San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-05-31
FAREWELL ADDRESS.
Delivered by Gen. ID. 8. Stanley at
the Hecepion Friday Night.
I.nd nd IL

feel embarrassed in appearing before
you as a speaker. | will tell you John
Aliens story on good constitutions.
Honorable John Allen, the witty story
teller OF the house of representatives
FROM Mississippi. when he first canvassed
his district as candidate for congress, it
| is said, visited region In the. piney coun-
try which he knew was very hostile TO
him; his appointment was on camp
meeting ground and he repaired there
on horseback; no one met him to take his
horse; no one 10 shake his hands, or
wish him God speed, but event
ually he called the meeting
TO order and commenced his speech. He
spoke for three hours, and thought he
was making the great effort of his life;
when he made what he considered good
point ne paused and hoped for applause,
but as none came he concluded that camp
meetings had no floors, and that the back
woods country people had not been educ
Gated into the city ways of clapping their
with the heels of their cow hide boots.
John finished his speech; no one
walked Up 10 congratulate him, and
after waiting a little while and see
ing the people begin to disperse, he
walked over towards his horse and met
an old Squire whom he particularly want
ed TO mol fy:1h Squire walked up to him,
put out his hand aud SAID, John, | con-
graduate YOU and John, who thought
good thing is coming now, said Squire,
am mighty glad TO shake hands with
you, and hope my speech pleased you. !"
The Squire replied, No John, | did not
take any stock in your, speech, but !
wanted to congratulate you on your good
cons titutioD."
Well, talking of constitutions, my
friends congratulate me on my fine con-
stitution, and / have every reason to
thank God that at siXty-four years OF age
Lam well and always ready TO go off on
the loafers' refuge, i. @, hunting aud
fishing, but certain aches and pains, the
difficulty Of tying my shoe strings, and
other unmiStakeable signs tell me | am
not altogether young. As the elder We'll
Ter said TO Sammy. Sammy time is a
rum thing" In 1853, that is 80 years ago,
l crossed over Northern Texas. My duty
then was as an assistant on one OF the
Pacific railroad surveys. The next
year returned TO Texas after an
exploring trip in California. The
way to come TO Texas then was from New
Orleans by Morgan Steamer TO Indianola,
thence by stage or ambulance to san An
tonic. Oh my bearers, what a change in
Texas since that tmei Then the state
had a population of $50. 600, now of more
than 1000 500; then the live oak mott, the
post oak grove with beautiful deer stand
ing in their shellering shades, was not
picture of Meyne Reeds novels, but
reality. The beautiful streams, the love-
ly camping grounds, and the charming
red man, always obligingly ready to take
care of your horse, or mule, and willing to
dress your hair, all these were realities
then.
My friends the COW. the sheep and
the goat are good things in their
places. and all blessings, no doubt. but
\ II s,l
knock romance dead. As the late John
Phoenix said: If frappe toute chose par
faitement froide." For the country mem
bers this means knocks everything per-
fectly cold" Well, thirty eight years
ago came to this town, then, as now. a
wonderful cosmopolitan little city. The
prairie fires had been prevented near the
city, and coming, from any direction, on
any of the roads leading to the city, you
entered chapparal several miles ont, and
passing through the chaDparal you found
yourself right in town. Very much of
Mexican town it was. The Mexican hat
was just as big, the burro was just as
little, and noisy, the pelon dog had as
little hair on him, and the Senoritas we e
just as charming and polite then as now.
We enjoyed life in those days.
Well. other times came, the late I'M
pleasantestness broke ont, and / lost
Sight of Texas,--unless reminded of 1t by
some Texas warrior shooting at me In
Tennessee or Georgia, during the war.
The war ended, returned to Texas. /
commanded the 4th Corps and landed ten
thousand men at Indianola. A part of
these troops eau e to this town and some
remained nearly year.
i again returned to Texas in 1872 and
was stationed at Fort McKavitt, Fort
Clark, and a short time at this place
Eight years ago, the Sth of this month,
returned to San Antonio and have re-
manned here in command of this Depart
ment ever since. Many changes of troops
have been made. posts have been broken
up, and the force in Texas is now smaller
than at any time since the Mexican war,
leaving out the four years OF civil war.
My experiences have Teen most agree
able. Officers and soldiers have done
their duty Loyalty and cheerfully.
Citizens have been polite, consider
ate and and hospitable. With the
governors of the state my relations
have been cordial and friendly; with the
State Guard my intercourse has been con-
Jinually of the warmeSt friendship and
confidence. From the societies of San
Antonio | have received many affection
ate attentions. My thanks are Que the G.
A h for many polite services.
You have beautiful country and a most
enjoyable climate. / have, by force of
circumstances, lived in many places in
these United States and territories, and ]
can therefore make comparisons with
some intelligence, and l declare that for
eight months in the year, viz: from Oc
tober LIST TO June lSt,. there is no finer
climate in these United States than we
enjoy right here in San Antonio.
IN taking leave of my command and for
a time. of my pleasant Deighbors / can
truly say | do so with heartfelt regrets. |
1t comes from the inevitable operation |
of good and wholesome law,-the sixty |
four years of age, compulsory retirement |
act. Itwoud be childish not to be fully |
prepared for it, With due warning, and |