ebook download Texas Politics: Ideal and Reality 13th Edition Charldean Newell - eBook PDF all chapter

You might also like

Download as pdf or txt
Download as pdf or txt
You are on page 1of 54

Texas Politics: Ideal and Reality 13th

Edition Charldean Newell - eBook PDF


Go to download the full and correct content document:
https://ebooksecure.com/download/texas-politics-ideal-and-reality-ebook-pdf/
More products digital (pdf, epub, mobi) instant
download maybe you interests ...

(eBook PDF) Practicing Texas Politics 16th Edition

http://ebooksecure.com/product/ebook-pdf-practicing-texas-
politics-16th-edition/

(eBook PDF) Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality:


Myths and Realities

http://ebooksecure.com/product/ebook-pdf-virtual-reality-and-
augmented-reality-myths-and-realities/

(eBook PDF) The State of Texas Government Politics, and


Policy 2nd

http://ebooksecure.com/product/ebook-pdf-the-state-of-texas-
government-politics-and-policy-2nd/

PRACTICING TEXAS POLITICS. 17th Edition Lyle Brown -


eBook PDF

https://ebooksecure.com/download/practicing-texas-politics-ebook-
pdf/
(eBook PDF) The State of Texas: Government, Politics,
and Policy 3rd Edition

http://ebooksecure.com/product/ebook-pdf-the-state-of-texas-
government-politics-and-policy-3rd-edition/

(eBook PDF) The State of Texas: Government, Politics,


and Policy 4th Edition

http://ebooksecure.com/product/ebook-pdf-the-state-of-texas-
government-politics-and-policy-4th-edition/

(eBook PDF) The State of Texas: Government, Politics,


and Policy 2nd Edition

http://ebooksecure.com/product/ebook-pdf-the-state-of-texas-
government-politics-and-policy-2nd-edition/

Practicing Texas Politics 2017-2018 Edition 17th


Edition (eBook PDF)

http://ebooksecure.com/product/practicing-texas-
politics-2017-2018-edition-17th-edition-ebook-pdf/

Practicing Texas Politics, 2017 - 2018 Edition Lyle C.


Brown - eBook PDF

https://ebooksecure.com/download/practicing-texas-
politics-2017-2018-edition-ebook-pdf/
Texas Politics
Ideal and R eality
Enhanced
Thirteenth Edition

Charldean Newell
Regents Professor Emerita of Public Administration
University of North Texas

David F. Prindle
Professor of Government
University of Texas at Austin

James W. Riddlesperger, Jr.


Professor of Political Science
Texas Christian University

Australia • Brazil • Mexico • Singapore • United Kingdom • United States

Copyright 2020 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.

29883_fm_hr_i-xxiii.indd 1 6/28/19 11:35 AM


This is an electronic version of the print textbook. Due to electronic rights restrictions,
some third party content may be suppressed. Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed
content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. The publisher reserves the right
to remove content from this title at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it. For
valuable information on pricing, previous editions, changes to current editions, and alternate
formats, please visit www.cengage.com/highered to search by ISBN#, author, title, or keyword for
materials in your areas of interest.

Important Notice: Media content referenced within the product description or the product
text may not be available in the eBook version.

Copyright 2020 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.
Texas Politics: Ideal and Reality, © 2020, 2016, 2013 Cengage Learning, Inc.
Enhanced Thirteenth Edition Unless otherwise noted, all content is © Cengage.
Charldean Newell, David F. Prindle,
James W. Riddlesperger WCN: 02-300
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this work covered by the copyright
Product Director: Laura Ross herein may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means,
Product Manager: Rich Lena except as permitted by U.S. copyright law, without the prior written

Product Assistant: Haley Gaudreau permission of the copyright owner.

Marketing Manager: Valerie Hartman

Content Manager: Dan Saabye For product information and technology assistance, contact us at
IP Analyst: Deanna Ettinger Cengage Customer & Sales Support, 1-800-354-9706 or
support.cengage.com.
IP Project Manager: Nick Barrows

Production Service: SPI Global For permission to use material from this text or product,

Compositor: SPI Global submit all requests online at www.cengage.com/permissions.

Art Director: Sarah Cole

Text Designer: Cheryl Carrington Library of Congress Control Number: 2019941600


Cover Designer: Sarah Cole
Student Edition: ISBN: 978-0-357-12988-3
Cover Image: DepositPhotos/Glow Images - Loose-leaf edition: ISBN: 978-0-357-12995-1
Sean Pavone/Alamy Stock Photo
Cengage
200 Pier 4 Boulevard
Suite 400
Boston, MA 02210
USA

Cengage is a leading provider of customized learning solutions with


employees residing in nearly 40 different countries and sales in more
than 125 countries around the world. Find your local representative at
www.cengage.com.

Cengage products are represented in Canada by Nelson Education, Ltd.

To learn more about Cengage platforms and services, register or access


your online learning solution, or purchase materials for your course, visit
www.cengage.com.

Printed in the United States of America


Print Number: 01   Print Year: 2019

Copyright 2020 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.

29883_fm_hr_i-xxiii.indd 2 6/28/19 11:35 AM


Brief Contents

Chapter 1 The Context of Texas Politics  3


Chapter 2 The Constitutional Setting  31
Chapter 3 Interest Groups  55
Chapter 4 Political Parties  81
Chapter 5 Voting, Campaigns, and Elections  109
Chapter 6 The Texas Legislature  133
Chapter 7 The Governor  165
Chapter 8 The Administrative State  189
Chapter 9 The Judiciary  215
Chapter 10 The Substance of Justice  239
Chapter 11 Local Government  263
Chapter 12  he State Economy and the Financing of
T
State Government  293
Chapter 13 Public Policy—People  317
Chapter 14 Public Policy—Resources  339

iii

Copyright 2020 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.

29883_fm_hr_i-xxiii.indd 3 6/28/19 11:35 AM


Contents
Chapter 1 Specific Features 40
The Context of Texas Politics 3 Bill of Rights 41
Separation of Powers 41
Texas History: A Chronology 4
Legislative Branch 43
The Earliest Days 4
Executive Branch 44
Anglo-American Colonization 5
Judicial Branch 44
Revolution 5
Local Government 45
Early Statehood 6
Suffrage 46
Post–Civil War Texas 8
The Late Nineteenth Century 8 Amendments 46
The Early Twentieth Century 10 Constitutional Change 46
Wars and Depression 11 Overview of the Need for Reform 47
Post-World-War II Texas 13 Constitutional Politics 48
Gradual Political Change 14 Something for Everyone 48
Late Twentieth-Century Texas 14 The Political Process 49
Modern Times 15
Chapter 3
Texas as a Democracy 17
Interest Groups 55
Texas and American Federalism 18
Interest Groups 56
Texas in the International Arena 18
Definition 56
The Texas Political Culture 20 Classification 56
Economy, Taxes, and Services 24 Functions 57
The People of Texas 26 Interest Groups in the Political Process 58
The Census 26 Who Is Organized? 58
The Political Relevance of Population 27 Activities 58
Chapter 2 Information 59
Electioneering 60
The Constitutional Setting 31
Lobbying 61
American Federalism 32
Who Are the Lobbyists? 61
Division of Power 32
What Lobbyists Do and How They Do It 62
Federalism at Work 33
Money 62
Purposes of Constitutions 34 Persuading the Public 62
Legitimacy 35 Influencing Administrators and
Organizing Government 35 Co-Opting Agencies 64
Providing Power 35 Interest Groups and the Courts 65
Limiting Governmental Power 37 Regulation of Interest-Group Activity 66
Texas Constitutional Development 37 Major Interest Groups in Texas 67
The Present Texas Constitution 39 Texans for Lawsuit Reform 67
General Features 39 Doctors 68

iv

Copyright 2020 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.

29883_fm_hr_i-xxiii.indd 4 6/28/19 11:35 AM


Contents ★ v

The Christian Right 69 Chapter 5


Organized Labor 72 Voting, Campaigns, and Elections 109
League of United Latin American Citizens 74
Voting 110
Teachers 75
Why Vote? 110
Chapter 4 Suffrage 111
Political Parties 81 Registration 111

Functions of Political Parties 82 Texas Turnout 113


Government by the People? 113
Ideology 82
Why Don’t Texans Vote? 114
Conservatism 82
The Consequences of Nonvoting 114
Liberalism 83
Ideology in Texas 84 Election Campaigns 117
Campaign Resources 117
Political Socialization 85
People 118
Family 85
Money 118
Schools and Churches 86
Where Does the Money Come From? 119
Media 86
Control of Money in Campaigns 119
Evaluation 87
The Revenue Act of 1971 121
Interests 87
The Federal Election Campaign Act of 1972 121
Texas Political Parties: The Texas Campaign Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1973 121
A Brief History 89
1991 Ethics Law 121
Party Organization 93 Hard v. Soft 122
The Temporary Party Organization 94 Negative Campaigning 123
Precinct and County Conventions 94
Public Elections 124
The State Convention 94
Primary Elections 124
Permanent Party Organization 96
Texas’s “Open” Primary 124
Precinct Chairpersons 96
When Held 125
County Executive Committee 96 Administration and Finance 125
District Executive Committee 96 General Elections 125
State Executive Committee 96 Special Elections 127
The (Un)Importance of Party Organization 97 Absentee or Early Voting 127
Two Parties, Three Factions Recent Elections in Texas 127
(or Perhaps Four) 100
Elections of 1994 through 2016 128
Republicans 100
Election of 2018 129
Geographic Distribution 101
Socioeconomic and Ethnic Distribution 101
Chapter 6
Conservative Democrats 101
Geographic Distribution 102
The Texas Legislature 133
Socioeconomic and Ethnic Distribution 102 Functions of Legislative Bodies 134
Liberal Democrats 103 Basic Facts About the Legislature 135
Geographic Distribution 103 Size, Elections, and Terms 135
Socioeconomic and Ethnic Distribution 103 Sessions 136
The Future of the Three-Faction System 103 Regular Session 136
Third Parties in Texas 104 Special Sessions 136

Copyright 2020 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.

29883_fm_hr_i-xxiii.indd 5 6/28/19 11:35 AM


vi ★ Contents

Legislative Districts 136 Committees 160


Mechanics 136 Uncontrolled Lobbying 160
History 137 Assessing a Legislative Session 161
Compensation 139 THE 86TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION, 2019 161
Membership Characteristics 139
Chapter 7
Formal Qualifications 139
Personal Characteristics 140
The Governor 165
Race, Ethnicity, and Sex 140 Basic Structure of the Governor’s Office 166
Occupation 140 Election 166
Age 141 Term of Office 166
Tenure 167
Other Factors 141
Impeachment and Succession 168
Power and Influence in the Texas Legislature 142
Compensation 170
Legislative Officers, Committees, and Staff 142 Staff and Organization 170
Presiding Officers 142 Qualifications for Governor 171
Lieutenant Governor 143 Formal Qualifications 171
Speaker of the House 144 Personal Characteristics 171
Centralized Power? 145 Conservative 172
Legislative Committees 146 Wasp, Middle-Aged Male 173
Legislative Staff 147 Attorney/Businessperson, Community Pillar 174
Legislative Budget Board 148 Roles of the Governor and Limits on Those
Texas Legislative Council 148 Roles 174
Legislative Audit Committee 148 Formal Roles and Limitations 177
How a Bill Becomes a Law in Texas 149 Chief Executive 177
Step One: Introduction and Referral 149 Budgeting 178
Step Two: Committee Action 151 Planning 179
Step Three: Floor Action 151 Supervising 179
In the House: Steps One Through Three Repeated 152 Clemency 180
Step Four: Conference Committee 153 Chief Legislator 180
Step Five: The Governor 154 Message Power 180
Legislative Dynamics 155 Session Power 180
Handicaps 155 Veto Power 181
Changing Alignments 156 Commander in Chief/Top Cop 182
Nonlegislative Lawmaking 156 Chief of State 183
Governor 156 Chief Intergovernmental Diplomat 184
Administration 157 Informal Roles and Limitations 184
Courts 157 Chief of Party 184
Evaluation and Suggested Reforms 157 Leader of the People 185
Criticisms 157
Suggested Reforms 159
Chapter 8
Sessions 159 The Administrative State 189
Size 159 State Administrative Agencies 190
Salaries 160 Agencies with Elected Executives 192
Terms 160 Attorney General 192

Copyright 2020 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.

