The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-05-10

e or down on tue hdiouy P."
I, the valley OF the Rio Granoe' at
~ On the morning OF May 8. 1876,
"a ,roies OF the two great republics faced
Al, thor ON the field OF battle. Across
"a NO that the Mexicnns had drawn as
,or,bern frontier of her territory, Gen.
T.vlor had advanced. and with de-
rrenace had erected fort upon the
n, ~ the river that Texas had desig
,s her southern boundary upon her
mission to the Union
49, the battle OF san Jacin.o, when by
X e. NJ life or death the concession had
A, vrung from the captive Santa Anna,
"A, .bo Rio Grande should be the dividing
IA between the republics Of Mexico and
.s the statesmen and patriots of the
w nter republic had cast about them anx-
RI sy for bulwark Of defence from the
Es,en foe, that returning with the prep
II lion that experience had demonstrated
necessary, would extinguish the torch
~ Texas liberty, and drive her sons back
n the thraldom OF rebellious and
81 seued province. For hundreds Of years
2s. had been batted like a shuttle-cock
4. Inn one royal court to another, as an
manage Of little worth and a burden that
x wearsome to the nation holding 1t
IN in pawn. One band of Adventures
ofer another sought its sunken shores to
I'm victims to the rigors of the climate,
III as time progressed. to the fury of the
s4origines TO whom they had taught the du-
*, city md treachery of the white races.
f3iton the first incursions of the SpaniardS
IA territory had been appropriated by
Hen and with justice, as all the eXp.otel
<5utry north OF the Rio Grande was
81 mutation of the standardization that
IN prevailed when the Spanlards invaded
&Ixiao The church, which had always
accompanied the militant forces OF that
oztion and superseded and controlled 1t as
Ion as the royal standard was securely
nfnted In the conquered soil, In this in.
lance as in all others, made the first
o5tual settlements in the new territory,
I'm established Spanish rule in the outlying
nfoylpces The reign of the missionary
Nhhers was mild and benehcent, and It
Was only after Protestant colOnists had
bggun to penetrate the wonderful terra in
tvcnta that dissentionS arose and the ma.
I'D Indians and the conqucrlng Spaniards
afike were inspired with resentment toward
HTen Years of doubtful peace and dis
nted independence had rolled their tragic
!kfgths, and the old quarrel that had never
Neon adjusted had broken out with renewed
<4v Four anxious years had Texas plead
Ell for admission to the great confederation.
ftur Years had partisan feeling run high
nd the majority of the best and aCknoWl
xdged leaders Of the contending political
fartles of the United states refused the
moposas aud appeals of the unfortunate
l1public TO her C,cmcnCv and protection.
Ifey looked into the future and each slw
the danger Of an alliance with the political
f5ebrand and shuddered Mt the panorama
of war that doomed upon their prophetic
Vision The Louisiana purchase OF 1903
hal almost driven the country TO dtSintcgra
Elm and the indchnitpneSs of that illimit-
fble territory was n menace that thrcateuc
fhe future, which might be settled ana
soluble avcrted by assuming the rc.pon-
NiiHty Of adjusting the DISPUTES of Texas
III was then that the grcntest paradox in
potical economy was pcrpetrated by our
fpvelnment that has ever startled the
btateSmcn of our country. II was Tex IS
ard fight the McNicauS or disintcgyation
md fight the word
$1Drawn across the narrow prairie mile
cf more in length was the Mexican line of
battle its tanks resting on dense thirl;cts
Of chsparral. In the center were the VT
tfn troops of the republic, who had
ffumphed upon every Geld OF that battle
fclrred land AT I-Gnlnr intervals their
fFelve peers Of heavy artillery were pos
nera Rcqucna The cavalry, magnih
&ntly mounted and gorgeous In color and
fhppIngs. the penauts on their lnnces hut-
Nfing glyly in the morning breeze, held
the left flank under General Torrcjon. Gen
al Ampndla. the hero Of n hundred hat
us by the magic of his name, controlled
m unit the 2ooa rancheros. miiitla and
Mixed squadrons that rested on the right
And faced with unGrching courage t.
4fteran soldiers of the American army.
Merit, treless and inspired with the soul
~ true patriot the commanding general.