The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-02-13

secured an appropriation OF $4,000 70
encamplnentg. This was continued in 1S9
ana 1894, the FIRST OF which was held n
HYDE Park, and the others at Camp Ma
bry. near Austin, and In 1897 In the city o
san Antonio. The last State encampinsn
was neid under private auspices. Had /
not, however. boon for the generosity o.
the great railway systems OF our Stat,
| the mobilization of our guard could not
have taKen place, for at no time was the
appropriation sufficiently large to pay
more than a part Of the necessary trans-
portation. Alas! our lawmakers, 30 Law
isn In appropriation for many other worthy
causes, seem strangely remiss in the con-
siueration OF this important question; they
have given reluctantly; In most cases not
| al all; In committee room this important
arm OF the government has been deprived
| of It's Just deserts; further tnan this,
there are instances where members have
gone SO far as to attempt to belittle the
Texas Volunteer Guard upon the door
OF the house OF representatives. Our lcgts-
lators should not forget the mandatory
provisions Of article 16. section As, OF the
constitution. which says: The legislature
shall provide by laws for the organizing
and discfplining the militia OF the state. :
A lust criticism which has often been,
passed upon this body dispassionately BY
citizens Is that they have not only neg
lected the welfare OF the living soldier In
the past, but, we regret to say. that they
have been remiss in honoring the memory
OF our dead heroes, who by their deeds of
valor have placed the Texas soldier on a.
pedestal of glory; and they have failed
as we'll to beautify the places made gluri-
Gus by past achievements. No monument
erected by State appropriation marks
with heavenward pointed Anger the
grave of Houston or Austin. Goliad--once
red with the blood of pioneers treacher-
eusly slain--a sdreary waste; cannon.
whose tones made Santa Annals hosts
tremble. sold in junk shop; the first capt.
toll building of the State, formerly
blacksmith shop, now in ruins. However.
1t has been left to truo and noble women
TO perDetuate the martial history of Texas.
emblazoncd with brilliant deeds. by form
ing associations whose objects are to mark
the last resting place Of our heroes, and
iIIscribe with suitable tablets. places made
memorable by historic events. The
Daughters Of the Republic have accom-
plished much in this direction The San
Jacinto chapter, presided over by Mrs.
Dr.. Max Urwitz and Mrs. John j. Nc
keever. to when has been assigned the
special work Of securing the battlefield of
San Jacinto as legacy for future genera
items. stands on the threshold of the final
completion OF its object.
AS a native Texan. proud OF the tradi-
items of Its past; it affords me sincere
pleasure tonight to recall that, al ses-
SIGN OF the Houston Volunteer Guard as
sociation, ! had the pleasure of Introduce
ing resolution memoralizing the legls-
lature then in session to lend Its aid TO
these patriotic women in their laudable
endeave to preserve to posterity the bat
tleileld of San Jacinto. and l feel sure
that the influence exerted by the field,
staff and line officers of the Volunteer
Guard was instrumental in securing the
appropriation made by the Twenty-f1fth
Ia la tnr for nf huI
lowed ground
Fellow officers, each OF us has duty
to perform, let us appeal to the legislature |
now In session to make liberal appro-
priation for the betterment of the volun-
teer guard. Let us use our influence. and
that Of cur friends, for the accomplishment |
OF this worthy object which the expert |
ence of the recent past has shown TO be SO |
inuch needed The Volunteer Guard may |
safely trust its destiny in the hands of our |
newly inaugurated governor. Major Jos. |
d. Sayers, whose magnificent record in |
as we'll as civil life, has proven |
him great. not only as soldier. but also |
as statesman.
Knowing so we'll the requirements from |
q ripened Judgment and experience, let us |
hope that his recommendation may be such
as to foster and develop the military arm
of the government. His administration. as
shown in the selection of the new adjutant
general. marks the dawn of an era of
progress and improvement for the VoIun-
teer Guard. Let Adiutant General Scurry !
recall the days when he, with that famous
organization. the Houston Light Guard,
amo ng the magnolias of his own loved city, |
in. 1884 among the orange trees of the |
Crescent City. in 1885; among the peace
loving Quakers of the City Of Brotherly |
Love, in 1886, and in other fields, where in |
Honorable competition he wrested from
the soldiery of our sister States the flag
of victory. Amidst the responsibilities of
his newly acquired honor, may the in
spiration Of past achievements guide him
in perfecting thu Volunteer Guard of his
native State.
In conclusion, gentlemen, permit me to
say q word of praise in behalf Of the
Texas militiaman. who, responding to the
loftiest feelings of patriotism. left his |
h me and friends to go into unknown lands
and face unknown dangers. The ties of
kindred. the calls OF business. everything
was lost sight of when his country called.
He rushed into the bloody angie at San
Juan Hill, acorning the leaden hail which
fen about hiE,. that stealthy unseen foe
which "wasteth at MONDAY" pestilence,
had no torrer for him. Without complaint
he endured the eneryating influences Of a
tropical climate.
Fellow officers. because of these lauda-
tory words spoken in behalf OF the volun-
teer. II is far fr m our intention to say
uu5hl 'Elt lulBHN bS Cuboti ucu iltO Idth
Il appreciation # the regular soldier. Tho
tn rough discipline and magnificent record
Of our standing army in the Hispano-
American war are inscribed upon the an
nails Of cur country with the blood OF their |
NJ best and best: they have created a bril-
liant chapter to adorn their couutry's his
tory.
II In our form of government the intel
ligepce cf the masses must rule. then must |
we ever look to the National pride Of our
citizens TO win battles in our wars. both |
and defensive And let me tell
you, come what may, that so long as the |
united flag shall wave and spread its pro-
iecting folds over this glorious land OF |
ours from the turbulent Atlantic ON the |
east 10 the peaceful Pacific on the west,
from the frozen lakes of the ffigid North
land TO the murmnring breezes OF the |
Gulf beaten shore. the free-born soldier
the militiaman--if you will, must ever |
prove The incarnation Of our liberty, the |
bulwark of cur freedom and the eternal |
rope of our destiny.
Spencer Hutchins,
First Lieutenant and Adiutant, Fourth !
Texas Volunteer Infantry.