29883_fm_hr_i-xxiii.indd 6 6/28/19 11:35 AM


Contents ★ vii

Comptroller of Public Accounts 192 Chapter 9


Commissioner of the General Land Office 193 The Judiciary 215
Commissioner of Agriculture 193
The Myth of the Nonpolitical
Agencies with Appointed Executives 194 Judiciary 216
Boards and Commissions 194
The Players in the System
Elected Boards and Commissions 194 of Justice 218
Ex Officio Boards and Commissions 195 The Attorney General (AG) 218
Appointed Boards and Commissions 195 Lawyers 219
Appointed Boards and Citizens 196 The State Bar of Texas 219
The Case of the Public Utility Commission 196
The Court System 219
The Case of the College Governing Board 196
Municipal Courts 221
The Case of the Parks and Wildlife Commission 196
Justice Courts 221
Big Government: How Did It Happen? 197 County Courts 221
Postwar Growth 197 State Trial Courts: The District Courts 222
Devolution Politics Since 1980 198 Intermediate State Appellate Courts: The Courts
of Appeals 222
Characteristics of Bureaucracy 200
Highest State Appellate Courts 223
Traditional Characteristics 200
Modern Characteristics 201 Juries 224

Bureaucratic Survival Techniques 202 Police 225


Sources of Bureaucratic Power 203 Removal and Reprimand of
Clientele Groups 203 Lawyers and Judges 225
The Legislature 203 Issues Facing the Texas Judiciary 225
The Chief Executive 203 Too Much Crime, Too Many Criminals 225
The Public 204 Judicial Selection 227
Expertise and Information 204 Partisan Elections? 227
Leadership 204 Is Justice for Sale? 228
Internal Organization 204 Equal Justice? 230
Bureaucratic Involvement in the Policymaking Process 205
Implementation of the Laws 205 Chapter 10
Influencing Legislation 205 The Substance of Justice 239
What Happens to the Public Interest? 206 Civil Liberties 240
Bureaucratic Orientation 206 Freedom of Expression 240
Overstepping the Law 207 Freedom of Religion 242
A Right to Keep and Bear Arms? 245
Harnessing the Administrative State 207
Abortion 246
How Much Accountability to the Chief Executive? 207
How Much Accountability to the Legislature? 208 Civil Rights 248
Legislative Oversight 208 School Segregation 248
Texas Sunset Act 209 Education: A Basic Right? 249
How much Accountability to the Public? 210 Civil Rights in Modern Texas:
Jasper and Tulia 250
Elective Accountability 210
Civil Rights for Convicted Criminals 253
Open Records and Meetings 210
Whistle-Blower Protection 211 Capital Punishment 254
Is There Accountability? 211 Torts and Tort Reform 257

Copyright 2020 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.

29883_fm_hr_i-xxiii.indd 7 6/28/19 11:35 AM


viii ★ Contents

Chapter 11 Chapter 12
Local Government 263 The State Economy and the
Counties: One Size Fits All? 264 Financing of State Government 293
Historical and Legal Background 264 The Texas Economy 295
Organization and Operation of County Government 265 Heart of the Economy 295
Structure 265 Boom and Bust 295
Apportionment 266 Creating a Favorable Business Climate 297
Commissioners Court 266
Where Does the Money
County Officials 267 Come From? 297
County Politics 269 Collection and Administration 298
An Evaluation of County Government 269 Nontax Sources of Revenue 299
Structure and Partisanship 269 Federal Grants 299
Management Practices 270 Borrowing 300
Lack of Ordinance Power 272 Other Nontax Sources 300
Recommendations 272 Taxation 301
Prospects for Reform 272
Fairness and Equity in the
Cities: Managed Environments 273 Revenue System 302
Organization of City Government 274 Who Pays? 303
The Council-Manager Form 275 Taxes Paid by Individuals 303
The Mayor-Council Form 276 Taxes Levied on Businesses 304
The Mayor-Manager Form 277 Who Benefits? 305
The Commission Form 278 Contemporary Issues 305
Forms Used in General-Law Cities 279 Perspectives from the Past 305
What Form Is Preferable? 279 What’s Next? 306
City Politics 281 How Are Budget Decisions Made? 308
Special Districts: Our Hidden Governments 283 Planning and Preparation 308
What is a Special District? 283 Authorization and Appropriation 311
Why Special Districts? 284 Execution/Spending 311
Inadequacy of Established Governments 284
Where Does the Money Go? 312
Ease of Organization and Operation 284
Education 312
Private Gain 284 Health and Human Services 313
Flexibility 285 Business and Economic Development 314
Apolitical Approach 285 Other Major Expenditures 315
Assessment of Special Districts 285
School Districts 286
Chapter 13
Local Government: Prospects for the Future 286
Finance 286
Public Policy—People 317
Revenue 286 The Public Policy Process 318
Spending 287 The Policy Agenda 318
Fiscal Woes 287 Mandates 319
Other Issues 287 Poverty, Welfare, and Health Care 320
Leadership in Local Government 289 Poverty in Texas 320

Copyright 2020 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.

29883_fm_hr_i-xxiii.indd 8 6/28/19 11:35 AM


Contents ★ ix

The Players and the Major Programs 321 Coal 349


Recent Policy Developments 325 Nuclear Power 350
Analysis 327 Renewables 354
Public Education Policy 328 Efficiency 355
Education Reform 330 The Politics of Energy in Texas 356
Nontraditional Education Proposals 330
Protecting the Environment 358
Texas Textbooks and Curricula 331
NIMBY and YBNIIMP 359
Analysis 332
Texas and Environmental Protection 360
Texas Higher Education 332 Public Policy and Private Interests 360
Issues 333 The Problems Continue 362
Analysis 333
Immigration Policy 334
Transportation 363
The Costs of the Internal Combustion Engine 364
Chapter 14 Which Way Transportation Policy? 365
Public Policy—Resources 339 Strategy Number One: Build More Roads 365
Climate Change 340 Strategy Number Two: Make Cars Cleaner and Safer 366
Strategy Number Three: Create Alternatives to
Water Supply 341
Transportation by Automobile, and Persuade
Urban Dwellers versus Farmers 342
People to Use Them 368
Private Property Rights versus State Regulation 343
Economic Development versus Environment 344
Energy Supply 346 Notes 371
Sources of Energy 346
Glossary 389
Oil 347
Natural Gas 348 Index 395

Copyright 2020 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.

29883_fm_hr_i-xxiii.indd 9 6/28/19 11:35 AM


Fit your coursework
into your hectic life.
Make the most of your time by learning
your way. Access the resources you need to
succeed wherever, whenever.

Study with digital flashcards, listen to audio textbooks,


and take quizzes.

Review your current course grade and compare your


progress with your peers.

Get the free Cengage Mobile App and


learn wherever you are.

Break Limitations. Create your


own potential, and be unstoppable
with MindTap.

MindTap. Powered by You.

cengage.com/mindtap
Copyright 2020 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.

29883_fm_hr_i-xxiii.indd 10 6/28/19 11:35 AM


Texas Politics Helps You Meet the State
Learning Outcomes for GOVT 2306
1. Explain the origin and development of the Texas constitution.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of state and local political systems and their relationship with the federal
government.
3. Describe separation of powers and checks and balances in both theory and practice in Texas.
4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.
5. Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in Texas.
6. Analyze the state and local election process.
7. Describe the rights and responsibilities of citizens.
8. Analyze issues, policies, and political culture of Texas.

GOVT 2306 State Learning Outcomes (SLO)


Chapter in Texas Politics
that are specifically addressed in the chapter
1. The Context of SLO 2. D emonstrate an understanding of state and local political systems and their relation-
Texas Politics ship with the federal government.
SLO 5. E valuate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in Texas.
SLO 7. D
 escribe the rights and responsibilities of citizens.
SLO 8. A nalyze issues, policies, and political culture of Texas.
2. The Constitutional SLO 1. E xplain the origin and development of the Texas constitution.
Setting SLO 3. Describe separation of powers and checks and balances in both theory and practice
in Texas.
SLO 4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas
government.
3. Interest Groups SLO 4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas
government.
SLO 5. E valuate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in Texas.
SLO 7. D
 escribe the rights and responsibilities of citizens.
4. Political Parties SLO 4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas
government.
SLO 5. E valuate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in Texas.
SLO 6. A nalyze the state and local election process.
SLO 7. D
 escribe the rights and responsibilities of citizens.
SLO 8. A nalyze issues, policies, and political culture of Texas.
5. Voting, Campaigns, SLO 4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas
and Elections government.
SLO 5. E valuate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in Texas.
SLO 6. A nalyze the state and local election process.
SLO 7. D
 escribe the rights and responsibilities of citizens.
SLO 8. A nalyze issues, policies, and political culture of Texas.
6. The Legislature SLO 3. Describe separation of powers and checks and balances in both theory and practice
in Texas.
SLO 4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas
government.
SLO 5. E valuate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in Texas.
SLO 8. A nalyze issues, policies, and political culture of Texas.
xi

Copyright 2020 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.

29883_fm_hr_i-xxiii.indd 11 6/28/19 11:35 AM


GOVT 2306 State Learning Outcomes (SLO)
Chapter in Texas Politics
that are specifically addressed in the chapter
7. The Governor SLO 3. Describe separation of powers and checks and balances in both theory and practice
in Texas.
SLO 4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas
government.
SLO 5. E valuate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in Texas.
SLO 8. A nalyze issues, policies, and political culture of Texas.
8. The Administrative SLO 3. Describe separation of powers and checks and balances in both theory and practice
State in Texas.
SLO 4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas
government.
SLO 7. D
 escribe the rights and responsibilities of citizens.
9. The Judiciary SLO 3. Describe separation of powers and checks and balances in both theory and practice
in Texas.
SLO 4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas
government.
SLO 7. D
 escribe the rights and responsibilities of citizens.
10. The Substance of SLO 2. D emonstrate an understanding of state and local political systems and their relation-
Justice ship with the federal government.
SLO 4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas
government.
SLO 5. E valuate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in Texas.
SLO 7. D
 escribe the rights and responsibilities of citizens.
SLO 8. A nalyze issues, policies, and political culture of Texas.
11. Local Government SLO 2. D
 emonstrate an understanding of state and local political systems and their relation-
ship with the federal government.
SLO 6. A
 nalyze the state and local election process.
12. The State Economy SLO 2. D emonstrate an understanding of state and local political systems and their relation-
and the Financing of ship with the federal government.
State Government SLO 3. Describe separation of powers and checks and balances in both theory and practice
in Texas.
SLO 4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas
government.
SLO 8. A nalyze issues, policies, and political culture of Texas.
13. Public Policy: People SLO 2. D emonstrate an understanding of state and local political systems and their relation-
ship with the federal government.
SLO 4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas
government.
SLO 5. E valuate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in Texas.
SLO 8. A nalyze issues, policies, and political culture of Texas.
14. Public Policy: SLO 2. D emonstrate an understanding of state and local political systems and their relation-
Resources ship with the federal government.
SLO 4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas
government.
SLO 5. E valuate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in Texas.
SLO 8. A nalyze issues, policies, and political culture of Texas.

xii

Copyright 2020 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.

