The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-07-05


than one or two padres, for which reason
Mr. Garrison does not regard II as Spanish
colony. The first European settlemen
was made by the French explorer La Sale,
who In 1885 built fort called ST. Louis.
i near the head Of Matagorda Bay. This
settlement did not long survive. Wien
the Spiniartis reached the spot in 1883
! they found the buildings empty. The garri-
son had been killed or made prisoners by
Indians. In 1890 the Spaniartis founded
| a mission at San Francisco de los Teja',
| east Of Trinity River, but it was abandoned
| three years later
In 17l8 1t was revived under the name
OF San Francisco de los Neches, and four
teen years afterward was moved TO the
San Antonio River, n long way TO the south
west, and there became known as San
Francisco de la Espada. From 1880 there
was but one people in the country of whom
the Spapiards in Mexico thought seriously,
and that was the TEXAS Indians: but one
district there besides that adjoining the
Bay OF Espiritu Santo now Matagorda
Bay Of which they talked. and that was
the country OF the same Indians, which
they called Texas Nuevas Filipinas,
which was for some time the official desig-
nation. did not live upon the popular tongue,
and was at length displaced entirely by
the present name. The earliest English
books In which the name occurs, such as
Pixies Expeditions" and the translation
known as Humboldt's New Spain" use
only the form Texas. This has fixed the
spelling Of the name as applied TO the land;
but the name Of the Indians is usually
spelled TEXAS. In one or two other Texas
names. in the spelling Of which the same
alternatives once existed. the has finally
triumphed, q. &. Bexar and Mexia. Mr..
Garrison thinks, however, that the first
Of these names is better written Bejar for
the period previous to the revolution.
While upward Of twenty-five missions
and presidios We're founded by the Span
iards first and last on Texas soil, there were
when the Anglo-Americans began to pour
In only three centres Of Spanish popula
ton between the Sabine River and the
Rio Grande: San Antonio, Goliad and Nacog-
doches. We leave out the old town Of
Ysleta, which has always been Indian and
not Spanish. OF the three settlements
named, San Antonio was the most impor
tant. II was the capital of Texas during
nearly the whole period of Spanish and
Mexican rule, Adaes on the eastern border
of the province enjoying the distinction
for only a brief season. The situation Of
San Antonio as an outpost in relation to
the AngIo-American colonies caused IL to
become the scene of the most desperate
fighting in the campaigns Of 1885 and 1888.
including that defence Of the Alamo which
Mr.. Garrison regards as the superlatively
dramatic episode In American history.
San Antonio remains the most interesting
city in Texas, II not In the whole South
west. San Antonio, which was settled
in 1918, was almost from the outset an ag-
gregation Of presidio, mission and mud.
The settlements Of Nacogdoches and Go
lad also contained at different times all
these three elements. What Is now known
an the Alamo stands fronting on the Alamo
Plaza in one Of the busiest parts OF the
modern city 1t Is said to have been begun
In 174t, and appears to have been the chapel
of the Mission San Antoniode Valero. That
the name Alamo, which was applied TO the
whole group Of buildings, superseded the
regular ecclesiastical designation is at
tributed to their occupation by a company
Of Mexican troops known as that OF the
Alamo Of Parras
In chapter headed .The Failure of the
Spanish Way" the author points out that
with the French on their eastern border the
Spaniards had practically no trouble. The
danger from that quarter was just enough
to stimulate them to take possession Of
Texas, In which they were assisted rather
than hindered by the French. The real
trouble they had was with the Indians.
1t was among those near San Antonio and
in the eastern districts that the mission
work of the Spanish friars succeeded best.
But the San Antonio group OF settlements
was continually imperiled from the Apa-
ches, whom no mission could harmonize.
It was San Antonio and not Adaes on the
eastern bank Of the Sabine, that required
STRENGTHENING; and soldiers or determined
settlers were needed more than priests.
There was also great danger from the CO.
manches, but this was not realized till after
the ill-starred attempt to christianize the
Apacbes. As the declining tendency OF
the Spanish government In the northern
and remoter provinces of Mexico became
more manifest, efforts were made to check
II by reorganization. These proved fruit
less, however. The Spanish hold on Texas
had long been weakened when with the
triumph Of the revolutionary movement in
Mexico It gave way. The separation from
Spain undoubtedly facilitated the Anglo
American colonization OF the country,
and materially furthered the attainment
Of independence.
Texas remained dependency Of Goa
hula until 1885, when Santa Ana, having
assumed autocratic power in Mexico, de-
creed the abolition of the federal system
which had previously prevailed. and I'M
dertook to organize completely central
ICED government. Against this overthrow
OF the constitution established by the
Mexican people in 1924 Texas alone held
out. Santa Ana endeavored to chastise
the Texans, as we know. but ignomini-
ously failed II was not the old Texas.
however but new Anglo-American Tex
as, that proved too strong for the Mexican
dictator. When the Anglo Americans first
entered Texas the records do not dis
close. Our author has found proof of
of their presence as scattered settlers.
especially in the eastern section OF the
proyince, considerably before the end of
the eighteenth century, but how or when
thew came there is nothing to show.
Tha frat recorded Anglo American entry