Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-07-13
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strairht Talk for Texas.

hlmDAL, NeD.s July ehe
Of The Bee: In your yesterdays editorial
items appeared the following:
III nothing more important taxes the
energy Of the Grand Army on the Mexican
border. a few sheaves Of glory might Dc
piucked by discovering the Whereabouts OF
the Texas Rangers"
am not convinced whether the editorial
writer who pennsd the above desired to cast
. slur upon the Texas Rangers or merely
wanted to be funny. Let that be as it may
/, having spent six years In south Texas.
not too far removed from the border to be-
come familiar with conditions there and
across the line during the last four years.
and bSing more familiar with Texas senti-
ment than any writer or other person can
possibly be residing more than = thousand
miles away, cannot let the article pass IN
noticed.
No state In the union can honestly boast
greater loyalty to the national government
than can Texas, and very few can feel or
are capable OF feeling greater patriotism.
This patriotism may be less deliberate than
that Of many states and perhaps 10 more Of
the "hre brand" or in hammabls sort, but 1t
10 none the less loyal, and rash indeed would
be the man who would call into question this
loyalty in presence Of the average Texan.
Texans have reasons for what they feel
greater than the people Of any other state.
To credit this statement one must be some
thing Of . student Of Texas history and ia
miliar with what Texas statehood, under
present conditions. has meant to those people
who have gone before and who not only
paved the way. but fought the battles that
were absolutely necessary to their such
statehood and their existence.
1t is necessary TO know what they en-
dured, how they fought against great odds TO
free themselves and their country from the
Mexican yoke, how their brave men were
mastered and how they finally triumphed.
In order to appreciate the feelings OF those
men. And the Texans Of today are 1.-THE
sons Of sres who conquered there. with
arm to strike and soul to dare. ~ quick. as
far, as they" To them the cry Remember
the Alamo" means much. 1t IL . cry that
Mexicans fear as they fear no other. ''Re-
member the Alamo, remember San Jacinto''
would ring throughout all Mexico If the
ban Of red tape was lifted and the strings
cut permitting Texas Rangers to enter with
q free hand.
Texans do not forget the Alamo massacre,
where the brave Crockett and his equally
brave comrades so valiantly fought against
the treacherous hosts Of the more treacher-
GUS Santa Anna.
Then. you ask, why do We not hear from
these Texas Rangers at this time. The ans
wer 10 simple. Texans are not Mexican
herders. They do not relish border guarding
with little or no prospect Of getting into
action. They know what life along the Rio
Grande means during tho hot summer sea-
son.
Nowhere In the union Is public nestiment
less In harmony with the policy of the ad-
ministration at Washington than in Texas.
This IL because they know Mexico and
Mexieans better than they are known else
where. Texans are not for peace today,
war tomorrow morning and peace again In
the afternoon. unless there are real reasons
for II. When Governor Colquitt asked per-
mission to send Texas Rangers to the border
to protect Texas citizens and Texas property,
the almost unanimous sentiment Of Texans
was that he was right. They were ready
to furnish the men for such protection, and
there 10 not q citizen in Texas but believes
that protection would have been adaquate.
Texas Rangers are not of a nature to sit
and wait until one cheek 10 slapped and
then turn the other. They are not Of q ma
ture to turn their backs after they have
been fred upon from both front and rear
from ambush.
Mexican conditions are made materially
worse. am confident, by the chameleon pol
Icy of the Wilson administration. There IL
no lack Of patriotism among the people Of
Texas. This will be shown conclusively If
the time comes when the Rangers or others
are needed for actual service. But Texans
are also sensitive. Having once offered their
services to the government for the very
service for which troops are now being en-
listed. and having had those services re.
fused without thanks" real need must
be evident before they again come forward
to risk second humiliation.
Another article In the editorial columns
Of The Bee. says:
1T Is up to Texas and adjoining states
to show visitors that their summer resort
claims are not based on hot air."
From experience. know there are parts
Of Texas unsurpassed as . pleasant place for
home. summer or winter. These places are
on or near the water. Unfortunately the
troops being sent TO guard the border will
not benefit from the gulf bresxss, but the
most Of them are going into . hot, dry
region where they must suffer more or less
from heat and dust. Fortunately there will
be no malaria or other unhealthy conditions
such as were found at vera Crus BY the boys
who were sent down 10 teach the Greasers
respect for our nag. Possibly some may
recall this little incident. and how several
Mexicans and few Of our own boys ware
sacrificed. Also how this government col
lected customs for . while and came away
without getting the salute or, 90 far a. IL
evident to one outside the administration
teepe, In any way lettering the conditions
of the Nexieans or our relations with them.
A. r. EN0S.