The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1908-10-29
The Lone Star State.
CONTINUED from page one.)

N'|ooesASssCu AAOlu Po&O OuOsJ
when q party of Missionaries under
the leadership Of Moses Austin settled
on the Colorado River. This colony
prospered, and was soon followed by
Others, so that by 1880, Texas boosted
al American popuiation of 10000.
Attic Mexico was now q Republic
she was ruled by an arbitrary and des-
potic president, who in that year 1880,
issued a decree by which Americans
were forbidden to settle in Texas.
This may be said to mark the beginning
OF that series of events which led up to
the Texas revolution of 1855. To
compel obedience to his tyrannical
laws, President Bustamante of Mexico
sent large numbers of troops into the
state, at whose hands the colon;sts
were subjected to repeated insults and
depredations. In the midst of this ag-
itated state of affairs q revolution
broke out in Mexico by which Bunsta-
mantle was overthrown. He was sue
ceeded by Santa Anna, who was hailed
as q patriot aud man of the people.
But Santa Anna, once he became
firmly established in power, assumed q
more dictatoIial attitude than even his
predecessor. He abolished the state
governments, and denied the petition
of the colOnists asking for the repeal
of the laws against american immi-
grafton. Stephen F. Austin who had
been commissioned by the culonists to
present their petition to the Mexican
government was thrown into prison
without trial, charged with treason.
The imperious conduct of Santa Anna
was all that was needed to fan the
smoldering embers of discomfort into
the flames of open rebellion. The war
of Texan independence quickly fol-
lowed, and the story of that remarka-
ole struggle, won in face of almost
overwhelming odds, forms one of the
most inspiring chapters in the history
| Va AAsAASA aNssA SvOACOs uO wal w do
opened by sklrmish9 at Gonzales il,
which the Texans were victorious.
The people of the state were now thor
Oughiy aroused and a small army was
hastily raised with Sam Houston AZ
Ommander-in-chief. The Texans were
again victorious at Goliad aud Con-
ceptiOn. Then followed that disastrous
event at San Antonio, known to history
| as the fail of the Alamo. In that he
roic fight the Alamo was defended by u
garrison Of 1870 men against u force Of
1000 Mexicans under Santa Anna. The
defenders held the place for twelve
days, until the few who remained alive
were overcome ny sheer force of num-
bers, and superior artillery and every
one was slain.
The fall of the Alamo stands out
above all other events i'm Texas history
to mark the undaunted courage, aud
the dashing bravery of her intrepid
patriots. But at the battle of San ia
clnCO the IeXans were avenged for the
massacre of the Alamo. On the after
noon of april 81. 1886, General Sam
Houston surprised and routed Mexi-
can army of 1900 picked soldiers under
Santa Anna. This encounter took
place on the banks of the San Jacinto
River near Houston. altho the MexicaHs
fought bravely they finally broke and
fled before the avenging onslaught OF
the Texans. General Sam Houston
was wounded but Santa Anna, the self
styled Napoleon of the West," was
taken prisoner and the battle Of San
Jacinto practi. ally ended the war.
Texas then became an independent re-
public and remained so until by her
own request she was annexed to the
Union and admitted as state in 1916.