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

government; this most difficult undertake
ing he successfully accomplished.
BY diplomacy and by force when neces-
sary. he protected his colony from the
fierce and warlike Indian tribes, who
roamed the interior. BY tact, courtesy.
politeness, candor and the utmost good
faith, he secured the confidence and lulled
the prejudices of the American people In
his dealings with his colonists ne was
father, adviser. protector, friend; ne So
cured and deserved their confidence to the
end AS wise man and a over of con-
stitutional liberty, he foresaw and hoped
no doubt, from the beginning that Texas
when settled with an American population,
must ultimately separate from her MeM-
can neighbors.
Two peoples so opposite In customs,
laws and religion have never permanently
lived in harmony and equality under the
same government, but he believed that the
provocation and the ability to resent 1t
should concur before action should be
taken, and while he was prominent In all
peaceful efforts to secure relief from the
discriminating legislation adopted against
/ the colouists by the Mexican government;
be was equally prominent In restraining
the rash enthusiasm Of those bold ana
reckless spirits who proposed to rush into
conflict without counting the cost.
When the die was cast anu wal N"S w
eyitable. those who had condemned him for
his caution now commended him for his
zeal. He was secretary of state. which
was next to the presidency, the highest or
fce in the new republic, and had he llVeC
would no doubt have filled the presldentla
chair. But a, Columbia, on the 80 IA!
of December 1886, while still in the prime
of life. he was stricken down He dle'
as he had lived without fear and with
out reproach, loved ana iamenteu w
many, respected by all.
The history Of all frontier communitie
. is a history of suffering, OF sacrifice,
hardship and of danger This was pecu
Iiarly the condition of Texas With
country sparsely settled and frontie
: of about 100 miles. she was more expose
to hostile Indian incursions than any othe
American colony, and this exposure taste
for long period a..
From the year 1922 when Austin hrs
! colonists began to arrive, until 1873,
| perlod of more than fifty years, althoug
The border line was constantly pushed TOT
ward and never yielded an inch except &c
a short period after the runaway scrap
in 1886, yet the frontiersman and MS ram
, lv were never exempt from danger. her
h tucky has been called 1.-The dark an
. bloody ground" but Texas has a bette
title to the name; no other western ota
had to fight Indians for fifty years IN
S other state were so many encounters OF
/. MANY lives lost. In sight Of where | no
}. sneak Captain Bird lost his life on Mf
Il o. 1S9g. in battle with Indians, and aimo
~ ir view occurred the Taylor fight In Il
|. autumn of 1885, and the Erath fight
u January 1897, in which fight poor Frar
Al Childress was killed.
r His brother Robert Childers, was
is yeteran Of 1896, and a respected citiz
baS
ID in the last two years.
- Two Of his sisters, Mrs Craddock a.
y, Mrs TYLER, are with us today; we ha
II M hotter people, and If our wishes cou
~ he granted they would live always
:. tvnes and examples of the early Tex
nj character
ut peu county has been peculiarly fort
ny nate in having many OF these era
s. neople TO dwell among u.s. and today
n descendants OF Daniel Mckay, John Cra
gh docl, Joe Harbour, Abner Kuykenda
he r p plaster and OF the rugged Emprr
a ssrio Sterling Robertson and others,
nv mo hone and sinew OF our country.
IN. The early settlers found virgin wild
Ter ness and while 1t was fair to look W
ne n aid not allay the cravings of hung
is There was meat in plenty, but no brI
nv until II was raised. and farming on
~ trontier required not only a plow bu
M ,hsre were no mills to grind It, and the
I'M, stvle steel mill. or the mortar and pes
Ct were the only resource. Dry goods, &
he csrtes and. In fact. all supplies not raj
L. AZ home were hauled on OK wagons fl
he The coast, this was an expensive meth
~ ami involved much time. but the greal
The itr,uble with the early colcnists was t
In tbev had nothing to exchange for til
les goods when they arrived. They had /
and cattle In plenty, but these were
,s IN demand, and were drug on the n
70 70 Yet AS result they could but i'll S
~ NV even their urgent necessities. I'll
'ts. Who mad spindle wheels and looms v
ies verv fortunate, but all we're mot in
:, condition. and on public occasions N
% ~ me men were dressed In buckskln
''ep ,be;r hest and only apparel AS the &C
- nv was gradually put in cultivation
.ns ne population increased these trou
mas diminished.
10 place before the present genera
a faithful picture Of conditions then
81. ss,inp would require a more facile pen
I Iean more eloquent tongue than mine, and