San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-04-14
AUSTIN CORRESPONDENCE,
AUSTIN, Texas, April 10.


tire "legion." / have no excuse to Offer
in my own favor; but in single brea tn
would state that am mostly on the wing,
and never without an engagement of an
important nature. Since ] last wrote,
have assembled to the summit of Joy, there
amid the aromatic flowers, my most exact
ing senses were delighted; where | seen
hope die in its rich fruition in the pres
ence of the object hoped for. My
father. Mr.. Mack Hodges, whom l have
not seen in thirty-two years, arrived
from Troy, Alabama, on March 18th,
His great Joy of seeing me and his three
grand-sons the youngest OF which being
past Is years..of age, and his extreme age,
~ years were too heavy for him to bear
and on the morning of the % OF March, at
S.25 a. M, he expired. He had been
useful man and served his day well, the
and the boys and girls, who were such
with him, though their fortunes were
that of ease, profusely surrounded by the
procurmentS of wealth, had proceeded
him across that line which separates him
from eternity. He was carpenter and
a blacksmith by trade. His unexpected
demise, was the most trying ordeal
called to pass, which dashed me from the
summit of the mountain of Joy, to the
dark valley of grief, never to be told on
earth. intensified by knowing the fact
must be communicated to my mother, she
being in the 69th year of her life. There
are three married brothers, with increas-
ing families; however, l am the older.
Though the kilograms, and letters of ex-
preSsions consoling, as well as condoling,
good purpose, and proved tower of
strength to me. DR.. Starnes of your
city. and Rev. ]. Il. Gibbons, pastor
ST. Paul Methodist Episcopal church,
sent words, which aSSuagcd the heavy
grief bearing so heavily, upon us. And
many other friends OF San Antonio did
the same. The notice given by the States
man of this city, equals the purest eX-
pressions of any given by the religious
press, which will not be soon forgotten.
No one can appreciate words and deeds of
kindness more than those who have been
called to pass this awful ordeal. How
ever, we cheerfully bow in humble sub
mission to the Allwise Father, whose
ways are past finding out. None can
know or resist the inevitable. If we do
what we know to be right onr future is
sure to bring gratifying results, even be-
yond the tomb. Grief is not without
its fructifying results; it never fails to
bring US into closer union and sympathy
with our common humanity without dis
tinctionS.
Mr.. Editor it matters not what comes to
us in this life, nothing relieves us of pre-
sent duty, during our day, until we ac-
complish it, as an hireling. Many of my
friends have urged me to say word, now
and then, covering the legislation we had
during the present session OF the 22nd
legislation, which promise to do but for
some reason personal, and peculiar, to
myself, | have failed to do so; The sep
crate coach bill carryS with it, a dire
significance to the whole Negro race:
both against the manhood, and progress
of this class of American citizens: also,
these far seeing stat Smen in their pur-
pose to strike. and cripple the progress of
the negro, did not hesitate to intiict an
ugly wound upon the mOnied interest,
peace, prosperity of their own people.
The railroads in Texas have done more
than all other branches of industry to de-
velope the natural resources of the state,
yea, than all others combined. But the
hatred aimed at the manhood and progress
of the race. are too plainly seen by all
who are not hoodwinked by prejudice.
The conclusion arrived at, is backward
step. Some years ago, comparison was
made between the negroes of Texas, and
of the state of Ohio, as cOntraSted be-
tween the white population of that
state, and those OF Texas, being
affected by the presence of the negroes.
whether in politics or in the social circles
Of the community, and Texas was said to
be equal to Ohio in that comparison.
Since that time some people have fright
ened themselves and their neighborS out
of many years growth, by reciting horri-
Die stories about the negro race, When
people have the means of informing
themselves as to the truth and gist of
these matters, 1T would seem very cow
ardly for the strong to Cypress the weak,
and cOnSumate meanncSS 10 make him
the object of prescription. If we poses,
ed million of dollars we would not heSi
tate one moment to spend the last
cent OF it in testing the cOnStitu-
tlonality OF these prOScriptive meas
ureS. The gentlemen who labOred
so strenuously TO bring it about,
may be men of serious convictions, but
time, in its onward fight, will sure bring
with 1t new convictions, and shame to
the checks, which should always show
the penciling Of true manhood. These
gentlemen acted with such nicity, in their
omnipotency, that they constructed that
revolutionary, doubleacting machinery,
so as not to prohibit negro servants,
nurses, etc. That singular feature of the
Infamous measure shows its dire iniquity
and that it's venOmOuS shaft is aimed at
the manhood, and advancement of the
Negro race. God be praised that not a
single negro in this broad land, is a dyna-
inter, or are found organizing any kind
of society to oppose, or destroy the
lives or property of those charged with
the execution of the law of the land:
neither ore there are any attempts to de-
Stroy the time-honored institutions of
free America. And now we do not at
tempt to utter one syllable against the
laws of the land. but we would summons
every lawful means to oppose and render
negatOry those proscriptive measures,
founded not In reason, but in well pam
negro does not wish to project a new sys-
TEN of government on the continent es-
pecially in the United States of America.
Rnt no i, l,nir r,.,Ii IL Z