29883_fm_hr_i-xxiii.indd 12 6/28/19 11:35 AM


Letter to Instructors
The authors have observed and taught Texas politics for more than 125 years collectively.
We remain fascinated by the foibles of Texas government and the dynamic changes that have
occurred in the politics of the state since this book was first published in 1979. We write Texas
Politics: Ideal and Reality because we think the governance of the second-largest state in the
United States warrants close scrutiny and that instructors and students deserve a book that
takes both a broad view and provides enough details to allow readers to evaluate their govern-
ment. We are aware that most students take the Texas politics course only because the state
says they must, but we hope that by emphasizing current events and recent history, we can
pique the interest of both those who teach and those who learn.

The Book’s Themes


The dominant theme of this book is ideal and reality, that is, how democratic ideals of par-
ticipation, majority rule, minority rights, and equality before the law are met by the realities
of politics in a state that, through most of its history, has been a one-party state—not always
the same party—and that emphasizes the values of individualism and traditionalism far more
than a moralistic political culture. Two other themes help to shape the book: persistent but not
unchallenged conservatism and conflict arising from various political factions and ethnic, racial,
and economic diversity in the state. As political scientists, we are trained to be analysts, not
apologists, for the system. Thus, in chapter after chapter, you will see questions raised about
whether political processes and practices in Texas meet the test of democratic morality and
suggestions about how to improve the Texas political system. We also examine the evolution
of today’s political conservatism and the state’s political disagreements and their consequences
for public policy.

New to This Edition


In this edition, we have continued to focus on aligning our narrative with the state learning
outcomes for GOVT 2306, to help students use higher-order thinking to master these objec-
tives. New to this edition, we have introduced a strategy for addressing the skills-based core
objectives required of the discipline, as defined by the Undergraduate Education Advisory
Committee (UEAC) of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB). The
enhanced edition has been designed to support students’ development of these core objec-
tives, prompting students to engage in critical thinking, develop communication skills, evalu-
ate social responsibility, and reflect on their own sense of personal responsibility. Each of these
exercises is designated by icons throughout the text:

In addition to refining our traditional analyses of Texas politics, and updating essential facts,
for the Enhanced 13th edition we have provided new content, in the form of either adding
xiii

Copyright 2020 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.

29883_fm_hr_i-xxiii.indd 13 6/28/19 11:35 AM


xiv ★ L e t t e r to I n s t r u c to r s

new themes or expanding our coverage of previously mentioned subjects. For the text as a
whole, we have introduced two topics that are discussed in several chapters: the politics of
climate change and immigration. This edition also contains major substantive updates in the
following chapters:
Chapter 1: In the historical section, we have added detail about slavery and secession, and
provided a new “You Decide” box in which the reader is asked, “How Do You Remember
the Alamo?”
Chapter 2: In our discussion of constitutional rights, we have added a box examining the
conflict over the question of whether the state can force parents to vaccinate their children.
Chapter 3: This chapter contains our usual updates on major interest groups, including
the conflict between the Christian Right and former speaker of the Texas house of repre-
sentatives Joe Straus, the Christian Right’s successes in persuading the legislature to pass
anti-abortion laws, and the political flirtation of the League of United Latin American
­Citizens (LULAC) with President Donald Trump.
Chapter 4: We continue to recount the evolution of state parties through the election
of 2018, including a box containing statements from the 2018 state platforms of the two
major political parties. We also update and evaluate the changing role of partisanship in
the state house versus the state senate.
Chapter 5: This chapter contains updates on the Texas Election Commission’s efforts to
enforce the election and campaign-finance laws; discussions of Russian interference in the
2016, and possibly 2018, elections, and a detailed analysis of 2018 campaigns in Texas.
Chapter 6: We report on the evolution of power in the state senate and house, especially the
impact of lieutenant governor Dan Patrick on the Senate and Joe Straus on the house. We
discuss the way that their differing viewpoints on policy, and institutional power, played
out over the 85th legislative session in 2017. We have also added a new “You Decide” box
on whether the legislature should be reformed, and if so, how.
Chapter 7: We have somewhat restructured the discussion of gubernatorial power by
classifying the use of such power as “aggressive” (Rick Perry), “cooperative” (George W.
Bush), or “deferential” (Dolph Briscoe).
Chapter 8: We have recast the analysis of the relations between the national and state gov-
ernments after 1980 in terms of “devolution.”
Chapter 9: We have updated the section on judicial selection to address the swing of the
Harris County judiciary from Republican to Democratic in the election of 2018, including
the election of 19 African American women to the county’s benches. We consider how this
change has renewed discussion of the use of partisan election as the process for the selec-
tion of judges.
Chapter 10: We update our discussion of chronic racism in Texas with the observation
that while overt racism is now relatively rare, subtle forms of racism are still embedded in
the state’s culture. Additionally, we have included a new discussion box about the “new
slavery” in Texas—human trafficking.
Chapter 11: In Gail Collin’s book As Texas Goes, she dilates on the concept of “open space
politics”—the idea that the state’s citizens still see the state as dominated by the frontier.
In this chapter, we apply and expand upon Collin’s insight, especially in the way that the
frontier myth has made governing a now-largely-urban state difficult.

Copyright 2020 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.

29883_fm_hr_i-xxiii.indd 14 6/28/19 11:35 AM


L e t t e r to I n s t r u c to r s ★ xv

Chapter 12: We have updated discussion of block grants and expanded the account of the
Texas lottery as a source of state income.
Chapter 13: The “politics of immigration” is a major new topic in this chapter.
Chapter 14: In addition to updates in our previous discussions of water supply, energy
supply, environmental protection, and transportation, we focus on the topic of global cli-
mate change, both as a subject in itself and as a theme that has an impact on the other four
topics.

MindTap
As an instructor, MindTap is here to simplify your workload, organize and immediately grade
your students’ assignments, and allow you to customize your course as you see fit. Through
deep-seated integration with your Learning Management System, grades are easily exported
and analytics are pulled with just the click of a button. MindTap provides you with a platform
to easily add in current events videos and RSS feeds from national or local news sources.

From the Authors


We hope you find Texas Politics: Ideal and Reality to be readable, thorough, and interesting.
We welcome your comments and your reactions not only to the book itself but also to the new
and exciting digital features designed to make your teaching job easier.

Charldean Newell David F. Prindle James W. Riddlesperger, Jr.


dprindle@austin.utexas.edu j.riddlesperger@tcu.edu

Copyright 2020 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.

29883_fm_hr_i-xxiii.indd 15 6/28/19 11:35 AM


Letter to Students
Few students in Texas politics classes are political science majors, but every student is affected
by the political processes common in the state and by the policy outcomes that are a result of
the Texas political culture, the state’s diversity, the attitude toward the national government,
and the boom-and-bust economy. For those at a public college or university, how does dimin-
ishing support for higher education affect you personally? Most readers of this book will con-
tinue to live in Texas and be affected by its political decisions. Are the highways congested
and rutted or nicely paved with free-flowing traffic lanes? Are the public schools adequate to
prepare students for success in both college and the modern workforce? Is justice dispensed
fairly and impartially or according to ethnicity, race, or wealth? Can the state attract employ-
ers offering high-end jobs, or is the quality of life in Texas inadequate to the task? As citizens,
you need to not only vote in every election but also understand the issues and the candidates.
Gaining that understanding can actually be a lot of fun once you begin to realize just how
“crazy” the Texas political system really is.

The Book’s Themes


The dominant theme of this book is ideal and reality, with the themes of conservatism and
conflict also appearing throughout the text. Texas politics so often presents two contrasting
sides of a situation. For example, elected officials constantly rail against the national gov-
ernment, but also depend on it for a large share of the state’s budget. Should a state always
be a willing participant in the United States? Should it be consistent and either decline fed-
eral dollars or participate in all the programs available? The state has chosen not to expand
Medicare and not to have a state pool under the Affordable Health Care Act even though
Texas has the highest percentage of uninsured residents in the country. Yet this position is
very popular with voters. Does the state meet the test of democratic morality—participa-
tion, majority rule, minority rights, and equality before the law—by the realities of its politi-
cal practices? Similarly, the state is basically anti-tax, and, as the introduction to the finance
chapter notes, a politician would rather handle a rattlesnake than suggest a tax increase.
Resentment of taxes is a classic conservative position. Does the low-tax stance really save tax-
payers money, or do they make their “contributions” in other ways such as college tuition,
local utility rates, and borrowing?
Questions of democratic morality and conservatism exist in an environment of conflict.
Politics is always about conflict, about disagreement, but Texas has extremes not only in its
weather but also in its people—rich and poor, Anglo and non-Anglo, religious fundamen-
talists and non-religious humanists. Too often, these diverse groups play a “zero-sum” game,
with the winner taking all and the loser receiving nothing. The room for compromise has
grown smaller.
All of these conditions affect you now and will continue to affect you in the future. How
much do you pay for tuition? Is there adequate student aid? Are there enough faculty mem-
bers? Has a president or favorite faculty member been forced to resign because he or she dis-
agreed with the politically appointed board of regents? How well are international students
treated on your campus, especially those from the Middle East? Will you be paying college
debt for the next twenty years? Did you miss a vital course due to campus cutbacks that will
leave you ill-prepared for a future job? Has the college experience given you an appreciation of
different cultures that will stand you in good stead in the future?

xvi

Copyright 2020 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.

29883_fm_hr_i-xxiii.indd 16 6/28/19 11:35 AM


L e t t e r to St u d e n t s ★ x vii

Features of the Book


Some of the key features of this book are:
Learning objectives for each chapter that guide the organization of and discussion of
the chapter and are also summarized at the end of the chapter
Key term definitions in the margins of each chapter as well as in the glossary
Critical thinking questions for review
A “Texas Politics and You” feature in each chapter that asks you to become directly
involved in an often controversial issue, often through social media
A “You Decide” feature in each chapter that poses a question, gives pro and con argu-
ments, and then asks you to make a decision on the issue
Cartoons, mainly by Pulitzer Prize winner Ben Sargent, designed to provoke your
reaction and spur discussion
Digital tools and interactive media are outlined below to help you master the course
material

MindTap
As a student, the benefits of using MindTap with this book are endless. With automatically
graded practice quizzes and activities, an easily navigated learning path, and an interactive
eBook, you will be able to test yourself in and outside of the classroom with ease. The acces-
sibility of current events coupled with interactive media makes the content fun and engag-
ing. On your computer, phone, or tablet, MindTap is there when you need it, giving you easy
access to flashcards, quizzes, readings, and assignments.

From the Authors


We hope that you will enjoy Texas Politics: Ideal and Reality and find it a useful tool to spark-
ing your interest in state and local government and politics. At a minimum, we hope the book
helps you to appreciate why you need to understand state and local politics and government
and to vote regularly. Texas is a big, boisterous, sprawling state, and its politics follow suit.
Think of Texas politics as a primetime soap opera.

Charldean Newell David F. Prindle James W. Riddlesperger, Jr.


dprindle@austin.utexas.edu j.riddlesperger@tcu.edu

Copyright 2020 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.

29883_fm_hr_i-xxiii.indd 17 6/28/19 11:35 AM


Resources
Students

Cengage Unlimited is the first-of-its-kind digital subscription that empowers students to


learn more for less. One student subscription includes total access to every Cengage online
textbook, platform, career and college success centers, and more—in one place. Learn across
courses and disciplines with confidence that you won’t pay more to access more. Available
now in bookstores and online.
*Available only in select markets. Details at www.cengage.com/unlimited.

Instructors
Access your Texas Politics, Enhanced 13e resources via
www.cengage.com/login.
Log in using your Cengage Learning single sign-on user name and password, or create a new
instructor account by clicking on “New Faculty User” and following the instructions.

Texas Politics, Enhanced 13e – Text Only Edition


ISBN: 9780357129883
This copy of the book does not come bundled with MindTap.

