The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-07-01
"say" hailed Alderman Maddox yes


, tion. How is thisg'
"Sayw hailed Alderman Maddox yes
terday morning, II want"
IF it is about the bridge don't want
to hear it," interrupted the able scribe.
1T is not about n bridge. Say bridge
to me and you are in danger What
want to tell you is thiss DO you know
why the land agents in Austin are called
stage drivers?"
II do mott
well, I'll tell you. We used to own
q ranch in Menard county, and to reach
1t we had to stage it from Austin. was
on my way there once, and the stage
driver from Mason was an intelligent fell
low named Ellis. asked him what stage
drivers did when they grew old and were
unable to ply their vocation. Well, he.
SAID, we go into the stables ard rub horses
ana when we get toe old for that, we
are put to cleaning out stalls, and when
we give. out at that, we just drift down
to Austin, hang out our shingle as land
agent, and gull the suckers Say, didn't
know he knew | was n land agent, and
came very near falling off the stage
DoX. L never asked him any more ques-
tons. Since then land agents in Austin
nave been known as stage drivers"
1t has been the sentiment of the Amerii
can public for considerable time that no [.
nation other than the United States
should obtain control or possession of Ha-
wall. While there has been a decided diff
ference of opinion ms to the wisdom and
expectancy of annexing the islands, the !.
people have been practically unanimous
IN the position that this country should
insist upon Il dominating influence in,
Hawaii and resent the interference, in
its affairs of European or Asiatic nations.
Say, many of you will remember n
speech made in this city by the late Son
ator Coke. 1t was along about 1881. ana
railroad Commissioner Storey will re.
member it, for he was lieutenant governor
tnen and the address was during the Sos.
sion of the Legislature. The annexation
OF Hawaii calls 1t to mind. At that time
no railroad entered Mexico. Governor
Coke, in his address, predicted that there
were people listening to him that would
I'VE to see the day when railroad bridge
would span the Rio Grande and the
United States be connected with the Cify
OF Mexico by rail. "Then," he said, "this
road or some other will be extended info
Central and South America, and the re-
suit will be that those countries will be
brought under the American flag. and
believe it will be done without war and
without the shedding of blood 1t is the
destiny of the United States to
control every foot of the Western heniis-
phere. together with all of its outlying
islands. This is the destiny of the great
republic" The senator's speech provoked
great applause. He lived to see the rail-
road built to the City of Mexico, and now
Uncle Sam seems to be preparing to an
mex Hawaii, and it will be the beginning
u the fulhllment of the balance of SEN
ltor COke's prophecy.
That the government of the United
States should maintain such guardian
ship over the republic of Hawaii as would
prevent the islands from falling into the
lands of England, Japan or any other
oreign country, will scarcely be disputed
~ any patriotic American citizen. Per-
laps annexation Is the best way to pro-
ect the republican spirit in Hawaii.
Students of their Bibles will be familiar
With the fact that In the year of jubilee
III prisoners were set free. The idea has
,een seized with reference to the queens
diamond jubilee in India, for the govern
nent of India, at the firing of the mid
lay gun today, released 10000 native
prisoners from the jails A similar event
ook place when the Prince Of Wales
listed India. and again at the celebration
# the. fftieth anniversary of the queens
accession, ten years ago. The idea is
uite an Oriental one and will carry with
the entire sympathy of the 00,000000
ndia. In outlying districts where vernac-
liar newspapers are scarce, it win prob
bly, bring the reality of the queens ex-
stence home 10 the natiye mind more than