New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-08

lonO, PIP. 20. DooO, Mead q 70.
Mr.. Bruce, In preparing life of Sam Houston for
the Makers Of America series, found himself con-
fronted by difficulty which must beset nearly all
biographical work of the kind. When has. even
during his lifetime, become the subject Of myth
ing it only necessary for few years to pass aiIer
his death for most of the circumstances Of his career 10
take on haziness incompatible with the securing OF
anything like an exact faithful portrait s'in
Houston belonged to class OF American heroes ABOUT
whom legend gathered both swiftly and thcky. Ihere
were, too. mysteries in his life OF kind to encourage
and propagate legend There are several biographies
Of him extant, mostly written either before or soon
after his DEATH Mr.. Bruce found, however, lew OF
these works could be depended upon one was that
peculiar political product called campaign dog
raphy"; idealized, rosecolorcd, rhetorical ana
strongly imaginative piece Of work, OF which the guild
ing principle TO Keep out of sight wbntcver may tell
against the subject and TO magnify his virtues with
irresponsible enthusiasm OF course, II IL wi1ter
wishes to give serious account OF any pubic man. IL Is
not to such that he applies But when Hous-
ton lived and for time after, the average biog
rapby of all American public man was not written
from the modern point Of view to any great extent.
The scientific historian had not then appeared, but the
Damboyant provncalism which prevailed tended to
popularze kind OF life" which proceeded mainly on
the theory that eve must be cracked up!'
Mr. Bruce discovered that with the vast resources OF
the British Museum at his disposal 1t exceedingly
Sam Houston. 1t was not possible to ascertain the
correct account Of incidents which were VIGOROUSLY
oyer-coIored or misstated in the old biographies nor
was 1t possible to ill the gaps In Houstons career
which occur In all the lives alike. So he was forced
6 do the best he could and that seemed to rim the
nearest nttsnable approach to truth Houston was In
many respects remarkable and his career was
so exceptional, that If all the od-fashoned myth and
exaggeration and sham patriotic frppery was removed
from his biography ii must yet remain impressive ana
interesting So the present volume is founded upon
the most trustworthy portions Of the old lives parcu-
lary Testers and upon this foundation has been built
superstrucure of such facts as the public recofus'
H. II. Bancrots invaluable histories, and the knowl-
edge of living members OF Houston's family could sup
ply II the result is less picturesque and romantic
than the early biographies. 1t may be confidently re-
garded as somewhat the truth than were those
imprisoned works.
In sam Houston's case, In that Of every man VINO
atains distinction an effort has been made to gorfy
his youth and to detect indication OF his future
in the doings of that Gadeveloped period. But the
effort here Is singularly futile. All the facts show
that Sam was dull boy, with few educational oppor
tunities and fewer educational ambitions He ~ouid
not and could not learn. Almost the only book which
he is said to have read at this time WAS oddly enough
Homer's Had" and that drew him so strongly that
he almost knew ii BY heart. Bnt he was TO be man
OF action and he began life by running off and living
with the Indians, who, tradition AYERS adopted him.
His standards of civilization were obviously low, or
such life could not have appealed to or satisfied him.
But he learned many useful things from the nomads,
and to the end of his life he was the stanch and true
friend and champion Of the INDIAN In 1912 Houston
enlisted as a private in the United States Army.
In 1914 he desperately wounded at the battle Of
Tohopeka. In 1918 he left the Army second leu
tenant and after six months study was admitted TO
the bar Just how no bore himself as a lawyer we do
not know, for doubt most OF the stories abotd his
oratory apocryphal But he was rising steadily,
and In 1921 sent to Congress from Tennessee
while four years later he elected Governor Of the
State At this point in the great mystery Of his
life. He married we'll and three months later his
wife left him. There great outcry and scandal.
but Houston refused to open his lips. Perhaps 1t Is
surprising that his wife preserved tire same IN
violate silence This latter fact indeed might warrant
the cynical I'm concluding that there really
cret At all events the world never knew and clearly
never will know the cause Of the separation.
Houston however, struck hard He resigned
the GovernOrship. and pung1ng into the woods, re
sumed his old life with the Indians Of Arkansas. The
Texan trouble, which had becs developing for several
years. was now coming to head, and apparently IL
saved sam Houston from sinking into the position Of
a Government contractor. HIS friend Jackson was In
the White House, and wanted Texas. Both he and
Houston belonged to that order Of barbarians who in
ages thought they had perfect hight 10 seize
any land the sight OF which pleased them. The whole
story OF the annexation Of Texas Is sort Of Viking
saga In which physca bravery and stirring adventure
are made TO conceal the most reckless and unprncpled
spoliation The Mexican War was Of the came order,
and the annexation Of California. 1t might made
right from one end Of the chapter to the other in
short. But Sam Houston moro than viking;
he was a soldier of great ability. HIS campaign
against Santa Anna conclusivcly proved this He
had the most intractable material to deal with that
any leader could have been tornented by. His army
was composed OF men very free and independent
that they did not know how to obey. After the Alamo
and Goad these unmanageable troops Of course burned
TO fight Santa Anna. Had they fought then they
would probably have furnished material for another
massacre. Houston insisted rctreating and draw
ing Santa Anna 1t much he could do
to keep his force together until the time came to
fight and the battle Of San Jacinto. That great
stroke delivered IL cost him almost much trouble
TO prevent his men from shooting the Mexican Presi
dent. Here again he showed the elements Of trne
greatness and he carried his point to the credit of
Texas.
1t was, however, Governor Of the State he had
saved that his best work done. The state had
been misnanaged almost to bankruptcy by those who
preceded him in the administration. II had no credit.
It's failure to meet its obligations Ind impaired its
reputation. The treasury was empty. Houston |
brought order out Of this chaos lie Restored the credit
OF the State rectned the apparently hopeless financial
AS United States senator he did not make deep mark.
but he achieved the main purpose Of his life when
saddened by the war Of He resigned he
executive Office rather than accept the Confederate
programme. 1t 1t said thar this movement broke bis
heart that~he was never the same mSl again. But
1t Is clear enough that by this time his work was
really DONE and his strength greatly impaired by
age and his wounds. one of which had remained un. !
closed for thirty years. drining his vitality Mt rate
which must have killed N less vigorous cons.itu
ton. He had married "a second time, and this wife, |
who survived him, blessing TO him. The old |
man died after the fall Of Vlcksburg lie was !
true TO the Unon though he loved bis state too much
TO fight against IT, His later years showed him much
mellowed and quite gentle. But he had been q very |
rough and violent and at time he narrowly !
escaped becoming an habitual drunkard. When mdn
gets such nickname Drunken Sam,' he must be /
very the brink of the abyss and Houston rot as
far as that. Texas and Santa Anna saved him, and |
gave opportunity TO show the mettle that IN him.
Like David Crockett sam Houston was honest 10 the
That Is strong point his favor. 70 money