MindTap for
Texas Politics
ISBN for Instant Access
Code: 9780357129913
ISBN for Printed Access
Code: 9780357129920
MindTap for Texas Politics
is a highly personalized,
fully online learning expe-
rience built upon Cengage
content and correlating to
a core set of learning out-
comes. MindTap guides students through the course curriculum via an innovative Learning
Path Navigator where they will complete reading assignments, challenge themselves with
focus activities, and engage with interactive quizzes. Through a variety of gradable activities,

x viii

Copyright 2020 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.

29883_fm_hr_i-xxiii.indd 18 6/28/19 11:35 AM


Resources ★ xix

MindTap provides students with opportunities to check themselves for where they need extra
help, as well as allowing faculty to measure and assess student progress. Integration with
programs like YouTube, Evernote, and Google Drive allows instructors to add and remove
content of their choosing with ease, keeping their course current while tracking local and
global events through RSS feeds. The product can be used fully online with its interactive
eBook for Texas Politics, Enhanced 13e, or in conjunction with the printed text.

MindTap Resource Center


Thousands of primary and secondary sources at your fingertips!
Access to Gale’s authoritative library reference content is now available in every Political
Science MindTap. Gale, part of Cengage, has been providing research and education resources
for libraries for over 60 years.
Instructors have the option to choose from thousands of primary and secondary sources,
images, and videos to enhance their MindTap course with the click of a button. This capabil-
ity can replace a separate reader and conveniently keeps all course materials in one place. The
selections are curated by experts, designed specifically for introductory courses, and can be
accessed through MindTap’s Activity Builder feature.

Instructor Companion Website for Texas Politics


Enhanced 13e
ISBN: 9780357129890
This Instructor Companion Website is an all-in-one multimedia online resource for class
preparation, presentation, and testing. Accessible through Cengage.com/login with your
faculty account, you will find available for download: book-specific Microsoft® PowerPoint®
presentations; a Test Bank compatible with multiple learning management systems; and an
Instructor Manual.
The Test Bank, offered in Blackboard, Moodle, Desire2Learn, Canvas, and Angel for-
mats, contains learning objective-specific and core competency-specific multiple choice, short
answer, and essay questions for each chapter. Import the Test Bank into your LMS to edit and
manage questions and to create tests.
The Instructor’s Manual contains chapter-specific learning objectives, an outline, key
terms with definitions, and a chapter summary. Additionally, the Instructor’s Manual features
a critical thinking question, lecture launching suggestion, and an in-class activity for each
learning objective.
The Microsoft® PowerPoint® presentations are ready-to-use, visual outlines of each chap-
ter. These presentations are easily customized for your lectures. Access the Instructor Com-
panion Website at www.cengage.com/login.
Cognero for Texas Politics, Enhanced 13e
ISBN: 9780357129944
Cengage Learning Testing Powered by Cognero is a flexible, online system that allows you
to author, edit, and manage test bank content from multiple Cengage Learning solutions,
create multiple test versions in an instant, and deliver tests from your LMS, your classroom,
or wherever you want. The test bank for Texas Politics, Enhanced 13e contains learning
objective-specific and core competency-specific multiple choice, short answer, and essay
questions for each chapter.

Copyright 2020 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.

29883_fm_hr_i-xxiii.indd 19 6/28/19 11:35 AM


Acknowledgments
Many people have helped in the preparation of the Enhanced Thirteenth Edition of this book.
Our colleagues also offered constructive criticism and helpful hints. Sometimes we agreed with
the reviewers but were unable to comply with their suggestions because of page limitations.
Nevertheless, many changes in this edition are due to their comments and the comments of
colleagues across the state who called our attention to points deserving coverage or correction.
We are similarly indebted to students who raised provocative questions and pointed out places
where greater clarity would be appreciated.
Additionally, many other individuals offered valuable assistance in helping us find specific
information or documents. They include librarians and other faculty members, graduate
students, legislative and state agency staff members, and journalists. We are especially grateful
to two people who have been endlessly helpful to us over the course of the many editions of this
textbook: Ben Sargent, who makes his editorial cartoons from the Austin American-Statesman
and Texas Observer available to us. Additionally, political science undergraduate students at
Texas Christian University were very helpful in the preparation of each chapter’s “Texas
Politics and You” feature. We would also like to thank Terri Wise for authoring this edition’s
Instructor’s Manual and Powerpoint.

xx

Copyright 2020 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.

29883_fm_hr_i-xxiii.indd 20 6/28/19 11:35 AM


Reviewers
We would also like to thank the instructors who have contributed their valuable feedback
through reviews of this text:
For the Enhanced Thirteenth Edition:
Justin Moeller WTAMU
James Goss Tarrant County College-Trinity River Campus
Jeff Stanglin Kilgore College
Sarah Perez University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Mary Louis Houston Community College
Mario Salas UTSA
Shannon Sinegal Austin Community College
Christopher Olds Fort Hays State University
Brenda Riddick Houston Community College
Reed Welch West Texas A&M University
Vinette Meikle Harris Houston Community College
Mohsen Omar Alamo Community Colleges
For the Thirteenth Edition:
Robert Ballinger South Texas College
Steven N. Tran Houston Community College
Tracy Cook Central Texas College
Blake R. Farrar Austin Community College
Mary Linder Grayson College

xxi

Copyright 2020 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.

29883_fm_hr_i-xxiii.indd 21 6/28/19 11:35 AM


About the Authors
Charldean Newell
Charldean Newell was Richard Kraemer’s co-author for the first edition of this textbook in
1979 and continued as the lead author when Kraemer retired from the project in 1992. She died
in 2014, at the age of seventy-five.
A Fort Worth native, she earned her doctorate in Government at the University of Texas
at Austin in 1965. In addition to this textbook, she was also the author of The Effective Local
Government Manager (ICMA Press, 2004) and City Executives (SUNY Press, 1989), and edi-
tor of Managing Local Government: Cases in Local Government Effectiveness (ICMA Press,
2009). In her thirty-seven year career at the University of North Texas she won awards from
students, colleagues, and alumni, as well as prizes from national public administration orga-
nizations. Her memorial service ended with the playing of “Singing Glory to the Green,” the
North Texas alma mater.
Despite her ferocious work ethic, Charldean was a cheerful and generous writing part-
ner. Phone conversations about the next edition of this textbook were conducted amidst
laughter, often including her continuing critiques of the travails of her beloved Texas Rang-
ers baseball team, and generally included helpful advice. She always beat her deadlines,
and invariably provided acute but respectful commentary on the chapter first drafts of her
co-authors. Although she is no longer contributing new information to this book, many of
her sentences and paragraphs continue to adorn its prose, along with continuing themes
that reflect her passion for the subject matter. We are pleased that her name is still on
the cover.

David F. Prindle
David Prindle was born in Los Angeles and raised in Hermosa Beach, California. He earned a
BA from the University of California, Santa Cruz in 1970, an MA from UCLA in 1972, and a
PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1977. He was hired by the Government
Department of the University of Texas at Austin in 1976.
He is the author of Petroleum Politics and the Texas Railroad Commission (University
of Texas Press, 1981), The Politics of Glamour: Ideology and Democracy in the Screen
Actors Guild (University of Wisconsin Press, 1987), Risky Business: The Political Economy
of Hollywood (Westview Press, 1993), The Paradox of Democratic Capitalism: Politics and
Economics in American Thought (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2005), Stephen Jay
Gould and the Politics of Evolution (Prometheus Books, 2009), and The Politics of Evolution
(Routledge/Taylor and Francis, 2015). He has won five teaching awards at the University
of Texas. His hobbies include fly-fishing, reading detective novels, and getting lost in
beautiful places.

James W. Riddlesperger, Jr.


James W. Riddlesperger, Jr. (PhD, University of Missouri) is Professor of Political Science at
Texas Christian University (TCU). A native of Denton, he has taught American politics, with
interests in Texas politics, Congress, and the Presidency, at TCU since 1982.

x xii

Copyright 2020 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.

29883_fm_hr_i-xxiii.indd 22 6/28/19 11:35 AM


About the Authors ★ x xiii

Recipient of the TCU Chancellor’s Award for Distinguished Achievement as a Creative


Teacher and Scholar and the Honor’s Professor of the Year award at TCU, his publications
include The Austin-Boston Connection: Five Decades of House Democratic Leadership,
1937–1989 (Texas A&M University Press, 2009), and Lone Star Leaders (TCU Press, 2011);
he also co-edited The Wright Stuff (TCU Press, 2013), a collection of the writings of former
House Speaker Jim Wright, and Reflections on Rayburn (TCU Press, 2017). A former president
of the Southwestern Political Science Association, and Chief Reader for the U.S. Government
Advance Placement exam, he enjoys reading, baseball, and walking.

Copyright 2020 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.

29883_fm_hr_i-xxiii.indd 23 6/28/19 11:35 AM


The San Jacinto Monument near Beaumont commemorates the 1836
battle in which Texans won their independence from Mexico.
iStock.com/PaulWolf

Copyright 2020 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.

29883_ch01_hr_002-029.indd 2 6/14/19 4:59 PM


The Context of Texas Politics 1
Learning Objectives
After reading this chapter, you should be able to:

M
uch has changed in Texas between its entrance to the LO1.1 Give a brief account of the causes and
consequences of the major events in Texas
United States of American in 1845, and the present era in
history, such as the Texas Revolution, slavery,
which journalist Erica Grieder, quoted below, described Civil War, Reconstruction, the cotton and oil
the state as a model for the nation. During the entire nineteenth cen- industries, world wars and Depression, political
changes from the Old South to modern Texas,
tury, and much of the twentieth century, the state was poor, agri-
and the state’s evolution to a modern economy.
cultural, and sparsely settled. Today, it is the nation’s second most
LO1.2 Summarize democratic theory, and the
populous state, four-fifths of the population lives in cities or suburbs, standards that it supplies us in order to permit us
and it leads the country in consuming energy and producing semicon- to evaluate the democratic legitimacy of any
state or country.
ductors, among other distinctions. Yet, as we shall see, in some ways,
LO1.3 Discuss whether it is desirable, or even
Texas has changed little since 1845. The Lone Star State is a constantly
possible, for Texas to have a “foreign policy.”
developing mix of old and new.
LO1.4 Give a brief description of the three
Old habits of thought and behavior evolved to meet the prob- political cultures, and explain how they apply to
lems of the nineteenth century, when Texas was settled by Americans Texas.
of western European background. They persist today, despite serious LO1.5 Summarize the overall pattern of the rela-
new problems created in the latter decades of the twentieth and first tionship of Texas government to the Texas econ-
omy, and explain why it is difficult to determine
decades of the twenty-first century. As Texans prepare themselves to
if Texas is or is not a good place to live.
meet the challenges of the future, they have to ask themselves if the
LO1.6 Discuss the ratio of Anglo, Latinos, and
habits and institutions they have inherited are up to the job. African Americans in the Texas population, and
In this chapter, the first topic is a sum- explain why these ratios matter to a book about
state government.
mary of the history of Texas, with an emphasis
on important political events and the development
of the economy. Some of the most basic principles of

Texas sometimes looks like the United


States taken to its logical conclusion.

Erica Grieder,
Big, Hot, Cheap, and Right: What America Can Learn
from The Strange Genius of Texas 2013

Copyright 2020 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.

29883_ch01_hr_002-029.indd 3 6/14/19 4:59 PM


4 ★ C h a p t e r o n e : T h e C o n t e x t o f Te x a s Po l i t i c s

democratic theory are then discussed, along with an explanation of why it is vital to under-
stand them, and a brief look at one of democracy’s problems. Two discussions then situate
Texas within the American federal system and the international arena. The focus then shifts
to Texas’s political culture and some historically crucial social and political attitudes. The next
subject is the economy of Texas and the way it interacts with the state’s political system. As
an introduction to some discussions later in the book, the origin and distribution of the state’s
population are then considered. Finally, there is a brief outline of the agenda for the rest of
the book.

