New Orleans daily crescent., 1861-09-18
Neb Orlsalrs Datlp Grestent.
WEDNESDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER IS, 1876
LET THEM. SHOW THEIR HANDS.


In hurable opinion the time has come
when every resident of this city should come
forward and give evidence that he is willing to
take up arms in its defence. The day is Tast
when excuses of business dislike to empty show
and Sunday soldering should be held az valid.
Those who really intend standing up in the hour
of need and not shirkng their duty should show
their hands. They should be preparing them
selves by earnest training to do good service.
Companies, battaons and armies not form
ed in day. A crowd Of inexperienced AID un-
drilled men cannot defend themselves against
regularly organized atiack Individual arGVery
and individual willingness to sacrifice life count
| for nothing unless Brought together and concen-
| trated by discipline We constantly hear strong
and actixe men, who, while giving expression to a
firm determination to fight to the last gasp in de-
| fence Of the city, at the same time excasc them
selves foE not connecting themselves with some
military company, by saying that they have no
time for such sport or that the weather is too
warGa or wet for them to expose themselves, load
ed down with heavy musket and kpapsack. Arc
these men really in earnest in their patriotic pro
testations, or are they in fact sinks, who never
intend to draw a rammer or 60 beyond the length
of their wives apron strings? If they are in earn
est, we will remind them that they are acting viii
the enemies Of their country. They are setting al
example of inactivity to those who have been in
clned to do their duty, the perneions effects 0
which are seen and felt in every volunteer corps 0
the city. To become good soldiers, or even pass
, | able soldiers requires much more than will |
is necessary that men should undergo the fatigue
. | of company and battalion drill not for day, 0
for a week, but for weeks and months Raw re
cruts are not only unreliable in every particular
but often more dangerous to friends than foes
Many gallant armies have been thrown into COZ
fusion by the unskillfu movements or the coWardS
flight of leyees made at the moment Of action.
E IT, however, these men, who boast of their il
e tention to fight, at what they call the prope
It time, are only nventing excuses to escape II
duty which every citizen owes to his country,
} would be well if the community knew it, aud mac
5 some provision for their especial benefit. OF
lie people would in this manner have exposed
# their view clearly and fully the extent Of the da
IN ger which surrounds them, and when this is dol
| we are sure measures would be taken to place
4 in position more secure and more compatib
~ with the responsibilities resting upon us.
d We therefore say, let all show their hands.
. us know friends from enemies. Let us know WI
are and who are not the patriots and the defende
T. of their country. We think that the time has
he rived when this should be done.
re- We see that Gen. Lewis has ordered para
ak and drill of all the brigades and corps of
division, and we hope that this is the first step
= the direction we mention. Men who are too dc
cate to risk their health too lazy to forego tn
"a comfort can hardly be expected to make We
nd efficient men of war, and they should be kno'
and placed in their proper position.
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