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

ana gladly gave his IFS for the liberty
and freedom Of this state. We children
OF the present generation should 1--we ana
consider our forefathers. who fought and
died for this beautiful Lone Star state, as
heroes. For fear will break my promise
/ will hush With best wishes to the sue
cess OF the page. new Hap,
Fort McKnvstt, Texas-pear HaphauS
mer: Can you move around ana mako
room for one more sirl7 I am 16 years
old. ! have n bicycle; love to ride It;
when I'm not riding I'm staying In the
store with my papa; like to hssp him,
This is my first time to write to the Heps,
but ! read them all. as papa takes The
Post. am one Of your Haps.
Mary Baker.
p. s--Enolosed you will and 10 cents
for Jimmie's artificial leg.
Indian Gap. Texas.--Dsar Haphammer:
Will YOU admit two girls Into your happy
band OF boys and girls. General Sam
Houston was the greatest hero of the
Texan war for Independence, we think.
We have a great many flowers but not
many In bloom. We have songs to ex-
change as follows: THE Jealous Girl
Inc GlIi 1 i-0It bculnu MO- i0O lshtes
Little Rosewood Casket" and others.
Your two friends,
Lcolu Christie and Polite Boiler.
Pattison, Texas.--Dear IIaphammcr.
have never written 10 the Haps page, so
! thought would write. | am little
pirl IL years old. have been reading thu
Haps' page for Ave years and find It very
interesting. Papa has beautiful litslo
farm on the prairie three miles north OF
pattisor. The prairie locks like a beauti-
full flower garden in the spring. Mamma
milks thirteen cows and makes about four
pounds of butter day. My little sister
Clara and ! enjoy helping her milk so
much ] have no pets except a little baby
sister years old. and she Is the sweetest
pet In the world. We have three grey
hounds and enjoy seeing them run rabbits,
although my favorite dog is the shepherd.
l will close. Your friend
ophelia Pearson.
| Yellow Prairie. Texas.--Dear Hapham-
mer: / have long been refraining from
writing but as you have such an inter-
| esting debate going on I thought I would
like to take part in It, Henry Boyer. ! see,
Is OF the opinion that those who fell at
the Alamo were the greatest heroes.
say not, / think the indomitable and
matchless Houston was. The men at the
Alamo were surrounded; their means OF
escape was cut off, and they had nothing
| to do but TO await the hour. But upon the
brow of Houston hung a nations destiny;
one wrong move, one mislaid plan, and
Texas was doomed, The men at the Ala
| mo expected reinforcements; Houston ex-
| pected none. Instead. his army was dwin-
] ding. Again look al him In 1886, when
| Santa Anna was bearing down upon him
with overwhelming odds while the people
were flying, panic-stffokon, eastward.
| How carefully he conducted his retreat
TO cover the rear OF the flying oolonsts;
| how, when his army was reduced TO only
a handful of men, food was scarce, some
| were in rags, he won the independence OF
| Texasi Then the policy he pursued to-
wards Santa Anna. He could have had
him shot. but this would have brought us
into disfavor with the other nations. II
was a master stroke; It showed the world
that we were not band OF robbers and
thieves. lighting only to gain richest il
| showed them that we had a government
and were capable Of governing ourselves.
From San Jaointo follow him through his
service as president. He was beset by
difficulties on all sides; the public debt
| amounted TO 81, $50 600; Mexico was con-
stantly threatening another invasion.
| Then. again. the wise plan he hit upon To
disband the army, and the policy he pur-
sued towards the Indians; he treated them
kindly and had no trouble with them. He
lived for Texas and died for hor; be saw
her glorious star rise and take its place
among nations; he helpnd rock the cradle
from which sprang the great State Of
Texas. He was not fighting for fame OF
glory. but for the principles which men
like Washington, jefferson and Aiams
fought for. The men at the Alamo knew
their fate; there was no way to escape
retreat was cut off, and only two things
remained for them to do, that was TO fight
until every man was dead or surrender.
Houston had the whole State OF Texas ly-
ing before and behind him; he could have
kept on retreatlng But would his course
have been iustifed2 Had he retreated on
into Louisiana the people would have said,
IL he had made stand and fought he
could have whipped the Mexicans. II at
San Jacinto the Texans had been defeated
they would have said we told him to Keep
on retreating II he had surrendered he
would have been called traitor. Had
tho men at the Alamo retreated or surrsn-
dered 1t would have been said II was
right, they could not Withstand such an
overwhelming force. 1t was different with
Houston. Had he surrendered, retreated
or lost at San Jacinto, he would have
been treated with scorn aud contempt
The independence Of Texas did nov depend
on tho battle al the Alamo. but ut San Ja-
cinto-it was win or return to alavery.
Look at tho hundreds OF retreatfns women
and children that would have been at the
mercy OF the Mexican army II San Jacintc
had been lost. / think IL you will caro-
fully follow his life from the time he came
TO Texas until he died you will be of ibe
opinion that he Is the greatest hero. Wish
ing you all much happiness, ! close.
Guy NJ. Payne.