Year: 1874




THANKSGIVING by A REDEEMED


PEOPLE.


Among Christian nations it has been
a custom sanctified by eighteen hnn-
dred years, for the people to bow in
thankfulness to the Great Ruler of all
for their preservation in times of great
peril. 1t is q reasonable and holy Gus
tom.


If any modern State has had just
occasion for such manifestations of hui
mility and gratitude to Heaven, the
people of our own long-suffering, be-
loved State of Texas have their day,
the first Sabbath after the tyrants
chains have fallen from their limbs.


That deep laid conspiracy, plotted
in the secret recesses of wicked hearts,
having for its object the debasement
and enslavement of this people and
the perpetuation in power and ag-
grandisement of band of wicked and
dangerous men, has come near being
successful, all intelligent men know.
That its success would have doomed
Texas to indefinite anarchy, turmoil,
police rule, plunder and lawless scenes
of blood and carnage, placing life and
property at the mercy of dosperadoes,
past experience leaves no room to
doubt.


The late Governor of Texas, L. j..
Davis, the three Supreme Court Judges,
Ogden, Walker and McAdoo, the late
Secretary of State, with A. j. Hamil-
ton, C. b. Sabin and Others of less or
no note at all, have been engaged in
this plot to destroy all that is worth
possessing by freemen. Had the Pres
ident of the United States descended
from his high position to give aid and
comfort to the conspirators, the deplor-
able results herein referred to, would
have followed, and this holy Sabbath
day, instead of being one calling for
thanksgiving and praise, would be one
of sorrow and gloom, and in less than
ten days from this time, every town in
the State would be in virtual control of
few desperate, unprincipled creatures,
bent on vengeance and plumber They
had already, in their greed, partitioned
out the county and local offices to be
divided among them by All anticipated
military Governor. The white people
of Texas are too brave and just towith-
hold from President Grant the fullest
need of praise for his conduct in this
great crisis. Every honest heart re-
ioices at his course, and the brief but
pointed and scathing manner in which
he rebuked and dumbfounded they wick
ed cabal of conspirators. Though he
may have committed hundred wrongs,
we homer him without stint for this
act in defence of right and liberty.


The storm has spent its force-the
clouds have lifted-and the sun of
peace, liberty and good government is
risen to shed his benign light over us
as people. The late governor no
longer holds sway; he sinks from an
abused power to political death which
knows no waking. The three corrupt
Judges will, in few weeks, but in due
| course of law, descend from the exalted
seats they have polluted, never more to
have power to judicially rob this peo-
pie of their birthright. The lesser
lights will return to the dark purlieus
of obscurity whence they came.
The people at last have as Governor
an able, upright and just citizen OF
their own selection. They have Leg
islature of their own free choice, now
peacefully legislating for the public
welfare. The Supreme Court, in a
few days or weeks, will be composed
of five men selected because of their
learning, purity and patriotism. All
county officers elected by the people,
who have not already done so, will at
once take their positions.


Peace, blessed peace, resting on the
firm foundations of justice to all, with
out regard to creed, party, race or color,
will once more smile upon the people
and make glad all hearts not Joined to
the idols of wickedness. The mother
while folding her infant to her breast
the father while absent from home
the wayfaring man on the highways
the rich, the poor, the high and the
humble-all, all, will feel, with JOY un'
speakable, that all is well.


Confidence, fellowship, wise laws and
their just administration, after eight
years of discord, oppression, and Off
cial corruption will not only bless
Texas morally, politically and socially
but will cause such flow of emigra.
ton hither, such a development OF
material power, such an impetus to ouI
educational enterprises, such re
awakening in all the ramifications o
life, as to drive forward the car of gen
uine, healthy progress, with velocity
that has never been witnessed in any
State of this Union.


Escaping from such past-witf
such present at hand, and such fu
ture in front, may not and ought no
every heart on this day of rest to mel
in gratitude to the Most High, for hav
ing delivered us from bondage rarely
surpassed since Moses Remesis led tho
children of Israel out of Egypt


TOO BLIND TO SEE.