From the Annals of Democracy –  In 1870, the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was formally adopted after its ratification by 3/4ths of the States.  The Amendment reads “the right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.”

With the adoption of the 15th Amendment in 1870, African-American voters joined by white allies brought the Republican Party to power in Texas.  The promise of a new day in American politics, however, was cut short by the GOP’s refusal to consolidate the gains for which so many had died in the Civil War.  The Texas Republican Party vanished with the end of Reconstruction.  Afterwards, Texas acted in clear contravention of the 15th Amendment in refusing to recognize the right of African Americans to vote. It would be nearly a century before a President from Texas would secure the rights of all Texas citizens to vote.

From the Annals of Infamy –  In 1836, at least 400 Texian soldiers and volunteers were executed at LaBahia near Goliad after surrendering to Mexican troops.  After an initial victory over Mexican troops under Gen. Cox at the Battle of Bexar, Texas rebel forces were divided on strategy.  Mexican Gen. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna reacted decisively leading a large Mexican army across the Rio Grande. While Santa Anna was leading the siege against the Alamo in San Antonio, Gen. Jose de Urrea, moved to destroy forces let by James W. Fannin.

Fannin was left with only slightly more than 300 Texans to protect Goliad, a position the rebels needed in order to maintain their supply routes to the Gulf Coast. As Urrea’s much larger 1400-man army approached, Fannin dallied while considering if he should go to the aid of the besieged men at the Alamo. Belatedly, Fannin attempted to fall back from the approaching Mexican army, but his retreat order came too late. On March 19, Urrea surrounded the small column of rebel soldiers on an open prairie, where they were trapped without food, water, or cover. After repulsing one Mexican assault, Fannin realized there was no chance of escape. Rather than see his force annihilated, Fannin surrendered.

The Texans believed they would be treated as prisoners of war. Santa Anna, however, had clearly stated several months before that he considered the rebels to be traitors who would be given no quarter. Urrea wrote to Santa Anna asking for clemency for the prisoners. Santa Anna refused and while Urrea was away from Goliad, Col. Jose Nicolas de Portilla ordered the executions. Urrea was outraged. Fannin who was the last to be executed, was killed as were his troops and about 100 other captured Texans. Twenty-eight men escaped by feigning death and a handful of others were spared thanks to the courageous efforts of Col. Francisco Garay.

From the Annals of Spinach –  In 1937, Spinach growers in Crystal City erected a statue of cartoon character Popeye.  Zavala County was known for its impressive production of spinach – a staple of the combative sailor’s diet and the key to his incredible prowess in besting his nemesis Bluto.  The fiberglass effigy in front of Crystal City Hall shares a secret with museum statuary in Rome, Paris and London – it is a reproduction. To protect Popeye from vandals, the “real” statue stands safely within the walls of the Crystal City Hall. This duplicate is placed as an offering to whatever rival high school might want to defame or insult the Crystal City faithful by defacing the landmark.

The Popeye statue resulted from a contest  to award the contract. Architect Max Sandfield, a native of Lithuania, who had been raised in San Antonio entered and won  the competition.  Sandfield’s entry shows a statue far different from the current one. In his sketch, Mr. Sanfield has Popeye sitting on a can of spinach about the size of a 55-gallon drum with a more-to-scale second can held against his chest, ready to be opened in case of an emergency – or upon the arrival of Bluto.