The sun., 1893-10-01

| Jnen DO COnBl0oFou uy bUo htu0NtCHU uOV-
ernment The British Ministry. although
: for the time being they refused to recor-
nize the new republic. agreed to make n
special comm ercial treaty with II. and SINH
lar arranReme ent was made with France. The
army. which was insubordlnate. was fret
practically disbanded and then reorganized.
Albert Sidney Johnston being appointed senior
Brieadier- General His rival for the post.
however. promptly challenged him. and In the
ensuing duel wounded Johnston In the hip and
inoapacitated him from servine for some time.
Thereafter the successful duellist was allowed
to retain his position at tho head OF the army
until Houston outgeneralled him by giving
furlough to nearly all the troops, and virtually
forced him to return to the United States.
Houston's manner Of life as President OF the
republic Of Texas is described ms singular
compound OF ceremonial dignity end from
tier primtiveness. resembling in fact, that OF
an aboriginal potentate. Hc habitually lived
in a log cabin. whero he would trent all comers
with frank and ready familiarity. but on cer-
tain occasions. he would put on airs OF state.
and. when he gave audience to agents OF for
eign nations. is reported to have worn sort Of
velvet robe. He still kept UP his drinking
habits. and was king OF the roystcrers as well
ns OF the counsellors. without losing. appa-
rently. the respect Of the community. Event
ually. his second wife, whom he married In
| ipfV' ioIoinou HIS vi obh
swearing. and they were abandoned,
The Constitution OF the Texan republic made
the President ineligible for two succeeding
| terms. and in 1896 Houston was succeeded by
| Miraboau b. Lamar 1t was during Lamar's
| administration that q convention was con-
| cluded with Lord Palmerston for the recogni-
tion OF Texan independence on the condition
that Texas would assume one million dollars
OF the debt due by Moxico to the English bond
l hall ~ - nrna tNnt In yuoa
| followed by France. Holland. and Belgium.
The attempt. however. to obtain a loan from
| European capitalists failed. and the finances
| OF Texas sank into e. deplorable condition un
| der Lamar's administration. The public debt
| OF the republic was increased by nearly So
| 100000. whereas 100000 had covered the
| expenses OF the Government during Houston's
| term. The redeeming feature Of the Lamar
regime was the i'm pulse given to a system OF
public education by a grant Of land for the
university and an appropriation from the
public domain to each county for the estab-
lishment of schools.
In December. 1S41. Houston was inaugural
ed President of Texas for the second time and
proceeded to carry out a programme OF econ
omy. At his suggestion. his own salary was
reduced from $4,000 to S5.000 and the pay
OF other civil officers was cut down in like
proportion That his purpose OF retrenchment
WAS sincere anu vigorously carTleu out ID
proved by the fact that, during his three years
term. the payments from the Treasury
amounted to less than four hundred and forty
thousand dollars. In 1S42. Santa Anna. who
had again become master OF Mexico. felt con- |
strained by public opinion to mako at least q |
pretence OF renewing the invasion Of Texas. |
but the war between him and Houston was. |
for the most part. carried on by paper |
missiles. In June. 1843. President Hous- |
lister ut Washington directing him Ito make
known the friendly proffers made by Euro
penn Governments and to withdraw the ap-
plication OF Texas for annexation to the |
United States. The obvious design OF this
despatch was to put pressure upon certain
lukewarm members Of Congress. and it was
followed by an attempt to induce Houston to
renew tho application. Houston desired to
know whether the United States could be de-
pended to protect Texas from invasion
while the negotiations were going on. No
direct answer was given to this question. but
Houston was assured that the necessary two
thirds OF the Senators would vote to ratify q
treaty. and he was told by the United States
diplomatic agent In Texas that the Washing
ton Government would not permit the inter-
ference OF Mexico or any other power while
the negotiations were pending. Houston ac-
cepted these assurances as sufficient.
and appointed special commissioner
to renew the proposal for annexation.
The projected treaty to that end was
submitted to tho Senate with COM
mandatory message from President Tyler. but
it was rejected by vote Of 35 to IT, No sooner
was the treaty thus repudiated by the United
States than the British Government acted.
Lord Aberdeen proposed to tho Texan Minis
ter in London an agreement to which five
powers. Great Britain. France. the United
rA
The purpose OF this agreement was to assure
the permanent independence OF Texas, that
republic pledGing itself not to unite with any
other nation. France agreed to Join with
Great Britain In compelling the assent OF
Mexico. Houston professed to favor this pIaD
and even sent instructions to Anson Jones,
tho Texan Secretary OF State. to close with the
offer Of Great Britain and France: but. as he
permitted the instructions to be disobeyed, It
Is presumed that he was still playing tho game
of the annexationlsts. and was willing that
his prottge. Jones. who had just been elected
the next President OF Texas. should have the
credit Of concluding treaty with the United
States. There is no doubt, however. that at
the close OF 1874 majority OF the people OF
Texas regarded the annexation programme as
hopeless and tho prevailing opinion is re-
nected in Houston 8 last message to the Texan
Congress. The United States" he wrote.
nave spurheu ieAas twice already. Let her.
therefore, firmly maintain her position as it /,
is. and work out hor own political salvation.
Let her legislation proceed upon the prin- ',
ciple that we are to be and to re-
main an Independent people. II Texas goes
begging again for admission to the )
United States. she will only degrade her ..
self" Meanwhile. however. the appreh en sion
that Texas would be bound to Great Britain
and France by their guarantee OF her inde- .
plan cal nj | i
United States, and public sentiment there
.urnod decidedly in favor OF annexation. In
he Democratic National Convention James X.
Polk was nominated as an avowed advocate of
annexation. and he was subsequently elected
IN that issue. On Feb. II. 1S45. Joint reso- u y
utlon was adopted by both Houses of Con-
,ress for tho admission OF Texas into the g