Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-25

of Congress will learn to keep civil
tongue in their heads" 81
Vainly he begged Houston to quit
his savage life, but the "rroserihed
man" refused favors, knowing the
attacks that would follow. Only one
commission he accepted; to compose
some ugly differences with the Co.
manches in Texas. Riding over the
rolling plains. Houston entered
| land MS vast and heroic as his own
vague aspirations.
1t was in 1870 that Spain, hopeful
of building an Anglo saxon barrier
against Indian raids, gave great
land grants to Moses Austin.
stephen. the son. came with three
hundred families. gaunt. indomitabie
men and women driving oScarts
piled high with children, plows and
household goods: more grants wer"
given. the deadly rifles of the settlers
heat back the savages. and SLOWLY
the desert blossomcd into fields and
orchards.
Mexico. winning independence,
lapsed into despotism by 1880. Ty-
rannicai laws crushed the Texans
and ground them into the dust, but
as they despaired Antonia Lopez de
Santa Anna sprang forward IN re-
bellion. demanding justice, de-
mocracy and a return to the Con-
stitution.
Tho Texans answered the call in
gladness, won their battles glofiously.
and when 1898 saw Santa Anna ~
supreme power, the hopes OF the
colonists mounted to the heavens.
1t was in this high mood that Hous'
ton found them. Many had known
"a
with his romantic history, and the
Texans begged him to become one OF
them and share in the briihan'
promise of their future.
Santa Anna had promised 10 lift the
burden of unjust laws and make
Texas a separate state in the Mexican
Union. and Mt a cloud darkened their
sky. Yet when Austin went TO the
CITY of Mexico to claim the redemp.
ton of these pledges, he was thrown
into a dungeon, and loaded with the
irons OF felon.
Santa Anna had lost no time In
establishing dictatorship more cruel
than that he overthrow. He scourged
his wretched people until they rose In
sheer desperation. whereupon the
homicidal charlatan announced that
''perfidious Texans were in revolt.
and called upon all true patriots 10
nut domestic differences to one side,
and Join him in defense Of the be-
loved fatherland.
AS Texas was entirely peaceful, the
colonists afraid to stir for fear of
costing Austin his life. Gen. Cos was
sent 10 the Rio Grande TO force an
uprising.
Reaching Coahulia Cos arrested the
civil authorities. set up military des'
potism, and made il known that Santa
Anna and the main army were follow.
ing 10 eXpel all settlers of Anglo-Sa xon
blood As the unhappy Texans milled
like restless cattle. a decision was
made for them even as Lexington de-
cided for the American colonists.
A detachment of Mexican troops
tried to seize a small cannon belong
ing to the town Of Gonzales. and the
citizens whipped them hack. Five
hundred men rushed TO the scene at
once. and after winning two small
battles the impromptu army marched
against San Antonio. stormed it's
walls. and after four days and nights
Of furious fighting, forced the sur
render. Of Cos and 1900 soldiers.
y -
lnN November j, 1885, I'm the midst
~ of these excitements. a general
consulta ton was held at San Felipe
de Austin, and after naming Henry
Smith to head a provisional govern.
ment. made Sam Houston commander
in-chief.
John Quincy Adams, Henry Clay,
Daniel Webster and others have
poisoned the wells OF history by their
charges that Houston resigned as
Governor Of Tennessee to enter Texas
as Andrew Jackson's agent In pro-
noting rebellion az a part OF q South.
ern plot ito steal from q weaker
nelghbor a fine slice Of land suitable
for slave labor"
Lies without foundation. Even IL
Houston's unhappy years with the
| cherokees did not afford sufficient