Texas History: A Chronology


Like a human being, a state is partly what it is because of what it has experienced. A review of
Texas history will highlight the background and context of the themes, institutions, behaviors,
and events we discuss in this book.

The Earliest Days


Humans have inhabited Texas for much longer than there has been such a thing as a
state. Skull fragments found near Midland (dubbed “Midland Minnie”) and a complete
female skeleton discovered near Leander have been dated at 10,000 to 13,000 years old;
a larger Clovis period (10,000–9,000 B.C.) site has been excavated in Denton County. At
the time of the first European exploration in the sixteenth century, perhaps 30,000 to
40,000 Native Americans inhabited what is now Texas, and some estimates run as high
as 130,000. Among the major groups were the Caddo tribes of North and East Texas,
Tonkawas in Central Texas, Karankawas along the coast, Coahuiltecans from the Rio
Grande to what is now San Antonio, Lipan Apaches and Comanches in West Texas,
and Jumanos in the Trans Pecos region. Determined to keep their lands, they violently
resisted European settlement. Westward advancement in Texas cost seventeen White
lives per mile. One can only guess at the cost to the Native Americans, although it was
undoubtedly much higher.
As early as 1519, just twenty-seven years after the European discovery of the New
World and a century before the English Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock, Spanish explorer
Alonzo Alvarez de Pineda mapped the entire Gulf Coast. Several expeditions followed, but
Spanish activity was not extensive until 1685, when the French explorer Rene Robert Cava-
liere de Sieur La Salle built a small fort in what is now South Texas. This threat of competi-
tion from their imperial rivals spurred the Spanish to establish a series of missions beginning
in 1690.
The purposes of these missions were to extend the sphere of Spanish domination and civil
law and to convert Native Americans to Christianity. Spanish influence extended across South
Texas from Louisiana to New Mexico, and by the time of the American Revolution in 1776,
about 2,300 Native Americans had been baptized.
However, Spanish power was already waning as a result of economic and military factors.
After one abortive attempt, Mexico achieved independence from Spain in 1821. By that year,
despite the centuries of Spanish influence, there were only three permanent European settle-
ments in Texas—San Antonio, Nacogdoches, and Goliad—and the European population had
declined to 7,000 during the previous thirty years. Although their numbers were relatively
small, Spaniards and Mexicans left rich and indelible influences on Texas through their lan-
guage, law, religion, and culture.

Copyright 2020 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.

29883_ch01_hr_002-029.indd 4 6/14/19 4:59 PM


Te x a s H i s to r y : A C h r o n o l o g y ★ 5

Anglo-American Colonization
Colonization from the south did not succeed in Texas because of shortsighted economic pol-
icies. The Spanish government exploited the few settlers by paying poor prices for their cattle
and other products and, at the same time, by charging them high prices for trade goods. As a
result, few settlers moved to the giant province.
Texas was potentially much more attractive to settlers from the neighboring United States.
There, frontier land was sold to would-be settlers, but in Texas, land was free if one could get
a government grant. Because the Spanish government had failed to persuade M ­ exican citizens
to colonize the area, it was nervous about expansionist impulses in the United States. Spain
decided to gamble that it could acculturate Anglo settlers and use them to protect Mexican
interests against the growing, rambunctious democracy to the north.
Moses Austin, a native of Connecticut, abandoned his unsuccessful business a­ ctivities in
Missouri and turned his attention to Texas. Moses died after filing a formal application for set-
tlement with the viceroy of Mexico in 1819. He was succeeded by his son, Stephen F. A ­ ustin, who
received a generous land grant, as well as permission to bring in 300 ­families for ­colonization.
The first settlements were at Columbus on the Colorado River and at Washington-on-the-Brazos.
As impresario, or agent, Austin had wide powers over his colony to establish commercial activ-
ity, organize a militia, and dispense justice.
Other colonies quickly followed and the non-Native American population jumped from
7,000 to more than 35,000 between 1821 and 1836. The great majority of the settlers came in
good faith, intending to take the oath of allegiance to Mexico and be good Mexican citizens.
However, the cultural differences they encountered made this difficult. Not only was ­Spanish
the official language, but the colonists, mostly Protestant, were required to accept Roman
Catholicism.
There were also disagreements about the institution of slavery. The practice of one
human being owning another was illegal in Mexico. But the Anglos who arrived from South-
ern states universally believed that they could not sustain an economy without owning slaves.
Stephen F. Austin was typical. Although privately expressing moral qualms about the institu-
tion, he wrote in 1824, “The principal product that will elevate us from poverty is cotton, and
we cannot do this without the help of slaves.” The Anglo immigrants to the Mexican province
brought their slaves with them, and the Mexican government, while officially forbidding them
to do so, always found an unofficial way to tolerate the practice.1
Furthermore, the new Mexican nation was suffering from violent political instability, and
policy toward Texas was both inconsistent and made 900 miles away in Mexico City by men
who knew little about conditions in the area. Moreover, Anglos tended to regard themselves
as culturally superior to Mexicans and vice versa. Alienation between Texas and Mexico grew,
much as alienation between the colonists and the British had grown prior to the American
Revolution two generations earlier.

Revolution
The Mexican government now feared further Anglo-American settlement and acted to curtail
it. The settlers responded with demands for concessions, including the right to use the English
language in public business and the separation of Texas from the state of Coahuila. Austin was
imprisoned in Mexico City for a time, and conditions degenerated. What followed is known
to virtually every schoolchild in the state: Texas’s war for independence. The most celebrated
engagement was the battle in San Antonio during March 1836 in which a few Anglos and
Texas-Mexicans held the Alamo against a much larger Mexican force for eleven days before
being massacred. Nevertheless, although it makes a stirring story, the Alamo was not a decisive
engagement. That distinction belongs to the Battle of San Jacinto, which took place between

Copyright 2020 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.

29883_ch01_hr_002-029.indd 5 6/14/19 4:59 PM


6 ★ C h a p t e r o n e : T h e C o n t e x t o f Te x a s Po l i t i c s

The Alamo in San


Antonio symbolizes
the state’s colorful
political history.
Dennis Flaherty/Photodisc/Getty
Images

How do you
evaluate the phrase
‘Remember the
Alamo’?

the new Texas army, led by Sam Houston, and the Mexican army, led by General Antonio
Lopez de Santa Anna, on April 21.
Surprising the Mexicans while they took a siesta in the afternoon, the Texans routed them
in a mere eighteen minutes, captured Santa Anna, and ordered him to sign a document agree-
ing to their independence or be executed. Santa Anna signed, but repudiated the treaty as soon
as he was safely across the border. Texans, however, considered themselves independent, and
the Republic of Texas became a reality.
The history of the republic was eventful, but short. Independence brought sudden
growth, with the population rising rapidly to about 140,000. The Mexicans invaded twice,
capturing San Antonio both times before being repulsed. Resistant Native Americans con-
tinued to cause severe problems as well. The new nation soon found itself in debt and with a
depreciating currency. Sentiment for annexation by the United States had always been strong,
and on ­December 29, 1845, the U.S. Congress voted to admit Texas into the Union as the
­twenty-eighth state. This was one of those rare events in history in which an independent
nation voluntarily gave up its sovereignty and became part of another nation. Unlike other
states, Texas retained the title to all of its public lands when it accepted statehood.

Early Statehood
A final peace treaty with Mexico had never been signed, and the Mexican government still
considered Texas merely a rebellious province. Annexation of the area by the United States
precipitated the Mexican War. This conflict was short and decisive. The first engagement
took place at Palo Alto, near present-day Brownsville, on May 8, 1846, and Mexico City fell to
United States troops less than a year and a half later, on September 14, 1847. Under the Treaty
of Guadalupe Hidalgo, the defeated nation relinquished all claim to Texas and, in return for
$15 million, ceded all territory west of Texas and south of Oregon to the United States. One
can only wonder what the value of this vast tract is today.
No political parties, as such, existed in the Republic of Texas. Sam Houston, the hero
of the Battle of San Jacinto, was the dominant political figure, and political debate generally
divided along pro-Houston and anti-Houston lines. For the reasons outlined, to the extent
that Texans thought about national politics, most were Democrats.
At the time of her independence in 1836, Texas was home to about 5000 Black slaves.2 By
joining the United States, however, the Lone Star State plunged into the political controversy
over slavery. That issue simmered at higher and higher temperatures until it boiled over with the

Copyright 2020 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.

29883_ch01_hr_002-029.indd 6 6/14/19 4:59 PM


Another random document with
no related content on Scribd:
gehangen, bleef hij buiten slapen. Het was reeds laat in den nacht, toen
men binnen in de hut den buiten gebleven tochtgenoot hoorde roepen
en smeeken, binnen te mogen. Maar zij antwoordden: „Neen, nu
[184]kunnen wij niet open doen. Je moet de gevolgen van je weigering
maar dragen!”

Toen zij nu des morgens buiten kwamen, zagen zij, dat er van hun
metgezel niets anders dan de beenderen was overgebleven. De
vleermuizen hadden hem inderdaad geheel droog gezogen. 111

No. 47. Legende van Mapajawari of de uitroeiing der


menscheneters. (C.)

Penalo ame weipiompo. Eertijds, voor nog de grootvader van mijn


grootmoeder geboren was, leefden er talrijke Indianen langs de oevers
der Coppename. Zij waren gelukkig, want overal kwam het wild talrijk
voor en in de kreken en rivieren krioelde het van visschen.

Omstreeks dezen tijd leefden aan de Coppename een Kalienja,


Mapajawari geheeten en zijn vierjarig zoontje Kenaime. Mapajawari
was een visscher, die vooral uitmuntte in het zetten van springmanden*
voor Anjoemara’s*.

Eens op een dag nam Mapajawari zijn zoontje mede, om hem deze
manier van visschen te leeren. De manden had hij geledigd en,
tevreden over de vangst, had hij zich aan den oever te slapen gelegd,
terwijl Kenaime zich met zwemmen vermaakte.

Het begon langzamerhand laat te worden, en toen de kleine jongen,


verlangend terug te gaan, zijn vader riep, kreeg hij geen antwoord. De
vader bleef doorslapen.

Toen Kenaime nu den pot, waarin de Anjoemara’s gekookt moesten


worden, met water vulde, zag hij, toen hij het oog over de rivier liet
gaan, tot zijne verbazing een korjaal met Roodhuiden naderen. „Vader”,
riep hij verschrikt, „daar komen Itioto’s*”. Maar Mapajawari stoorde zich
niet aan het geroep en bleef doorslapen, en Kenaime, bevreesd voor
het ongewone, klom in een boom, [185]ook om beter naar de Itioto’s te
kunnen kijken. Kort daarna waren zij nabij en landden zij op de plaats,
waar Mapajawari lag te slapen, en nog voor Kenaime goed begreep,
wat er gebeurde, lag zijn vader zielloos neêr.

De Itioto’s sneden daarop het hoofd van Mapajawari af en hingen het


op aan een tak, slechts eenige schreden verwijderd van de plaats, waar
Kenaime zich verscholen hield. Het lichaam van den verslagene sneden
zij in stukken en deze wierpen zij in den pot, die bestemd was voor de
Anjoemara’s.

Sprakeloos van ontzetting zag Kenaime dit vreeselijke schouwspel aan.


Hij zag, hoe de Itioto’s het gekookte en op den barbakot geroosterde
vleesch van zijn vaders lichaam aten en hoe zij zich, verzadigd, voor
den nacht begonnen in te richten, en eindelijk, na schildwachten te
hebben uitgezet, zich ter ruste begaven.

Den geheelen nacht bleef Kenaime, bibberend van angst en koude, in


den boom verborgen, en toen het licht werd, staarde hij vol ontzetting in
de gebroken oogen, die hem uit het hangende hoofd van zijn vader
tegenblikten.

