Evening star., 1909-06-27
GE EAE TURNED
His RAGK on
CIVILIZATION And
LIVED AFaONG TME
INDIANS -
TME GREAT f1YS-
TEgY @URRO OUNh-
INC His SECOND
FLIGHT 10 THE
VIII DERNESS

that honor was his nomination by the
democrats of New Hampshire IN 1oo4 Ior
.the election of 1855.
In 1857. while in the Senate, he was
candidate for Governor of Texas, but was
defeated In 1859 he again was candi-
date and this time was elected TO serve
until December. 1861.
February 90. 1861. Texas. by vote or
10000 to 1900. declared for secession
and March it was decreed that Al.
state officers should take the oath OF
allegiance to the Confederacy Houston
refused and was deposed.
He saw the future with the eyes OF
seer, if one may judge from speech he
delivered at this time.
Some of you" he said, laugh to scorn
the idea of bloodshed as a result OF
secession. and jocularly propose to drink
all the blood that will ever flow In conse
quence of it! But let me tell you what
is coming the heels of secession. The
time will come when your fathers anf
husbands, your sons and brothers viii
be herded like sheep and cattle at the
point Of the bayonet and your mothers
and wives and sisters and daughters will
ask: Where are they?'
You may. after the sacrifice Of count
less millions of treasure and hundreds or
thousands of precious lives, bare pos
sbility. win southern Independence. IL
God be not against you. but l doubt II.
I tell you that, while believe in the doc
trine of state rights the north Is deter
mined to preserve this Union. They are
not a fiery. impulsive people. as you are.
for they live in cooler climates. But
when they begin to move In a given di-
rection, where great interests are in
volved. they move with the steady mo-
mentum and perseverance of a mighty
avalanche. and what I fear Is they will
overwhelm the south with ignoble de-
feat"
While he was speaking a horse I'm a
team grew restive and attempted to kick
himself out of the harness. Houston
paused to say, Let him alone; he Is try
ing a little practical secession" The horse
finally choked himself down and the
driver began beating him.
See how it works?" said Houston. as
the horse was being hitched to the broken
harness. 'See in what fix he is brought
back into the union?"
Houston. deposed as governor and leav-
ing the capital at Austin. jeered and
taunted, was a magnificent figure: Hous-
ton, the untamed. impetuous, indomitable
man who astounded one OF the many
men who challenged him to a duel by
this No IA and file IT with the Others
and. turning to his chalenger's messen-
ger. saying, 'Ill attend to you when the
other thirteen are disposed Of" was no
less magnificent in the light of his pledge,
after shooting Gen. White, never to fight
duel again. but Houston, the man.
rageful infuriate, bitter virulent and re-
sentful, who conquered his passions and
his appetite was far greater.
Deposed as governor, he went homo to
his log cabin at Huntsville. Tex. He
was aging rapidly. His wounds troubled
him more and more He could get about
only by the aid of crutch and cane.
To his sorrow for the nation were added
the sorrows of poverty. Lavish with his
money throughout his life. he now had
barely enough to live on. In the summer
of '63, when the land he loved was in the
throes of its worst commissions. he was
stricken. On July 26. while his family
was at his bedside, he reused from Il
stupor. murmured. Texas, Texas. Mar
garet," and the voice of great American
was hushed forever.
Copyright, 1907