Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-08
ELEBRATE SAN JACINTO DAY
MEMBERS OF TEXAS SOCIETY EN-.
TERrAMED LAST NIGHT.
Address by Representative Gillespie on
States Early History - Other
Features, Including Music.

'.San Jacinto day" was celebrated last
evening by the Texas Society Of this city
and Its friends in the society's rooms at
the Pythian Temple, 9th street near Massa-
chusetts avenue northwest. The rooms
were crowded to the doors, and all listened
attentively to the several addresses which
had the Lone Star state as the special
theme
Mr.. P. NJ Kennerly presided, and de-
livered the address of welcome. The pro-
gram opened with a contralto solo by Miss
Stella Raymond. who sang Love Me. and
the World is Nine" and as an encore, my
Dear
Representative o. 8. Gillespie was intro
duced and delivered an address on Stephen
F. Austin and the early history Of Texas.
He said, in part: Our state speaks for IT.
self, and the history Of our state speaks
for itself. To be a citizen of Texas Is q
distinction any man ought to be proud OF
Texas. from the time that La Sale first
put his foot there in 1886 to 1921, was prac-
tically unsettled. and had been theater
Of war all of that time. 1t was whirlpool
of strife and struggle, and no safe footing
could be had. One Of the greatest men the
nation ever produced. Stephen f. Austin,
went into that turbulent country and sue
ceeded in wrestling Texas from the savages
who roamed the plains
"Sam" Houston's Army.
Mr.. Gillespie then told of the arrival Of
Samuel Houston in Texas. 1.-THE flag that
waved over Sam Houston's army was given
by the ladies of Cincinnati and two brass
cannonswere given by the men of Cincin-
natl. When Texas seeded from the Union
in the strife of the civil war, Houston told
his people that the rights of the people of
Texas were not in danger, but he could not
stop them. When the time came for him
to take the oath Of allegiance to the con-
federacy he would not do so. and resigned
from his position at the head Of the Texan
army. After 1858 everybody saw that
Houston's prophecy would come true.
"Austin was educated in New Jersey,
and finished his college course in Lexington,
KY. The Indians who were being forced
out of the Mississippi valley into Texas
and Mexico were causing considerable trou-
BILE, and the Spaniards wanted the rush
stopped by American citizens.
Americans to settle upon the lands in
Texas, and Moses Austin went down there
in 1920. not to engage in war, but on mis-
sion of peace He at once made certain
amicable propositions to the people of that
country, but their reply was that if he did
not get out Of the country he would be ar
rested. He started to retrace his steps to
the United States. While on the way he
was robbed and as the result of exposure
to the climate he contracted a disease and
died shortly after reaching his home.
Ellis dying request was that his son
Stephen would carry out his plans. When
his son heard of his fathers request he
started to San Antonio, not as a soldier,
but, like his father, as man Of peace. He
found that the government had been con-
siderably changed, and as the dangers were
not quite so great as when his father took
the trip, he went on through to Mexico
City. short time afterward he returned
and settled three hundred families in Texas.
After starting his colony he came back to
the United States and told the people what
the conditions were. The Spaniards had
given him full charge of the country and
he had the power of a car"
Concluding Features.
The speaker then gave a vivid descrip-
ton of the battle of San Jacinto. which, he
said. was proud day In the nations life.
He told of how Sam Houston was placed
in command of the Texan army and how
Austin came over into the United States
and urged the people there to come down
and help the Texans
Mr.. George Terry sang baritone solo.
"Our Grand Old Flag" and as an encore,
MUD Pie Days" Prof. Charlemagne Koch
Ter recited Salvatore" and several other
pieces. DR.. William J. R. Thomson deliv-
cred an address on "a Bit Of Texas His
tory" Miss Marie McKivitt gave soprano
solo and the program was concluded with a
copro M colo nv Mrs r McDnf7a