The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 8, July 1904 - April, 1905 Page: 232

232

Texas HIistorical Association Quarterly.

EXPLANATION TO THE PUBLIC CONCERNING THE AF-
FAIRS OF TEXAS, BY CITIZEN STEPHEN
F. AUSTIN.
Translation.
ETHEL ZIVLEY RATHER.
Political disturbances always offer pretexts for absurd and false
rumors. Thus, during the past year the newspapers have given us
the most alarming impressions, founded only upon hearsay or upon
the false or imperfect understanding of facts in whose interpreta-
tion appearances only have been considered, without a previous ex-
amination of their true character and significance.
Such are the rumors spread abroad during the course of two years
to the effect that the people of Texas have attempted and desire
separation from the Mexican republic, that they have disobeyed the
government, that they do not wish to be law-abiding, and other
imputations with whose falsity the supreme government of the na-
1This article is a translation of a pamphlet issued from the press of
Cornelio C. Sebring in Mexico in 1835. It was dated by Austin, January
18, 1835, and consists of thirty-two octavo pages. It is chiefly valuable
for the light that it throws upon the attitude of Texas toward the Mexican
republic, on the one hand, and, on the other, toward the question of sepa-
ration from Coahuila; for we may assume that Austin understood the pre-
vailing sentiment in Texas and represented it honestly.
In translating the document the aim has been to render it into as good
English as possible without departing too far from the literal expression
of the original. This expression, however, is elliptical and involved, and
hence many difficulties have arisen in the translation. In cases of doubt
effort has. been made to preserve the thought rather than the form. The
punctuation and capitalization of the document have in some instances
been departed from, in order to comply with modern English standards.
The paragraphing, except in the concluding parts of the letters given as
appendices, and the italicising of English words, however, are the same as
in the original.
Acknowledgments are due to Miss Lilia M. Casfs, Dr. George P. Gar-
rison, and Dr. Herbert E. Bolton for various helpful suggestions and cor-
rections.-ETHEL ZIVLEY RATHER.