Richmond daily palladium., 1906-01-13
THE ALAMO: SPIRIT OF TIE AMERICAN FRONTIER
By X. Y. ~


and brutal, nave all the various and
divergent peoples that now constl-
tute the population of the United
States, been Americanized-one SIN
gle great force, the force OF the
frontier.
Immediately after the thirteen
colonies established their independ-
ence. MANY of the settlers on the At
lantic seaboard became restless, and
looking across the Alleghenies, resolv-
ed to conquer portion Of the great
territory beyond. Tat first step
across the original boundary Of the
United States was the beginning of a
movement which did not end till the
frontier had vanished, and these
brave conquerors had been hammer
ed, by their hard surroundings, In
to type Enthusiastically Ameri'
can. The advance of the frontier
has meant steady movement away
from the influences of Europe, a
sturdy growth Of independence, and
resultant political, economical and
social conditions, which have crystal
lied and preserved this American
type. The story of the recession of
that great area Of free land tells
graphically of Americas develop
ment. Productive of individualism,
our frontier has promoted democracy.
What the Mediterranean was to the
Greek, breaking the bond Of custom,
Offering new experiences and calling
out new institutions and activities,
that and more, the ever retreating
frontier has been to the United
States directly, and to the nations of
Europe more remotely. And now
four centuries after the discovery of
America. and at the end of hum
dred years under the constitution,
the frontier has gone and with it's
going has closed the first period of
Americas history.
The march of the frontier has
meant more than the mere unresisted
spreading of the people across a vast
tract of land. 1t has meant fight
with nature. the subduing of savage
animals. and the still more savage
Red Man. Here was engendered
that spirit of indomitable persisten-
cy which enabled the United States
to give to the world the services of a
Jackson, Lincoln and Roosevelt.
But the chief effect of this long con-
tinued border warfare was to make
more marked the spirit of individual
self sufficiency, to create in the pio-
neer a feeling of impatience at out
side interference and to give to his
way of looking at territory dis
tinctly military aspect. He stood
where he was because he was con-
queror; he had wrested his lands
from the rightful Indian lords.
Early in the nineteenth century,
this well-rooted doctrine of "mani-
fest destiny" added to statehood,
many choice tracts of land in the
Middle West, but 20 where is this
peculiarly mconquerable spirit of
true Americanism shown so clearly
as in the winning of that empire Of
the southwest, the state of Texas
In action here are seen America s
most typical sons; nodded from the
best parts of nature, they were most
worthy to struggle for ore of her
choicest spots. The conquest of
Texas is not only characterized by n
stubborn fight against the wilderness
but to this Is added the overt|ucw
of foreign domination. In this war
TO gain mammoth stretch Of Alaer-
ica's frontier is found tae battle of
the Alamo, the most glittcrin~ in
stance Of military heroistl. To which
the admiration of the world has ever
been attracted. Though a mistake
in strategical warfare this battle
served far greater purpose than
many we'll planned military combats.
True, the Texan commander blucGer-
ed, and every man defending the Al
amo was killed, but the way in which
those immortal one hundred and
eighty-three met death, gave strength
TO the trembling arms of the Texan
woodmen, and enabled them to stand
mp to the world and say, awe are
free men," ......
BY the Mexican struggle for iEde-
pendence in the year 1921, the terri
tory which is now the state of Tex
as, passed from under the control OF
Spain to Mexico. The self assert
iveness and sturdy independence Of
the Americans. was the only iiepeti.
ment to the consummation of Pres
ident Santa Anna's hone of a militia