The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1901-05-17

well paid for the days exertions.
Were / to attempt to express the sad
and creepy feeling that came over me
after viewing this days sights, | fear
would utterly fail in the attempt so
pass it on.
For the second time visit the Alamo
for the purpose Of gaining bit of infor-
nation relating to the lives Of the heroes
who persisted within its sacred walls, and
as look here and there observing the
marked respect and reverence shown
the memory OF a native of my mother
State, could not restrain my eyes from
filling with sympathetic tears while my
bosom within swelled with pride Friends
of my native home, you need never be
ashamed Of your bir,hright State. In all
my travels, which have been quite extern
sive, have had no cause to regret being
a son of the grand old Volunteer State.
President Mckinley did our State honor
in his speech here in referring to the life
of Crockett before the other two heroes of
the Alamo which ouuanked him.
| could go into details, giving the
causes which led up to the war with
Mexico in 1895 and 1896, which resulted
in the massacre of the defenders of the
Alamo, but space forbids, However,
will say for the benefit Of my young
friends that Mexico owned Texas as Eng
land once owned America. Having held
out inducements for emigrants to settle
up this territory, Mexico became jealous
of their enlightened progress and Santa
Anna, who was then President, sent out
his army TO coniscate all the firearms
that the Texans possessed, which they
needed to protect their own lives from
wild beasts and savages. General Cos, a
brother-in-la~ to Santa Anna, surrender
ed San Antonio to Milam's men, making
terms with Gen. Burleson, commander Of
the American forces. Gen. Cos returned
to Mexico, but was met by Santa Anna
with his entire army and compelled 10 re-
turn to San Antonio. In the mean time.
the little band of less than 200 had taken
refuge in the old mission Alamo, where
they met their fate, after an eleven days
seige, but not until their supplies Of am
munition and provisions were exhausted
The life Of this East Tennessean was
checkered, as we'll as a venturous one.
His early days were given to fighting the
Greek Indians in Alabama, Georgia and
Florida He afterward moved to West
Tennessee. His first marriage history is
recorded in Weakley County, having been
placed on record in 1906. He twice rep
resented West Tennessee in Congress
and was only defeated the third time by
his opposition TO President Jackson's In
dian bill. He was forewarned of this
fact by his friends, but he was not at all
reluctant in telling them that he would
rather be politically id than hypocliti-
cally immortalized 'Old Hickory had
gotten in his graft, and 10 oppose him
was political death, Hence by such ac's
of self-sacrifce, he gained for himself
while in Congress the title of Honest
Crockett" In my opinion, he could not
have left a greater legacy to his children.
lust here feel like pausing long enough
to ask the question, upon whose shoulders
did this mantle fall? None that can re-
call, unless it is Col. billiard, late State
Senator Of this State, who resigned his
seat in the last Legislature, giving as his
reason for so doing that the state of cor
ruption to which his colleagues had fall
en- into, by allowing the monied cor
porations to influence their voting on
various bills presented in the Legislature.
This act was the means OF defeating
one railroad bill--the only one that did
not go through Satan, though con-
quered on the mount, his influence still
reigns in our midst The closing days
Of Crockett's life, like Gen. Clusters, had
indeed sad ending. Bowed down un-
der the remorse of defeat for seat in
Congress, which lie had learned to love
and honor, he sets out for Texas to help
an oppressed people. After saying good
bye to his wife and children, who afr
fectionately demonstrated against his
] leaving them, with the burning tears Of
an affectonate husband and father
coursing down his furrowed cheeks, he
hung his head doubtless In silent prayer
for the preservation Of his kind wife and
| little children until his safe return. He
was a man Of strong determination.
having once made up his mind what
course to pursue, pursued it at all haz-
ards. He had not only made ap his
mind, but had given vent to the follow
ing expressions
"As my country no longer requires
my services, have made up my mind
TO 90 TO Texas My life has been one
OF danger, toll and priyation, but these
difficulties had to overcome at time
when | considered them nothing But
how different now ! start anew upon
my own hook, and God only grant that
may be strong enough to support the
weight that may be hung upon it. |
have new row to hoe-a long, rough
one, but come what will, Ill go ahead Z
]. r. SCATES.
San Antonio, Tex, May 9, 1901
Piles are not only most painful,