The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-05-14
Ribbons at Ioc.
Ribbons at Ioc.

a retreat to the point where the Anal stand
was made: but for this the battle that
saved Texas could have been fought furth-
er west and the miseries and the horrors
of the runaway scrape would have been
averted.
General Houston was, next to Jackson,
the greatest natural general of his period.
He was also probably the wisest statesman
that has ever lived in the Southwest. He
seemed to have the faculty of scanning the
future and the ability to predict with ac
curacy what would follow. His public acts
were dictated by the highest sense of pa
triotism. He had the courage OF his con-
vctions, and never hesitated TO go con-
trary to what was, apparently. public SEN
timent. One notable instance occurs to
me: On January 16 1S43 the congress of
the republic passed an act authorizing the
president to contract with individuals or
companies to bring emigrants to the re-
public The workings Of this law were
apparently not satisfactory, for the next
session passed bill to repeal It. This was
vetoed by Houston; the congress passed II
over his head. but after 1t had re-passed
one house and before It reached the other
President Houston made contract with
Charles Fenton Mercer which resulted in
much litigation and expense to the people
and was not settled finally until nearly
forty years afterward. Such an action
would now lose a public Official his po-
litical and almost his natural head, but
nothing apparently could shake MS popu-
| larty with the masses.
! with all his greatness he had some Sc
rious defects of character. No one placed
higher estimate on his ability than him
self. He acknowledged no peer, and for
any one to assert his equality was to cAal'
lenge a contest in which he WAS nearly
always successful, but not always rlgh'
To his interiors and subordinates he was
kind and gracious, but, first or last ne
ouarreied with nearly every prominen
man In Texas and crushed the most o
them.
His faults were few, his virtues many
we shall not soon see his like again ~
was the savior of his country, not alone a
san Jacinto but by diplomacy and states
manship as president of the republic
But II Houston was the savior no les
was stephen F. Austin, the father an
maker of Texas.
Robertson, Burnet, Dewitt, DeLeon
Powers and Hewettson brought immigrant
to Texas and aided to build up the STATE
but as colony founder and commonwealth
builder, Austin excelled all these and nj
.. name should be as prominent in America
history and entitled to as much honor q
that of John Smith of the Pilgrim fathers
or Roger Williams, or Lord BaltlmoE'
; His character was as strong as lnat
: Houston. but very dissimilar he Wa
modest, reserved and unostentatou
: While OF undoubted physical courage.
was nat a military man and did lot elal
y |
1 largely a recital of war and carnage, NE
D not SO we'll known to the present generi
tiou as many men or inferior ability al
l merit. He sought to establish common
wealth which should be the home OF napl
: and prosperous freemen, and to TINS 81
, laid his plans with the most eonsumma
= wisdom and pursued them with uhs~el
ing zeal Difficulties were TO be met iro
which the bravest might SHRINK wltno
l. imputation of cowardce. All the count
o under the American nag west OF the M
g sissjnni was sparsely settled and col
: narrative wilderness, yet he pushed tnrou
y this hundreds OF miles further toward
y setting sun into a country dominated by
;, strange government and occupied only
" the wild beasts and still wilder heu M'
~ other colony founders, such as sew
- and James Robertson, pushed into /,
~ wilderness, but they had In Gazing
lance compact communities
their own race. These, Austin mad D
- His first colonization contract was m'
~ in 1921. and he al once set to work 70 co
~ nlete II. lie had neither good iortl
~ nor influential friends, but what was .
ne fer. brain and honesty. The laws oil
s. Mexican government did not allow SET
~ ment nearer than ten leagues TO
SO coast; this increased the expense ana ai
20 Guilty OF transportation, and exposed
ID drst settlers to great danger from the
!. dams but Austin considered dinieui
u onlv IN overcome them.
ne His capital was located at san re,
y. in which is now Austin county ana
ne we're Kept the records OF all his colon
ny He advertised his plans In the older 81
vs., W. of the Union and invited immigration,
~ soon settlers began to pour In man an
Is tbem were poor and had to be suppo
HI. far the first year, sometimes longer
a. code of local laws was prepared for
"a government of the new colony ~
40 Mere necessary. for every community
81 ire unruly spirits. and this code had =
AZ adnted b the temperament and niece
To- lies OF the Anglo-Saxon without ehci
led led the prejudices of the dominant Mex