Shreveport news. [volume] (Shreveport [La.]) 1864-1865, 1865-04-18
SHREVEPORT TUESDAY, APRIL IS. 1865.
matter how plausible the pretext, or
palliatinS the reason.

No duty in this crisis Of Our af-
fairs can be more irnperitive than to
fight for ones country, famil y and
home. Let no skulker, deserter, or
absentee without leave from the army
be tolerated in any community. Let
the reproachfnl chances of orr women.
between whose honor and the brutal
foe cur noble army stands as n fam
ing sword, drive him back to the
field. With proper officers, strict dis
cipline, and an elevated tone of pub
lie opinion throughout the country,
desertion and absenteeism in the ar
my can be arrested, and all men La
Bile to military duty put into and kept
in the ranks Of our army. If this be
effected, we can maintain in the field
a force sufficient to defy subjugation.
But it is in the character of our popu-
lation, especially, that we find those
elements of strength which impress
us with the conviction that we revcr
can be conquered. Our people are
peculiarly military in their charac-
teristics. Better soldiers than those
in our army, history has never shown.
They have endured extreme hard
ships and sutierings with a fortituds,
and fought against constant odds
with a galantry, that have earned
the gratitude of their country, and
eXtortcd the admiration Of the world
But in addition to their military at
tributes, our people are pre-eminen.-
ly of a proud and naughty spirit,
and deeply inbueG with the spirit of
constitutional freedom. 1t belongs
to their race and lineage; and, as
Burke long ago remarked, their reia-
ton to the servile race in contact
with them has Intensified the feeling
and invested this love Of liberty with
a sentiment Of personal privilege
/" suppose that Il people with such
military political and social charac-
teristics will ever voluntarily submit
to be ruled by any other government
than one Of thei- own choice, Is too
insulting to their pride to be enter
tanned for a moment. And to doubt
their capacity to achieve indepen-
dcncc, and to maintain themselves as
a separate power amorg the nations
Of the earth. is to close our ewes
against all the teachings of history,
to ignore the proofs which Our fore
fathers have stamped upon its pages,
to believe that human nature has
changed, or that We are Il desencra-
ted race, unworthy descendants of
our revolutionary sires.
The appointment by the President
Of Lee as General-in-Chief, has done
much to restore confidence to the
country. and to inspire the ar
my. All feel that we may safe
~ reposr this weishty trust and
responsibility in this great soldier
and devoted patriot. All feel that
We may lean upon him as our tower
OF strength. All feel that his calm
courage and steadtast purpose, his
military skill and wise Judgment.
vii! enable him to WELD our armies
with the maximum efficiency and
strength May God strengthen Tim
tor the great task t. which a conf
ding people have called him.
10 provide means for carrying ON
the war Congress h: been compelled
I" impose upon the country, a heavy
burden OF taxation. But heavy, a. it
Is, it is not too heavy for the country
to bear. and not heavier than the
wants of the country irnperativc!v
demand 1t is Impossible to main
tain the mighty Contest in which we
ar" engaged without vast expendi-
lures OF money. Money can only BE-
raised by loans or taxation. Our
condition does rot enable Us to effect
the former. We must OF necessity,
therefore. resort to the latter. w.
appeal TO you with confidence to sub
init chee.lully to the burdens which
the defence of your country, your
homes and Your liberties render ne
cessary. To contribute according to
his means TO that defence is much an
obligation upon the citizen as it is to
peril his life upon the battle field.
Let Us then, fellow countrviaen.
tread in the plain path of duty. No
nation that has trod It faithfully and
teariessly has ever. in the worlds his
tory, stumbled and fallen.
"Nations,' says Burke. never are
murdered they commit suicide. -
Let us not be guilty Of the folly and
crime of self-destruction. Let us
show the fortitude endurance and
courage that belong to our race, and
neither the brute force of our enemv's