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

ernOr and James W. NJ olnsop
was vice-gOvernor. council with legis-
lative power was created, compos ed of
one member from each of the municipali-
ties.
In December, 1886, another Declaration
of Indepenue nee was issued by one hun
dred citizens It Golisd, in which it was
resolved, "That the former prov
ince and department of Texas is, and of
right ought to be free, sovereign and
independent state"
By authority of the provisional govern
ment which was ia existence from No
vember, 1885, until March, 1886, delegates
were elected in February, 1886, to con-
vention which assembled at the town of
Washington. On the I'd of March, 1886,
this convention unanimously adopted and
signed the Declaration of Independence
of the people of Texas.
On the 18th of March, 1886, the conVen-
tion elected David G. Burnett president, ad
interim, of the republic of Texas, and
Lorenzo de Zlvslla, patriot exile from
Mexico, was elected vioe-president. Gen
eral Sam Houston was elected cum
mander in chief of the Texan army.
While the convention was still in session
the massacre of Travis and his COM
patriots occurred at the Alamo on
the 9Th of March, and on
the 10Th of March following, Fannin
and his 415 followers we're butchered at
Goliad.
The action of the convention and the
inspiration of the crimson tide at the
Alamo and at Goliad dug like spreading
pestilence the grave of Mexican oppres-
sion. Texas forged her broken chains
into swords, and her heroes died at the
Alamo and at Golad that freedom in
Texas might not die. Over them eternal
fame blazed through the clouds of
death and beckoned them to Immortality.
Texas is living monument of the fact
that one generation dies that another may
live; the downfall of one system of gov
eminent has been the establishment of a
better and a wiser one. Within the mem
ory of those now within the sound Of my
voice Texas was blessed with the first foot
steps of modern civilization, and yet to-
day she is a colossal tower of Gods benev-
olence and times benefcence to man; but
without the cooperation of the wives and
mothers of the pioneers, the settlement
of Texas would never have been accom-
plished Woman was the guardian angel
of this wild and perilous country, aud the
anniversary of the first advent to Texas OF
civilized woman by whom our state has
been 30 signally adorned and blessed,
should itself be concentrated with
grateful hearts. She was the tutelar ge-
MUS of our early settlements, the foster
mother of the domestic virtues which
have hallowed our hearts and graced our
society. She 1t was who fired the heart OF
Texas patriotism and nerved the arm of
Texas chivalry. Such were the mothers
of Texas whose hearts and whose souls
were the lights that cheered the paths of
the pioneers and shared their trials and
their jOys.
Texas is an empire in extend and a
continent in resources. She has all the
elements that constitute greatness-a
quarter of a million of square miles of
territory; larger than Germany, today
the foremost nation of the old world;
larger than any two states of our union;
possessing alike the advantages OF the
tropics and of the frigid regions of the
north; producing from field, pasture
and tide-water whatever earth and sea
supply to man. AS rich as tine valley of
the Nile and as beautiful as the sunny
land of Italy; the home of the industri-
Gus, where mills and shops are daily
erected and factories established; where
fertile lands are cheap, taxes low, schools
richly endowed and where true manhood
rises above want; the Lone Star
State, the brightest in the constella-
ton of states; attracting all eyes and
inspiring the hopes of the toilers of all
. lands and promising security to thrift
and wealth.
Instead of half dozen state govern
ments, as in other portions of our country
with perhaps smaller population than
ours and embracing less than half the
area of Texas, we have but one state gov
eminent to be supported by the taxes OF
the people. This means a great deal to
the man seeking home for his family
and his kindred. With few exceptions
the states of the Union are less thlckly
populated than large portion OF Texas,
and this more populous portion OF Iexas
is no better adapted to sustain dense
population than that portion of the state
which until recently for want of com
meroial facilities has been ignored by
home seekers. 1t will be only few
years when the taxpayers OF
Texas, outnumbering the taxpayers OF all
New England, will be required to contrib
ute ten times less per capita in support OF
one state government than it will cost to
maintain half a dozen different state Or
CARNATIONS.
Besides these considerations, the great
area of Texas is advantageous from polit-
ical considerations, not in any narrow,
partisan or selfish sense, but when popu-
lated, as it evidently will be, it's large del
egation in congress will exercise an in
huence more potent than any other
state in the American union.
Her representation in the council
halls OF the nation now commands
attention and respect, but the day is not
far distant when the voice of Texas in
those halls will compel obedience to
her every demand. Too far east and
too fer west to be called an eastern
or western state, and too far north and
too far south to be called northern or
southern state, in any sectional sense OF
the word, Texas is essentially NATIONAL
state. Every state in the Union, and every
civilized nation of the world, contributes
population to Texas, all finding congenial
climate and familiar productions. Here
in Texas we have every physical require
ment to make the empire state of America;
the area, the diversity of soil and climate;
the useful min erals and precious metals;
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