self…preservation。 The very bravery of the Americans made the
men whom they had defended hate and fear them； and there was
a continual influx of young men from the States。 The Mexicans
said to each other： ‘There is no end to these Americans。
Very soon they will make a quarrel and turn their arms against
us。 They do not conform to our customs； and they will not
take an order from any officer but their own。'〃
Houston smiled。 〃It is away the Saxon race has；〃 he said。
〃The old Britons made the same complaint of them。 They went
first to England to help the Britons fight the Romans； and
they liked the country so well； they determined to stay there。
If I remember rightly the old Britons had to let them do so。〃
〃It is an old political situation。 You can go back to Genesis
and find Pharaoh arguing about the Jews in the same manner。〃
〃What happened after this forcible expulsion of the American
element from Texas？〃
〃Mexican independence was for a time abandoned； and the
Spanish viceroys were more tyrannical than ever。 But
Americans still came； though they pursued different tactics。
They bought land and settled on the great rivers。 In eighteen
twenty…one； Austin； with the permission of the Spanish viceroy
in Mexico； introduced three hundred families。〃
〃That was a step in the right direction； but I am astonished
the viceroy sanctioned it。〃
〃Apodoca； who was then viceroy； was a Spaniard of the proudest
type。 He had very much the same contempt for the Mexicans
that an old English viceroy in New York had for the colonists
he was sent to govern。 I dare say any of them would have
permitted three hundred German families to settle in some part
of British America； as far from New York as Texas is from
Mexico。 I do not need to tell you that Austin's colonists are
a band of choice spirits； hardy working men； trained in the
district schools of New England and New Yorknearly every one
of them a farmer or mechanic。〃
〃They were the very material liberty needed。 They have made
homes。〃
〃That is the truth。 The fighters who preceded them owned
nothing but their horses and their rifles。 But these men
brought with them their wives and their children； their
civilization； their inborn love of freedom and national faith。
They accepted the guarantee of the Spanish government； and
they expected the Spanish government to keep its promises。〃
〃It did not。〃
〃It had no opportunity。 The colonists were hardly settled
when the standard of revolt against Spain was again raised。
Santa Anna took the field for a republican form of government；
and once more a body of Americans； under the Tennesseean；
Long； joined the Mexican army。〃
〃I remember that； well。〃
〃In eighteen twenty…four； Santa Anna； Victoria and Bravo drove
the Spaniards forever from Mexico； and then they promulgated
the famous constitution of eighteen twenty…four。 It was a
noble constitution； purely democratic and federal； and the
Texan colonists to a man gladly swore to obey it。 The form
was altogether elective； and what particularly pleased the
American element was the fact that the local government of
every State was left to itself。〃
Houston laughed heartily。 〃Do you know； Worth；〃 he said；
〃State Rights is our political religion。 The average American
citizen would expect the Almighty to conform to a written
constitution； and recognize the rights of mankind。〃
〃I don't think he expects more than he gets； Houston。 Where
is there a grander constitution than is guaranteed to us in
His Word； or one that more completely recognizes the rights of
all humanity？〃
〃Thank you； Worth。 I see that I have spoken better than I
knew。 I was sitting in the United States Congress； when this
constitution passed； and very much occupied with the politics
of Tennessee。〃
〃I will not detain you with Mexican politics。 It may be
briefly said that for the last ten years there has been a
constant fight between Pedraza； Guerrero； Bustamante and Santa
Anna for the Presidency of Mexico。 After so much war and
misery the country is now ready to resign all the blessings
the constitution of eighteen twenty…four promised her。 For
peace she is willing to have a dictator in Santa Anna。〃
〃If Mexicans want a dictator let them bow down to Santa Anna！
But do you think the twenty thousand free…born Americans in
Texas are going to have a dictator？ They will have the
constitution of eighteen twenty…fouror they will have
independence； and make their own constitution！ Yes； sir！〃
〃You know the men for whom you speak？〃
〃I have been up and down among them for two years。 Just after
