The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-05-21

Ellngor. TeSas,-Dear Haphammer: |
Well, Houston seoms 10 be In the lead IN
the contest and Travis next. Nov. tIaps,
l believe neither one of these two ought |
to be called the greatest hero. Let lue
first say few words about Houston: lie
was great man, a man Texas may Wen
be proud Of, and he certainly did much for
our great state. Be IL far from me 10
belittie him and the deeds he accomplished.
but really Haps what WIS II that ne d'd
that was 50 heroio1 Many OF you say his
great victory at the San Jacinto battle
but, Haps, one man did not fight that bat
tie and one man ought not get he credit
Houston merely ordered his men to at
tack the sleeping Mexicans or course.
they didn't have any business to sleep,
and II ever men deserved 10 be shot down
like dogs. these Mexicans were the nsn.
The Texans, on TIE other hand. were
brave, fearless and daring men, but was
the act 'of attacking the Mexlcans while
asleep so very heroic? Perhaps It was,
but ! do not consider IL SO. Now about
Travis and his men. These men certainly
died a noble and heroic death. But I do
not call them the greatest heroes, because
in the first place, these men disobeyed the
orders Of Houston who had told them 70
blow up the Alamo and leave the city OF
San ANonio at once. Then. again. there
hardly v any other course left for them,
for, as Travis said retreat was impossl-
bile; they could surrender. but they knew
! too well what their fate would then be.
! SO the only thing that remained was To
/ fight until the last one was killed This
they did and as long as history lives their
/ beautiful and noble death will be remem-
I bered and honored. Who was the greatest
hero, them hear some one saying. I'm
patiently Well / viii tell you. IL was
Stephen +. Austin, the Father OF Texas.
But he wasn't In single battle, you say.
Well, was II his fault When the war
4 broke out he was made commander III
chief of the army, and had he remained
this through the war he would have done
as well as Houston. who succeeded him.
But the people selected him to go 10 Wash
ington and try TO get aid for the Texans.
We can imagine his feelings then. lie
hated the Mtslcans as only man can hate
men. For months they had held him as
their prisoner In Mexico, and Tor years
they had wronged his colony. oh, how he
Hoped to lead his men against these ty-
rants and free his people OF die in the at
tempt. Their he had to 20 to Washington.
He did it, and not a word OF protest es-
capped his lips. He could easily have re-
fused and let some one else 20. bu, MS
people wished him to go and their wish
was to him law. Oh. ] cnll this true he
2 roism. The world does not always DO so
but that does not alter the fact that he
WAS the greatest hero OF Texas and its
revolution against Mexico. whether INC
world Gays so or not. From 1891 to M
death his whole life was devoted TO bis
0 colony and TO Texas After the war be re-
. turned FROM Washington. and Houston
{ made him secretary OF state, and so bus,
/, did(t this office keep him that he had nc
: time TO keep his room warm, and after SIT
y ting for. three days In his cold office, ar
= ranging the details Of the new government
Il he caught severe cold, from the eneet
n OF which he died The people monsnec
a him as II he had been one Of their family
e The death OF Houston In 1853 was sisl
q incurred. hui OF the two, Austin's far
Il more. ] viii closc. A true Hap,
= Louis G. Boyer.