Anadarko daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 1901-190?, 1902-05-22
TBXAS'S OWN FOURTH
s,AacH ? AlzaAk HOLIDAY IN LONE
2Ta6 STATE.
Separation From Mexico Wont Form lily
Into Enoe. on That bay strong Doc
smc=t Drawn Up As a Declaration OF
Independence.


one OF the greatest states of the Union
the second day of March is legal
holiday Some would be mystihed If
told, furthermore, that this is the date
Of the Declaration Of independence OF
one part Of the American nation. Such.
however are the facts. The state is
Texas What the Fourth of July is in
the history of the thirteen original
colonies. the second Of March is in the
history Of Texas
The opening of the year 1886 found
reNas in quite an anomalous condi-
tion. She was engaged in active fight
ing against Mexico and yet seemed to
have no other idea than that of re-
naming a portion of Mexico In No
yem3er of the preceding year a gather
ing known as the general consultation
had been held at San Felipe. The name
consultation was applied to this be-
cause the MeXicans were preiudiced
against conventions" This one fact
shows how anxious the Texans were
to retain the favor of Mexico. Provi-
sion was made for another council. to
meet the lst of March of the next year
On Feb. | an election was held and
fifty eight were chosen as delegates to
that gathering.
These assembled March in the pic
turosque old town of Washington. on
the Brazos The next day they unan-
imously adopted declaration of in
dependence 1t was written by George
c. Chidress, and is considered a str5hg
document. The opening lines are as
follows
when a Government has ceased to
Trotect the lives, liberty and property
OF the people, from whom its legiti-
mate powers are derived"
1t then proceeds to state concisely
and vigorously sixteen separate points
IN which the government of Mexico
had failed in its duty to Texas. It then
states that these and other griev-
ances were patiently borne until they
reached the point at which forbear-
lnce ceased TO be virtue" 1t declares
that the Texans then took up arms in
defense of the national Constitution"
that is, the Constitution of Mexico
but that now the necessity of self
preservation DEGREES an eternal politi-
cal separation" 1t closes by commit
ting the issue to the decision of the
Supreme Arbiter of the destinies of
nations
The first name signed is that of
Richard Ellis. the president OF the
gathering. Then follow the names of
hfty-one others who were present.
Sam Houston was one of these. Last
come the names of six others who
we're elected delegates, but were not
present, and signed later. Nearly all of
lhe fifty-eight names are now perpetu-
lted as the names of counties on the
map of Texas.
After all, however, one can not help
feeling that this declaration of indie
Dendence was largely a matter of form.
speaking the connection
with the mother country had already
been severed. There had been some
months OF. actual fighting The battles
OF Conception, Goliad and Gonzales
had already been fought San Antonio
had already been captured by the
Texans and recaptured by the Mexi-
cans. At the very time the convention
vas in session Travis, Bowie, Crockett
a Nd their brave followers We're making
.saif last heroic stand at the Alamo.
N Sunday, March G, the last letter
g yitten by Travis was received. When
.As president read the message one
% smber sprang to his feet and moved
s5Rt the members of the convention
SEm themselves and march immediate
y to the Alamo to relieve Travis.
2sm Houston opposed this He claimed
hat the first duty of the convention
vas to establish a government and
constitution. He offered to collect
troops himself and march to the relief.
This he did, but all too late On the
1ight of the very day when they were
Discussing it-Sunday March 6, 1886
-Se final attack was made. All the
-FNrld knows the result. The Alamo
AIl but its glorious fall made forever
Appossible the failure of Texan inde-
peudence, so peacefully declared in the
quiet town of Washington only a few
days before.