I came to Texas I was elected to the convention which sent
Stephen Austin to Mexico with a statement of our wrongs。 Did
we get any redress？ No； sir！ And as for poor Austin； is he
not in the dungeons of the Inquisition？ We have waited two
years for an answer。 Great heavens Doctor； surely that is
long enough！〃
〃Was this convention a body of any influence？〃
〃Influence！ There were men there whose names will never be
forgotten。 They met in a log house； they wore buckskin and
homespun； but I tell you； sir； they were debating the fate of
unborn millions。〃
〃Two years since Austin went to Mexico？〃
〃A two years' chapter of tyranny。 In them Santa Anna has
quite overthrown the republic of which we were a part。 He has
made himself dictator。 and； because our authorities have
protested against the change； they have been driven from
office by a military force。 I tell you； sir； the petty
outrages everywhere perpetrated by petty officials have filled
the cup of endurance。 It is boiling over。 Now； doctor； what
are you going to do？ Are you with us； or against us？〃
〃I have told you that I have been with my countrymen always
heart and soul with them。〃
The doctor spoke with some irritation； and Houston laid his
closed hand hard upon the table to emphasize his reply：
〃Heart and soul！ Very good！ But we want your body now。 You
must tuck your bowie…knife and your revolvers in your belt；
and take your rifle in your hand； and be ready to help us
drive the Mexican force out of this very city。〃
〃When it comes to that I shall be no laggard。〃
But he was deathly pale； for he was suffering as men suffer
who feel the sweet bonds of wife and children and home；
and dread the rending of them apart。 In a moment； however；
the soul behind his white face made it visibly luminous。
〃Houston；〃 he said； 〃whenever the cause of freedom needs me；
I am ready。 I shall want no second call。 But is it not
possible； that even yet〃
〃It is impossible to avert what is already here。 Within a few
days； perhaps to…morrow； you will hear the publication of an
edict from Santa Anna； ordering every American to give up his
arms。〃
〃What！ Give up our arms！ No； no； by Heaven！ I will die
fighting for mine； rather。〃
〃Exactly。 That is how every white man in Texas feels about
it。 And if such a wonder as a coward existed among them； he
understands that he may as well die fighting Mexicans； as die
of hunger or be scalped by Indians。 A large proportion of the
colonists depend on their rifles for their daily food。 All of
them know that they must defend their own homes from the
Comanche； or see them perish。 Now； do you imagine that
Americans will obey any such order？ By all the great men
of seventeen seventy…five； if they did； I would go over to the
Mexicans and help them to wipe the degenerate cowards out of
existence！〃
He rose as he spoke； he looked like a flame； and his words cut
like a sword。 Worth caught fire at his vehemence and passion。
He clasped his hands in sympathy as he walked with him to the
door。 They stood silently together for a moment on the
threshold； gazing into the night。 Over the glorious land the
full moon hung； enamoured。 Into the sweet； warm air
mockingbirds were pouring low； broken songs of ineffable
melody。 The white city in the mystical light looked like an
enchanted city。 It was so still that the very houses looked
asleep。
〃It is a beautiful land；〃 said the doctor。
〃It is worthy of freedom；〃 answered Houston。 Then he went
with long； swinging steps down the garden； and into the
shadows beyond； and Worth turned in and closed the door。
He had been watching for this very hour for twenty years； and
yet he found himself wholly unprepared for it。 Like one led
by confused and uncertain thoughts； he went about the room
mechanically locking up his papers； and the surgical
instruments he valued so highly。 As he did so he perceived
the book he had been reading when Houston entered。 It was
lying open where he had laid it down。 A singular smile
flitted over his face。 He lifted it and carried it closer to
the light。 It was his college Cicero。
〃I was nineteen years old when I marked that passage；〃 he
said； 〃and I do not think I have ever read it since； until to…
night。 I was reading it when Houston came into the room。 Is
it a message； I wonder？
〃‘But when thou considerest everything carefully and
thoughtfully； of all societies none is of more importance；
none more dear； than that which unites us with the
commonwealth。 Our parents； children； relation