change
with it. Greece, one the nursery of art
and literature, the birthplace of Their:
mopyle and Marathon, can no longer be-
guile the scholar with her eloquence, nor
the soldier with the story of her
arms, for the heyday of her
l,Vln hnu
triumphed. Rome was once the mistress
of the world, but she, too, had her dema-
gogues, and "the majesty of the Roman
people" was their watchword. The harp
of Erin hangs tuneless and sad
on the leafless bow of her blasted
oak, though she once was the gem
of the sea. France has had her Dantons,
her Robespierres and her Bonapartes, and
to-day she has her Boulanger, the idol of
licentious liberty, threatening the stabil-
ity of her government. But when we cast
our eyes upon this favored land of ours, l
feel there is hope for free govern
ment upon earth. History but re-
peats itself, and if we would
escape the disasters that have over
whelmed others we must never disturb the
roots of universal light and liberty which
have been planted in our soil. But we
know not the day nor the hour when the
spirit of the demagogue who destroyed
the governments of Greece and Rome may
assail our liberties and our nation. Should
that day ever come,and God forbid that it
should, if we Texans are true to ourselves
and true to the principles for which our
fathers fought and fell; if we will live
for Texas and trust to posterity for our
reward, we will have state grander and
purer than the sun has shown upon in six
thousand years of created splendor.
Shall Texas ever be dismem5ered
and the fame and ashes of our pioneer
fathers divided? Every child in the state
is the child of Texas; each is equally the
cherished object of her guardian care;
they are her strength, her unity and her
glory, and in their hearts and in their
brairs is written in living letters that uu-
written law far more salutary than any
written code, "Texas, one and indivisible,
now and forever" If we do our duty as
God gives us the intelligence to under
stand that duty and the courage to per-
form it; if we are honest, vigilant, patri'
otto and public spirited; if we are proper
examples and precepts to our children,
they will complete the work which we may
leave unfinished. Like the leaves of au-
tumn the pioneers are dropping around
us. But few OF them remain to watch
over their work and close the age of
glory. One by one they take their flight
| from the scenes of earth to join the hosts
above. And when the last survivor shall
| close the long line in their march to the
| skies, God grant he may bear the glad
tidings of Texas unity and prosperity; and
when we, too, shall have Joined that innu-
merable throng, should our departed spir-
it's be permitted to revisit the earthly
scenes of our pilgrimage century hence,
may we see the Lone Star of Texas, pure
and spotless, proudly shining over hun
dred millions of free, happy and grateful
people, still worshiping at the same altar
of liberty which the pioneers of Texas
consecrated to earth and to heaven.
At the conclusion of General Handy q
speech,
MISS ANNIE D. AYBEs,
of Temple, was introduced, and in behalf
of the citizens OF her city presented q
handsome banner to the association. She
said:
Venerable Srs and Father of Texas:
The pleasant duty has been assigned me
to present to you this beautiful banner on
the part of the citizens of Temple as a
token of veneration and esteem in which
you are held by US. This duty, let me as
sure you at the beginning, is greatly en-
HANGED in pleasure to myself, as l am the
daughter of veteran.
As stand before you to-day and look
into your faces, read in their lineaments
the history of my state, whose grand his
toric past is emblazoned with such glori-
GUS deeds.
As look upon this banner I see the
portraits of the hero of the
"Auahuac" and of Bexar, who, in the
day of his prime and strength, battled
for our liberty, and who, when his' leader,
the gallant Milan, fell, assumed command
and wrested the beautiful city of the
Alamo from the hands of the enraged and
cruel Mexicans.
Grand old patriot, Frank johnson, your
warfare has ended and you have "passed
the river" You have left the impress of
YOUR footsteps upon mountain, valley,
lake and river in our land, and your MEM
DRY will be as imperishable as the hills of
the state you fought 30 nobly to redeem
As look around me in this hall, which
is consecrsted to patriotism, / am con-
fra,ta5 frop, &c xuolla NTH tho iua0a