Den volgenden dag verlieten de Itioto’s de plaats, en toen zij uit het oog
van Kenaime verdwenen waren, daalde hij van den boom af, zette het
hoofd van zijn vader in een pasrie* en toog hij er mede op weg naar zijn
moeder. Deze weende, wrong zich de handen, maar het hielp niets. De
vrienden van den verslagene trokken er onmiddellijk op uit om hem te
wreken, maar de moordenaars waren verdwenen, en op de plaats
vonden zij slechts gebroken en afgekloven beenderen.

Kenaime begroef het hoofd van zijn vader in het woud en bedekte de
plek met een grooten steen.
De vierjarige zoon van Mapajawari was van dien dag af geheel
veranderd. Hij lachte niet meer, en wanneer zijn [186]makkertjes vroolijk
oelana* speelden, zat hij in een hoek der hut droomerig te staren naar
den kant van waar de Itioto’s gekomen waren.

Jaren verliepen er, gedurende welke Kenaime tot een schoonen


jongeling opgroeide. Geen zijner stamgenooten overtrof hem in het
zwaaien met den apoetoe* of in het verduren van pijnen 112. Zijn pijlen
misten nimmer het doel, terwijl hij zich op meesterlijke wijze wist te
dekken tegen de pijlen der vijanden.

De oude moeder van Kenaime had nu sedert eenigen tijd groote


hoeveelheden cassave verzameld, om paiwarri te bereiden, want er zou
feest gevierd worden. Uitnoodigingen daarvoor waren overal
rondgezonden in den vorm van touwtjes met knoopen 113, zoodat op den
dag van het feest een menigte Roodhuiden zich in het dorp van
Kenaime ophielden.

Lustig werd er op los gedronken. De kalebassen met drank gingen


onophoudelijk van hand tot hand. Men juichte, men braakte, men zong,
tot opeens te midden der algemeene feestvreugde Kenaime verscheen,
den pas opgegraven schedel van Mapajawari omhoog houdend. Te
midden der feestvierenden zette hij hem op den grond neêr, en den
strijdknots opheffende, brulde en hitste hij den strijdzang en danste hij
den strijddans.

„Jakono”* riep hij, „wie helpt mij thans mijn vader te wreken?” Alle
aanwezige jongelingen sprongen op, en het [187]voorbeeld van hun
vriend volgende, zwoeren zij den dood aan de moordenaars van
Mapajawari. Allen dansten nu den knotsdans en zongen den zang; er
werd gebruld, gehitst, gesist, gekropen, evenals Tijgers en
Worgslangen. De jongelingen waren in Kenaima’s* veranderd.

De piaimannen togen onmiddellijk aan het werk en spoedig was ook de


verzekering gekregen van den Dubbelgeest, dat de strijd goed zou
afloopen.

In twee groote Kanoa’s* verlieten de strijders, allen gewapend met


vergiftige pijlen en voorzien van knotsen ter dikte van kleine
boomstammen, de plaats, waar de moord op Mapajawari geschied was.
Elke drie dagen ging een berichtgever naar het dorp terug, zoodat men
daar steeds op de hoogte bleef van wat er onderweg gebeurde. Geen
vuur werd op den tocht ontstoken en steeds stonden schildwachten op
den uitkijk.
In twee groote kanoa’s verlieten de strijders … de plaats, waar
de moord op Mapajawari geschied was.—Zie blz. 187.

De strijders hadden nu de dorpen der Itioto’s, de zoogenaamde


Pawana*’s, bereikt. Deze waren echter van hun komst verwittigd en
liepen hen tegemoet, uitroepende: „Wij hebben Mapajawari niet
gedood, wij waarschuwden zelfs tegen den moord, zoodat wij bijna zelf
zijn opgegeten. Zij, die den vader van Kenaime hebben opgegeten,
moeten jelui zoeken in de dorpen der Jawa-Konejenje*. Maar deze
menscheneters beschouwen ons als vrienden, zoodat we u als vrienden
tot hen zullen leiden.”

Zoo gezegd zoo gedaan. Te zamen met de Pawana’s bereikten de


wrekers na een maan* de dorpen der Itioto’s. Reeds van verre hielden
allen de knotsen omhoog, uitroepende: „Vrede, vrienden!”

De Itioto’s niet wetende, wie de vreemde krijgslieden waren, ontvingen


hen met open armen. Zelfs werd ter hunner eere een feest gevierd.

Kenaime echter gaf zijn vrienden last, op het feest niet te drinken, en te
wachten op het sein, dat hij hen [188]te middernacht zou toeroepen. Dan
moesten zij opspringen en den strijd beginnen.

De Itioto’s dronken lustig door, tot ze allen smoordronken waren, maar


de Caraïben en Pawana’s waren nuchter gebleven, daar zij den drank
ongemerkt uit de kalebassen op den grond hadden uitgegoten. Zij
hielden zich echter of ook zij beneveld waren en, zoodra de Itioto’s
hunne hangmatten hadden opgezocht, wisten de gasten van hen
gedaan te krijgen, dat ieder een Caraïb of een Pawana bij zich nam,
nadat deze voorgewend hadden, naar warmte te verlangen in den
koelen nacht. Zoo lag aan het einde van het feest een nuchtere Caraïb
of Pawana naast een dronken menscheneter, wachtende op het
afgesproken sein van hun aanvoerder.

Eensklaps weerklonk een vreeselijk gebrul en een holle stem riep


donderend de woorden:
„Mapajawari joepoebombo toetoeroetoe”.

Het was Kenaime, die in den hollen schedel van zijn vader den aanval
blies. Alle Caraïben en Pawana’s sprongen op. De dronken Itioto’s
trachtten te vluchten, doch van alle kanten klonk het brullend en
hitsend: Sla dood, verworg, mik op den neus; geen genade; spaar
vrouwen, noch kinderen, noch grijsaards. En te midden van het
verschrikkelijke bloedbad toeterde Kenaime voortdurend in den schedel
van zijn vader.

Slechts enkele, ik geloof zes, Itioto’s ontsnapten, om de tijding der


nederlaag naar de verder gelegen dorpen over te brengen. Mapajawari
was gewroken. De overwinnaars sneden de hoofden der verslagen
Itioto’s af en hingen ze op aan de takken der omliggende boomen. In
het midden zetten zij den schedel van Mapajawari op een staak, opdat
hij zou kunnen oordeelen over de wraak van zijn zoon.

Zonder verdere ongevallen bereikten de strijders weder hunne dorpen,


waar zij met vreugde ontvangen werden. [189]Feesten volgden elkander
op. Jonge meisjes bezongen hun moed en ouden van dagen prezen
hun list.

En sedert dien tijd hebben de kannibalen zich nooit meer aan de


Coppename vertoond. 114

No. 48. Migratie-legende van den Kasi’hta-stam der Creek-


Indianen,

verteld door Chekilli, Keizer der Roven- en Beneden Creek-Indianen, te


Savannah in Georgia in het jaar 1735, in tegenwoordigheid van den
Gouverneur Oglethorpe, van Koning Antichi, Hoogste opperhoofd van
de stad der Cowetaws, van andere Koningen en van dertig krijgers.
Op zekeren dag opende de Aarde zich in het Westen, waar haar mond
is. De Aarde brak open en de Cussitaws traden uit haar mond te
voorschijn 115, en vestigden zich in de nabijheid. Maar de Aarde begon
angstig te worden en haar kinderen op te eten. Dientengevolge
begaven de Cussitaws zich westwaarts. Eenigen van hen keerden
echter terug en kwamen weder op de plaats, waar zij geweest waren,
en zetten zich daar neêr. De meesten bleven echter achter, daar zij
zagen, dat het zoo het beste was. Hunne kinderen werden echter door
de Aarde opgegeten, [190]zoodat ook zij, geheel ontmoedigd, den kant
uitgingen, waar de Zon uit de Aarde opstijgt.

Op hun tocht kwamen zij aan een modderige, dicht begroeide, vuile
rivier, kampeerden er en bleven er één nacht over. Den volgenden dag
zetten zij hun reis voort en kwamen zij reeds den anderen dag aan een
roode, als bloed uitziende rivier. Zij bleven aan deze rivier en leefden
gedurende twee jaar van haar visschen; maar er waren daar lage
rivierstanden, wat hen niet beviel, en waarom zij er niet wilden blijven.
Zij gingen toen naar het einde van die bloedige rivier en hoorden toen
een geluid als van den donder. Zij begaven zich vervolgens naar de
plek, van waar het geluid kwam. In het eerst zagen zij een rooden damp
en daarna een berg, die donderde; en op dien berg hoorden zij een
geluid, alsof hij aan het zingen was. Zij zonden er toen menschen heen,
om te zien wat dat was; het bleek een groot vuur te zijn, dat in de
hoogte spoot en dat een zingend geluid maakte. Deze berg noemden zij
Koning der Bergen. Hij dondert nog tot op dezen dag en de menschen
zijn er bang voor.

Hier ontmoetten zij toen menschen van drie verschillende stammen. Zij
hadden iets genomen en gered van het vuur van den berg en op
dezelfde plaats leerden zij ook planten en vele andere dingen kennen.

Uit het Oosten kwam toen een wit vuur naar hen toe, dat zij echter niet
wilden gebruiken.
Van Wahalle kwam toen een vuur, dat blauw was; maar ook dit wilden
zij niet gebruiken.

Uit het Westen kwam daarna een vuur, dat zwart was; en ook dit beviel
hen niet.

Ten laatste kwam er een vuur uit het Noorden 116, dat [191]rood en geel
was. Dit mengden zij met het vuur, dat zij van den berg hadden
genomen en dit is het vuur, dat zij nog dagelijks gebruiken; ook dit zingt
somtijds.

Op den berg was een paal, die voortdurend heen en weêr ging en een
geluid gaf; maar zij konden de manier niet vinden, om hem tot rust te
brengen. Ten slotte namen zij een moederloos kind en sloegen het
tegen den paal, totdat het dood was. Zij namen nu den paal op en
steeds dragen zij dien nog met zich, als zij ten strijde trekken. Deze
paal was gelijk een houten tomahawk*, die zij nu nog in den strijd
gebruiken en nog altijd van hetzelfde hout gemaakt wordt.

Zij vonden hier ook vier 117 planten of wortels, die voor hen hunne
deugden bezongen en openbaarden. Ten eerste: Pasaw, de
ratelslangwortel; ten tweede: Micoweanochaw, de roode wortel; ten
derde: Sowatchko, die als wilde venkel groeit en ten vierde:
Eschalapootchke, kleine tabak.

Deze planten, vooral de Ratelslangwortel en de Kleine Tabak,


gebruiken zij als de beste medicijn voor reinigingsdoeleinden op hunne
púskita*. Gedurende deze pustika vasten zij en brengen zij offers aan
de eerste vruchten.

Sedert zij de weldaden van deze planten leerden kennen, hebben


hunne vrouwen op bepaalde tijden een apart vuur en zonderen deze
zich dan voor de zuivering van de mannen af. Als zij dit nalaten, zal de
kracht der vier planten verloren gaan en zullen de vrouwen niet gezond
blijven.
In die tijden ontstond er nu een strijd over de vraag, wie de oudste der
stammen was en wie van hen alles regelen zou. Zij kwamen ten slotte
overeen, dat, daar [192]zij tot vier stammen behoorden, zij vier palen
zouden planten en deze met een soort klei rood zouden kleuren, die
eerst geel is en door branden rood wordt. Zij zouden daarna ten strijde
trekken en de oudste zou die zijn, welke zijn paal met de scalpen der
vijanden het eerst van onderen tot boven zou hebben bedekt.

