Mirabeau Lamar campaign address, August 1838

Houston Aug^t 1838.

  Among all the false but specious & attractive
qualities of other nations, monarchial or
Republican, there is none which we should
more cautiously and sternly avoid to imitate
than their splendor, magnificence, luxury and
display. None can more corrupt the stern
and manly virtues, and plain simple
honest and independent character & habits
so essential to the welfare & happiness of a true
republic. Ours, too, is peculiarly an Agricul-
tural as well as Republican country, & alike
in the primitive and manly occupation, or
simple institutions of our people, nothing can
be more consistent, honorable, impressive and
dignified than substantial plainess, [sic] inde-
pendence[,] frugality and economy. Nothing more
strongly and certainly [?] marks the real happiness
and independence of a people than a general
and simple equality of manners,, habits and
style of living, as well as of political rights
and privileges—where if there be no striking
manifestations of wealth & luxury, neither are
there any of poverty and misery. On the other
hand, where one extreme is to be found, there
also is always the other; “and ill fares the land etc.”