Rocky Ford enterprise., 1911-11-10

Enterprise readers who are interested
in the science of politics are earnestly
advised to read the series of articles in
which it is proposed to point a moral to
the voters of this age by showing the
great progress of the nation and to what
it has been due.-EplToR.
In 1886 Texas had gained hsr inde-
pendenee at San Jaointo. and she became
what was known as the Lone Star Re-
public" and was recognized as such by
the United States. England. France and
Belgium. The famous old Sam Houston
being her first president,
Those who have kept pretty close to
the history Of our country. previous to
this, cannot help noticing how rapidly the
vexatious question of American slavery
was forcing itself to the front and upon
attention Of the people.
Texas was now independent and none
thought. considering her position and con-
dition, that she could or would even want
to remain so long. as there were too
many elements of danger ahead. That
she would apply for admission into the
Union seemed oersain, which the South
was sure to urge and foster, and the
North to oppose.
March /. l845; joint resolution was
passed by congress for the admission of
Texas as state. but she was not form
ally admitted until Jan. 2e. le45. March
3. lS45. Florida had been admitted.
making in fact two more slave states in
one year.
Still Texas continued to be a bone of
contention, and later investigations show
that Texas, to the Rio Grande. should
have been included in the louisiana pur-
chase, but the population was so sparse.
there being scarcely 10000 souls in all
Texas at the time she became in6epend-
ent. President Tyler, in 1914, made a
secret treaty with Texas for her admis-
sion. but the senate refused positively to
ratify it. Mr.. Tyler as we'll as Polk, who
followed him in the Presidenoy-Mareh
4, l945, were both ready to do any
thing that would further the interests of
slavery. and at this time this pet institu-
ton slavery seemed quite secure. But
already the oncoming storm OF opposi-
ton to slavery was surely gathering. that
no human agency could withstand. Great
and trying times were in store for the
American Republic that shook it from
center to circumference. and thousands
Of as grand and brave men as could be
found in all Gods creation went down to
their graves in the full belief of and in
the words of our constitution that all
men are born free and equal" and the
words of the immortal Lincoln. that mo
nation can stand half slave. hal. free"
But as early as 1915. one Ben
iarnine Lundey organized what was
known as the Union Humane Society
He issued little paper called Tine GEN.
ius of Universal Emancipation" He
made. for the time, but little headway,
but gathered a few. Among the number
being William Lloyd Garrison, and was
ably supported by that powerful platform
orator. Wendell Phillips, and the fearless
Theodore Parker. These men were de-
termined and believed fully in their prin-
cipals. Often they caused great anger
in the north and were mobbed and rotten
egged a number of times. but SO power
,ul was these men that the wind of the
oncoming tempest could be felt all over
the nation, and so great in few years
had this controversy grown that under
no plea could it be kept out of congress,
where the quarrelIng was often most
bitter ending in violence and bloodshed,
Blind indeed was the man who could
not forsee the awful tempest that was
gathering over our fair land. The power
ful Wendell Phillips was making speeches
almost day and night Nothing daunted
him. His words seemed to resound from
one end of the continent to the other,
They leaped theAtlantic and his speeches
were read in foreign countries, and he
was often called the master Of speech
making arti'
ITO Be Continued