The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-03-23
tBY JAMES HAYS ouARLEs,l

l hANtAAHhs itNtSs eihfNN Ast--Nl all INC
names that are on historys pages writ.
there is none moro deserving OF mention.
| no1e which should appeal 80 patriotic
hearts stronger than the name OF the
little town in this county whero the arst
congress OF the republic OF Texas had It's
scat; where the declaration OF Texas indie.
| pendence was signed where Sam Houston
had HIS home. and which saw tho birth of
Texas freedom in the words issued By
proclamation March .. 1ssG--tha town Of
Washington.
In every country and IN every land the
places mado famous in history have been
marked and ssht-secrs arc taken TO those
places and leagn from the shafts thero
erected the story which Is part Of history.
The old Liberty Bell tells It's story: Bupkcr
hin has it's monument; brass slabs point
TO famous battle-ground where Chatta-
rooga now stands; Lookout Mountain has
| rs guides 20 speak OF tho battle above the
| cloucs' san Antonio las the Alamo with
| It's record OF blood; Goliad It's missions
| aud the story of tgnnin's fall; the good
women the preparing to mark the rpot
| where sam Houston AMI his patriotic men
| brought down the proud Santa Anna the
| Loastcd Napoleon of the West But WASH
| lrEton, tho first capital al the young ro-
| pubic the Epot whore !ndcuondonce was
| FRAT spoken, has been allowed 20 exist IN
| neglect; has been avoided by railroads ana
| telegraph, the telephone and all but the
| few resldents and the stage hack Its name
| IN history Is casually mentioned, but 10
| casually that az a recent session % the
| Texas legislature one bright member spoke
| of tho Declaration of Texas independence
| as having been signed at San Felipe When
| tliN nptIred " "A peulla,p4u
| living in Bronhan rcmarkod ''1hey
| signed n declaration az San Felipe and
| took to their heels; they signed one at
| Old Washington and grabbed thrir guns
and made It stick"
II has been decided that Old Washing
ton shall no longer be neglected; that tie
| spot shall be marked SO that IN coming
years the original seat OF Texas govern
meut shall be known. This patriotic move
WAS started in the public schools OF bran-
bum number OF years ago, and gradually
the sum being raised for the erection 81 o
monument has Increased until NJ last al
most the entire amount has b. VA cumu'
lated. II has been decided that july ,
next. the monument shall be unveiled and
that It shall tell on Its face the signing oi
that famous document In lS2d, the names
ct those who signed II, anu that It was
JUROR the spot where the monument stauis
that patriots gathered about the rude
table, appended then names. and tlus
threw OIL by CeClaiht-on lue yoke CT NICK
| lean oppression. To Cooperate with thu
school children in The work OF perpetual
ing Texas history. the Texas Independent
Monument association has been organized,
and from this date work VIII commence,
: and proceed until the anniversary OF Ma
tiopal independence shall mari, the I'M
yelling OF a monument dedicated TO TeXas
4, Independence.
The Texas Independence Monument assv'
citation was organized ut the Exchange
hotel, in this city. last Saturday night
George Wilson being elected president and
j. II. Hutchinson secretary a notice o.
which organization was published In Sun
days Post exclusively. Those taking the
initiative In the organization were native
Texans. every ono having at one time
liver at the old town OF Washington Last
night the organization met for the second
time and adopted a declaration OF princl-
pies. This declaration says.
!. The object of the Texas independence
monument association shall be 20 collect
fragments aud incidents OF unpublished
Texas history OF Importance and interost
Q. 70 induce the present and coming
generations TO read Texas history and
study The valuable lessons il teaches touch
ing the spirit OF Anglo Saxonism aud hui
man freedom.
Q. To present the advantages that have
accrued 20 the world from the struggles,
sacrifices and iriumph5 of Texas pioneers.
A. To induce a careful study 81 the great
! principles euunuatod In the declaration
III Texas Independence, and tho lives OF
those sturdy patriots who signed II
o. TO raise funds for the purpose Of
erecting q suitable substantial shaft 10
mark the exact spot In the town OF Wash
ington, the old capitol Of the republic,
whore the immortal document was writ.
ten and signed, March 2, 1888.
6. TO foster and cultivate spirit OF
fraternity aud good fellowship among ali
old Texans. theIr descendants aud the bal
ance OF mankind.
prospectus OF monument has been
submitted by a contracting firm, which
will be accepted. II contemplates monte
mnnt OF Texas gray granite, lO.5 feet from
ground to top shaft, the base being Sc feet
square hammer dressed, the shaft dressed
end polished. room being allowed on tho
. four faces OF the base for The names OF
the signers Of the declaration. Texas
/ Star and whatever other inscription may
be agreed upon. This monument Will hU
placed ready for unwilling at a cost OF
$3.50. the children having already raised
$500 of this money.
II is believed that when the monument
is unveiled that there will be an attendance
; from all parts OF Texas Information has
been received that many will come from
Northern and Central Texas, and some Ia
- Southern Texas have written, saying they
would come. Washington Is very close "a
the town of BTenh0m and the railroads
will give rates ON the occasion MesslR.
Harry Haynes, w. G. wilkins and Prof