Allen probeerden het nu en de Cussitaws waren de eersten, die hun


paal bedekten en wel zóó dik, dat van het hout niets te zien was.
Daarom werden de Cussitaws door allen als de oudste stam
beschouwd. Den Chickasaws gelukte het, ook hun paal te bedekken en
daarna ook den Atilamas; maar de Obikaws konden hun paal slechts tot
kniehoogte bedekken.

In dien tijd leefde er nu een groote vogel, blauw van kleur, met een
lange staart en vlugger dan de arend. Deze vogel verscheen iederen
dag en doodde en at een van het Indianenvolk op. Daarom besloten zij,
een beeld te maken in den vorm eener vrouw, en dit zetten zij op den
weg van den vogel neêr. De vogel kwam terug, droeg het beeld weg, en
behield het langen tijd, tot hij het eindelijk terugbracht. Zij lieten toen het
beeld alleen, in de hoop, dat het iets zou voortbrengen. Na langen tijd
kwam er een roode rat 118 uit te voorschijn en daarom gelooven zij, dat
de vogel de vader van de rat is.

Er werd toen raad met de rat gehouden, ten einde te beslissen, hoe zij
haren vader zouden kunnen dooden. De vogel had boog en pijlen en er
werd besloten, dat de rat de boogpees zou doorknagen, zoodat de
vogel zich niet meer zou kunnen verdedigen. Zoo gezegd zoo gedaan,
en het volk kon toen den vogel dooden. Deze vogel noemen zij Koning
der vogels. Zij denken, dat ook de [193]arend een koning is, en zij
dragen daarom zijn veeren, als zij ten strijde trekken of vrede sluiten.
Wanneer hun vijand met witte veeren en een witten mond nadert en als
een arend schreeuwt, mogen zij hem niet dooden.
Zij verlieten nu deze plaats en kwamen aan een wit voetpad. Het gras
en alles in het rond was wit, en zij waren vast overtuigd, dat hier
menschen moesten geweest zijn. Zij kruisten nu het pad en sliepen in
de nabijheid. Daarna keerden zij terug, om te zien welk soort pad en
welk volk het was, dat hier was geweest, daar zij geloofden, dat het
voor hen beter zou zijn, het pad te volgen. Zij volgden het pad en
kwamen aan een kreek, Coloosehutche genoemd (Coloose-kreek),
omdat het hier rotsachtig was en er dampen opstegen.

Zij kruisten het pad nu in de richting der zonopkomst en kwamen bij een
volk en aan een stad, Coosaw geheeten. Hier bleven zij vier jaar. De
Coosaws klaagden, dat een wild beest op hen aasde, dat zij
menscheneter noemden of leeuw 119 en dat het in een rotsspelonk
verblijf hield. De Cussitaws zeiden, dat zij het beest zouden zien te
dooden. Zij groeven een kuil en legden er een net van hickory-bast
naast. Daarna bedekten zij den kuil met kruislings er over heen gelegde
takken, zoodat de leeuw hen niet zou kunnen volgen; en, naar de plaats
gaande, waar hij zijn leger had, wierpen zij een tooverrammelaar in het
hol. De leeuw kwam toen in grooten angst te voorschijn en vervolgde
hen door het struikgewas heen. Zij vonden het toen beter, dat er een
zou sterven en namen daarom een moederloos kind en wierpen het
voor het beest, toen het nabij den kuil kwam. De leeuw besprong het
slachtoffer en viel in den kuil, waarover zij nu het net heenwierpen, en
waarna zij het beest met vlammend hout konden dooden. Zijn
[194]beenderen bewaren zij tot heden toe; aan één zijde zijn zij rood, aan
de andere blauw.

Daar de leeuw gewoon was, om de zeven dagen een uit het volk te
dooden, bleven zij, nadat zij het beest hadden gedood, nog zeven
dagen op deze plaats. Ter herinnering aan zijn dood vasten zij, wanneer
zij zich tot den oorlog voorbereiden, zes dagen lang 120 en trekken er
den zevenden dag op uit. Als zij de beenderen meenamen, zouden zij
geluk hebben.
Na vier jaar verlieten zij de Coosaws en kwamen zij aan een rivier, die
zij Nowhawpe noemen (nu Callisihutche). Zij bleven er twee jaar en
daar zij geen koren* hadden, leefden zij van wortels en visch; zij
maakten bogen, en pijlpunten vervaardigden zij van bevertanden en
steen. Gespleten riet gebruikten zij als messen.

Zij kwamen toen, steeds verder trekkend, aan een kreek, die zij
Wattoohawka- (Whooping-) kreek noemden, om het geschreeuw van
kraanvogels*, die daar in menigte waren. Hier sliepen zij één nacht.

Den volgenden dag bereikten zij een rivier, waarin een waterval was,
die zij Aphoosa pheeskaw noemden. Zij trokken de rivier over en
kwamen aan een hoogen berg, waar menschen woonden, die zij voor
de makers van het witte pad hielden. Zij maakten nu witte pijlen,
waarmeê zij hen beschoten, om te zien of het goede menschen waren.
Maar het volk nam hunne witte pijlen, verfde die rood en schoot op hen,
om te zien of zij goede menschen waren.

Toen zij deze aan hun Hoofdman toonden, zei deze, dat dit geen goed
teeken was; wanneer de pijlen, die zij terugschoten, wit waren geweest,
hadden zij er heen moeten gaan en eten aan hun kinderen moeten
brengen; maar nu zij rood waren, deden zij beter te vertrekken. Doch
enkelen hunner togen op weg, om te zien wat voor menschen zij waren.
[195]Zij vonden er echter ledige hutten en zagen een spoor, dat naar de
rivier leidde; daar zij echter geen spoor aan de overzijde zagen,
geloofden zij, dat het volk in de rivier gegaan was en niet weêr te
voorschijn zou komen.

Op deze plaats is een berg, Moterell geheeten, die een geluid maakt als
een trom 121. Zij denken, dat het volk daar nu woont. Aan alle kanten
hooren zij het geluid, als zij ten strijde trekken.

Zij volgden de rivier, tot zij aan een waterval kwamen, waar zij hooge
rotsen zagen; en op de rotsen vonden zij bogen. Nu geloofden zij, dat
het volk, waarvan het witte pad afkomstig was, daar woonde.
Op hunne tochten hadden zij steeds twee verkenners, die zij vóór de
hoofdmacht vooruit lieten gaan. Deze verkenners bestegen een hoogen
berg en zagen van daar een stad. Zij schoten toen witte pijlen in de
stad, maar het volk schoot weêr roode terug.

Toen begonnen de Cussitaws angstig te worden en besloten zij de stad


aan te vallen, zoodat zij dan allen een woning zouden hebben, als zij
haar genomen zouden hebben.

Zij wierpen steenen in de rivier om haar te kunnen overgaan, namen de


stad, waarvan de bewoners platte hoofden hadden, en doodden allen
op twee na. Toen zij deze, die gevlucht waren, achtervolgden, troffen zij
een witten hond aan, die zij neêrsloegen. Daarna zetten zij de
vervolging voort, maar de vluchtelingen ontkwamen. Zij hadden toen
een wit pad bereikt, en zagen de rook van een stad. Nu dachten zij, het
volk gevonden te hebben, dat zij zoo lang gezocht hadden. Dit is de
plek, waar nu de stam der Palachucolas woont, van welke
Tomochichi 122 afkomstig is. [196]

De Cussitaws naderden met bloedige voornemens, maar de


Palachucolas gaven hun zwarten drank, als een teeken van
vriendschap en zeiden tot hen: „Onze harten zijn wit, en de uwen
moeten ook wit zijn en jelui moeten de bloedige tomahawk* neêrleggen
en je lichamen toonen als een bewijs, dat zij altijd wit zullen zijn.” Maar
niettemin bleven zij voor den tomahawk gestemd; de Palachucolas
wisten hen echter te overreden en begroeven het wapen onder hun
slaapplaatsen. De Palachucolas gaven hun ook witte veeren en stelden
hun voor, een gemeenschappelijk Hoofd te kiezen.

Sedert dien tijd leven beide stammen eendrachtig samen. Één deel
vestigde zich aan de eene oever der rivier, een ander deel aan de
andere. De Indianen aan de eene oever zijn de Cussitaws, die aan de
andere de Cowetas. Zij vormen nu één volk, dat de voornaamste
steden der Boven- en Beneden Creek-Indianen bewoont 123.
Toch kunnen de Cussitaws, die eerst den rooden rook en het roode
vuur zagen en bloedige steden maakten, hun roode harten niet
verlaten, die echter nu aan de eene zijde wit, aan de andere zijde rood
zijn.

Zij weten nu, dat het witte pad het beste is geweest. Want hoewel
Tomochichi een vreemdeling was, zien zij nu in, dat hij hen goed heeft
gedaan. Want hij kwam om den grooten Koning te zien met gouverneur
Oglethorpe en hem te hooren vertellen, en zij hadden geluisterd en
geloofden het verhaal. [197]
1 Zie voor de beteekenis der sterretjes achter de woorden bladz. 6 onderaan. ↑
2 Voor de kenmerkende verschillen tusschen mythen, sagen, legenden enz.,
verwijs ik den lezer o.a. naar „Woordkunst” door M. A. P. C. Poelhekke. ↑
3 Zie: Alfred Russel Wallace (Travels on the Amazon and the Rio Negro 📘,
Chapter IX, Londen 1853), Dr. Herman ten Kate, „Schetsen en stemmingen” l.
c. en Dr. H. van Cappelle, „Bij de Indianen en de Boschnegers van Suriname” blz.
383. ↑
4 In Suriname bezigt men het woord parel voor pagaai. In den Engelschen tekst
staat „paddle my cano”. ↑
5 Slot van een gedicht van Wallace (l. c.) den later zoo beroemd geworden
Engelschen natuuronderzoeker, die een tijd lang onder de Arowakken aan de
Orinoco verblijf heeft gehouden. Dit gedicht, dat ik in het Nederlandsch heb
trachten over te zetten, is hem uit de pen gevloeid in een toestand van
verontwaardiging over het leven in de „beschaafde wereld”. ↑
6 De vertellingen zijn ontleend aan:

H. W. Brett (B.)—No. 17.


C. van Coll (Co, b en a)—No. 29 en 39.
F. P. en A. P. Penard (P, a.)—No. 38 en 40–47.
Albert I. Gatschet (Ga.)—No. 48.
Walter E. Roth (R.)—Alle overigen.

7 In den noordelijken vorm der fabel is voor de excrementen van beide dieren het
uitbraaksel der hen vervangende dieren in de plaats gekomen. ↑
8 Dit geloof komt zelfs nog bij stadsnegers van Suriname voor (zie C. b. blz.
185). ↑
9 Bij alle stammen wordt de zon mannelijk gedacht. ↑
10 Deze voorstelling leert de Indianen weder als natuurdichters kennen; want
treffen wij deze vergelijking van de maansikkel met een wapen—het
uitgangspunt hunner dichterlijke phantasie—ook niet bij poëtisch aangelegde
zielen in het „beschaafde” Europa aan, die behoefte hebben gevoeld, ieder op
hunne wijze de tallooze wonderverschijningen in de natuur te bezingen?
In dit verband treffen o.a. eenige regels in een der gedichten, van Augusta Peaux,
de Nederlandsche natuurdichteres, die 40 jaren na Jacques Perk hare gedichten
liet verschijnen en waarin van een „Dennenboom in den avond” wordt gezegd:

„Een den staat met donker gebogen hoofd


Onder de kromme kling van de maan:
Een sombere dweper, een fatalist,
Een donkere slaaf, die kwaad heeft gedaan.

De maankling boven zijn hoofd is blank,


Blinkend en scherp in de groote lucht.
Roerloos staat hij voor ’t purpergordijn
van den avond, fanatiek, ducht
Geen dood”.
enz.

(Zie een artikel van J. Reddingius in Groot Nederland van Augustus 1925). ↑
11 Een der leden van ons personeel gedurende de Expeditie door de
Binnenlanden van het Surinaamsche district Nickerie (C. b.), een Hollander van
geboorte, werd door deze boschgeluiden bijzonder aangegrepen. Telkens hoorden
wij hem in zijn hangmat verzuchtingen slaken als: „To be or not to be”; „Home
sweet home”. Voelde hij de slechte voorteekens?—Drie dagen na onzen terugkeer
in de stad overleed hij. ↑
12 Een dergelijk geloof treft men bij de negers aan. Hier noemt men onthouding
van een bepaald voedsel: treef. ↑
13 Bij de Caraïben aan de Cottica in Suriname (C.a.) geschiedt het planten van
Cassave door de mannen. ↑
14Het werkje van de Gebroeders Penard (P.) bevat van deze beeldspraak talrijke
voorbeelden. Onder deze komen er wellicht voor, die den lezer gezocht
voorkomen. De omstandigheden, die dezen schrijvers ten deel zijn geworden,
hebben er toe geleid, dat zij de Benedenlandsche Indianen beter hebben leeren
kennen, dan menig ander. ↑
15 Wanneer de Caraïben door sommige schrijvers menscheneters genoemd
worden (de titel van het boekje van de Penards (P. a.) is misleidend), dan komt
dit, omdat zij eertijds de gewoonte hadden, hunne buitgemaakte vijanden op te
eten, meenende hierdoor den moed van den tegenstander in zich op te nemen. Dit
gebruik bestond nog een vijftiental jaren geleden bij Indianenstammen in het
Amazone-gebied, o.a. bij de Mangeroma-Indianen, die aan de grens van Peru en
Brazilië wonen, en onder welke Algot Lange (In the Amazon Jungle 📘. C. P.
Putnam’s Sons. New York and London 1912) de feestelijke, doch minder
smakelijke viering van de overwinning in een strijd met Peruanen heeft
bijgewoond, die, op roof naar hunne vrouwen en dochters, het gebied der
Mangeroma’s hadden betreden.
Na den strijd, waarin geen der twintig Peruanen het er levend afbracht, werden de
handen en voeten der verslagenen afgehakt, naar de hutten gebracht en aan de
verschillende families rondgedeeld om gekookt te worden.
Dat deze Indianen dat deden, zegt de schrijver, was slechts het voldoen aan een
eeuwenouden, religieusen ritus, en tegenover dit ons toeschijnend afschuwelijk
gebruik is het wel treffend, het afscheid te lezen, waarmede hij de schets van zijn
verblijf van vijf weken te midden dezer „menschenetende” [44]Indianen besluit.
„How wonderful was this farewell! It was my opportunity for acknowledging that the
savage heart is by no means devoid of the feelings and sentiments that
characterise more elevated, so called civilised individuals”.
De „beschaafde” mensch heeft deze gewoonte, om zijn vijand op te eten reeds
sedert de oudste praehistorische tijden verlaten en bepaalt er zich slechts toe, zijn
verlangen, om dit te doen, te uiten met van iemand, die hem moreel kwaad heeft
gedaan, te zeggen: „ik zou hem wel willen opvreten”.
Een man van rijpe ervaring, die over een groot deel van het tegenwoordige
menschdom in hetgeen men gewoon is „de beschaafde wereld” te noemen, zeer
slecht te spreken is, zei mij, toen ik dit onderwerp met hem besprak: Deze lust
komt hoe langer hoe meer bij mij op! ↑
16 Hier wordt een verklaring gegeven van den z.g. Dubbelgeest. ↑
17 Boa constrictor. ↑
18 Op een reis door Auvergne in 1910 vernam ik uit betrouwbaren bron, dat dit
gebruik zelfs nog op het granietplateau van Limousin bestond. ↑
19Mocht zulks in de maatschappij, die men gewoon is, tegenover de
zoogenaamde „wilden”, beschaafde maatschappij te noemen, immer zoo
wezen en niet zoo vaak juist het tegendeel voorkomen! ↑
20Gedurende de Nickerie-expeditie in 1900 (C. b.) bracht slechts een neger, die
bij de Indianen was opgevoed en er alleen met pijl en boog op uittrok, naar het
kampement aan de rivier of in het oerwoud geregeld wild van de jacht mede. ↑
21 The American race, New-York 1891. ↑
22 Volgens Brinton (L. c.) is het ontwijfelbaar, dat de algemeene richting, waarin
het Amerikaansche ras zich verspreid heeft, zoowel in Noord- als in Zuid-
Amerika van Noordelijke breedten naar de Tropen heeft plaats gehad en van de
groote bergketenen in het Westen naar het Oosten en dat, zooals een Indiaansch
opperhoofd hem heeft verzekerd, de geesten der dooden steeds daarheen
terugkeeren, vanwaar zij gekomen zijn, d.i. waar de zon nederdaalt.
Deze kundige schrijver merkt terecht op, dat deze volksverhuizingen doorgaans
niet in grooten getale, volgens een vooruit beraamd plan, zullen hebben plaats
gehad, doch voet voor voet, familie na familie, wanneer de oude jachtgronden
uitgeput of de landen te dicht bevolkt raakten. Hier uit leidt hij den grooten
ouderdom van het Indiaansche ras af, waarvoor nog vele andere feiten pleiten,
vooral de cultuurgewassen, die sedert onheugelijke tijden door de Indianen
gekweekt zijn en van welke velen, zooals de maïs, de cassave en de tabak eerst
veel later bij andere volken bekend zijn geworden, en wier wilde stamplanten niet
weer terug te vinden zijn. In verband hiermede mag er op gewezen worden, dat
het verhaal, dat onder No. 30 voorkomt, van de herkomst van de tabak vertelt over
zee, dus vermoedelijk uit noordelijk gelegen streken. ↑
23Daar de Arowakken deze streken bewoonden, reeds lang voordat de Caraïben
het land binnendrongen, schijnt deze legende van ouderen oorsprong te zijn
dan de voorgaande Legende van Letterhoutstomp. ↑
24 Ook nu nog zien de Indianen niet tegen lange tochten op. Tijdens ons verblijf te
Nickerie, de hoofdplaats van het gelijknamig district, maakte ik kennis met een
twintigtal Indianen, die met al hun hebben en houden, huisdieren niet te vergeten,
stadwaarts waren gekomen, om op 31 Augustus de viering van den verjaardag
onzer Koningin bij te wonen. Het waren Indianen, die gevestigd waren aan de
monding der Karapana-kreek, twee en een halven dag varens van de stad
gelegen, en wier dorp wij op onzen daarna ondernomen tocht geheel verlaten
vonden. ↑
25 Natuurbeschouwingen Leiden 1850. ↑
26Of kust hier gebruikt is om het te laten rijmen op rust? Of heeft de vertaler niet
geweten, dat hier een oord bedoeld wordt aan den bovenloop der Orinoco, het
gebied der watervallen en stroomversnellingen? ↑
27 Het neêrstortende water van den waterval. ↑
28 In tegenstelling met de gewone woonhuizen, die aan twee zijden geheel open
zijn, bewoont de piaiman, en wanneer het bij uitzondering een vrouw was, de
piaivrouw, een gesloten hut. ↑
29 Zie blz. 27. ↑
30 De Indianen kunnen in de vormelooze vleezige massa van den Alligator (het
Amerikaansche krokodillengeslacht), die niet kan worden uitgestoken,
onmogelijk een tong herkennen. Herodotus, die eveneens een goede
waarnemer van den krokodil is geweest, beweert ook, dat dit dier geen tong bezit,
waarom de krokodil bij de Egyptenaren het zinnebeeld van geheimzinnigheid was.
Bij den stam der Akawai-Indianen (Engelsch Guyana) heerscht het geloof, dat de
tong van den Alligator eertijds lang en buigzaam is geweest; dat Makoenaima* bij
de schepping zijn vuur was kwijt geraakt, dat door de maroedi (een zwarte vogel,
Penelope sp.) was ingeslikt; en dat, toen hij er overal naar ging zoeken, en de
beesten (ook hier worden de vogels tegenover de andere dieren geplaatst) hem
hadden verteld, dat de alligator, dien zij allen verafschuwden, er mee op den loop
was gegaan, hij met geweld alligator’s muil heeft geopend, om het vuur te zoeken,
en daarbij den tong, die hem in den weg zat, heeft uitgerukt. ↑
31 Pisangs*. ↑
32 Deze zin is fatsoenshalve veranderd. ↑
33 Volgens de tradities der Caraïben hebben de Boschgeesten een grooten afkeer
voor zoete pataten. ↑
34 In de geheele folklore der Indianen van Guyana is dit het eenige, wat nog
herinnert aan het scalpeeren, welk wreedaardig gebruik vroeger ook bij de
Indianen van de drie Guyana’s, evenals bij andere Indianenstammen van Zuid-
Amerika, geheerscht heeft. ↑
35 Alleen wanneer hij voor meerdere dagen op de jacht gaat, neemt hij zijn vrouw
meê. ↑
36 Merkwaardige beeldspraak! ↑
37 Zonder maïsplant kan de schimmel, die op deze cultuurplant woekert, niet
leven. ↑
38 Wanneer men een aap barbakot, buigen de vingers zich, tengevolge der
spiercontractie, sterk om. ↑
39 Het dier loopt dus op den buitenkant van zijn klauwvormige nagels, en de
punten der nagels, die bij het graafwerk dienst doen, ondervinden geen druk. ↑
40 Hoewel de miereneter niet aanvalt, wanneer men hem ongemoeid laat, wordt
hij, als hij zich verdedigen moet, door zijn ontzettende kracht een gevaarlijke
tegenstander, die zijn aanvaller met zijn groote sikkelvormige nagels den buik
tracht open te rijten. ↑
41Deze dierenfabel, die de verwisseling der excrementen tot onderwerp heeft, is
volgens Von der Steinen uit Noord-Amerika afkomstig, waar de Coyote (prairie
„wolf”) met een beer het uitbraaksel verwisselt; ook het motief van het
oogensluiten ontbreekt hier niet. ↑
42De tegenwoordige Indianen der benedenlanden van Guyana hebben
doorgaans slechts één vrouw. Een piaiman wordt gerekend er meer te mogen
hebben. ↑
43 Dit doet, volgens Walter E. Roth, denken aan den beenderloozen Held Kòn
van de Yoenka-Indianen van Peru. ↑
44 Zie bldz. 27. ↑
45 Wood-skin, zooals er in den Engelschen tekst staat, is een eenvoudige kano,
gemaakt van repen boombast. ↑
46 Walter E. Roth, aan wien wij deze mythe ontleenen, merkte de Indiaan, die
hem deze vertelde, op, waarom de vrouw niet naar het Oosten, dus de zon
tegemoet, trok. Hij antwoordde, dat zij de zon juist wilde ontmoeten, waar hij weêr
naar de aarde nederdaalt, aan den verren horizon. ↑
47 Zie blz. 19. ↑
48 De Pakaraima-keten in Britsch-Guyana. ↑
49 Flambouw. ↑
50 De komeet of staartster. ↑
51 Volgens Th. Koch-Grünberg voorzien de kinderen der Indianen aan de
Boven-Aiuri hun pijlen met een dop van zwarte was. ↑
52 Vampier*. ↑
53 Een Indiaan overkomt dit niet licht, daar de zon zijn kompas is. ↑
54 Zie blz. 36. ↑
55 Zie „bekoring” in Inleiding, blz. 36. ↑
56Walter E. Roth, aan wien ik deze vertelling ontleen, vroeg aan de vertelster,
waaraan de jongen bemerkte, dat er iets zou gebeuren? Zij antwoordde, dat
wanneer kinderen en jonge menschen ver van hun woonplaats zijn, zij doorgaans
angstig en zenuwachtig zijn. ↑
57 Zie blz. 41. ↑

You might also like