The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1865-02-18

all its clothing, all its implements of husbandry,
of mechanics and of arts. Our enemy had sur
plus of all these. So weak were we that serious
opposition to the United States army was treated
with ridicule Seventy-fve thousand men it
was believed, would walk rough shod over our
country, while the blockade OF our coast would
prevent us from procuring munitions outside.
These were followed by three hundred thousand,
and the famous Anaconda scheme, and then by
series of efforts of the most gigantic nature sur
passing anything of the kind in history. efforts
to which almost boundess resources have been
mao to contribute by desperation that saw ruin
inr allure, and that prompts the Lincoln govern
ment to give all it has to save its life.
When was there people like ours, equally
destitute, equally open to hostile attacks, that
succeeded in resisting under such circumstances.
such onslaughts so long7 When was there
people that not only resisted, but created its
/ means of resistance as it did so7 When was
there people so utterly dependent, that under
the most favorable circumstances became so soon
independent? Nay, in the midst of desoating
war was able TO cultivate so well the arts of peace
as to build up the production of every necessity
of life within itself?
Four years ago we were weak--to-day we are
| strong. Then we had no soldiers-now we have
| masses of unconquerable veterans. Then we
had no eannon--since then we have mauutac-
mill in our whole country-now we produce
enough to keep near half million of men in ac-
| tive warfare. Then-but why enumerate the
works of our machine shops, our tanneries, our
| factories, our foundres, our mines our mills of
every sort. In other countries it requires money
| to accomplish all these things. With US it has
all been done by government scarcely worth a
| dollar, and by people no better off
We hear gloomy-minded persons now and then
bewailing what they call disasters-sorrowing
over the defeat of our armies, and the successes
of the enemy. Thoughts like the above show
that whatever may have been our reverses we
have had no defeat--no turning back in the road
on which we set ont. Our march has been steadi-
| ly onward, though upon longer journey than
we calculated for
Did you ever climb high mountain? Do you
| remember that as you came near the foot and
looked up you thought the distance but short.
| and that few steps would bring you to the top?
You took the path that led up the side You en-
tered first into the forest that hid all about you
from view. The path took you over inequalities,
sometimes up steep rocks, and anon along 6 brief
course of level plain. Now as you emerged from
the forest upon a bold ridge you looked above
and it seemed but a stones throw to the peak to
which yon were ascending. You went on, again
losing sight Of the mountain top; you toiled along
| the ever-lengthening path.-What first seemed
to you but fifteen minutes task, prolonged it.
self to hours, and still the path rose constantly
before you. You gave way to fatigue and sat
dSsvn. You looked back far down the mountain,
and were surprised at the great distance you had
come. You look for hills you passed over as you
approached the mountain and they are but as the
level plain.-Yon wondered, not when you would
reach the mountains top. but that you had come
SO far. You knew from the distance you had
Travelled. that the end Of your journey could not
be far off. The very length of the path already
traversed was more refreshing than the rest you
had obtained from pausing by the way. You
started again with renewed confidence, and
pressed on. These same experiences may have
repeated themselves again and again to you be-
fore you reached the point you aimed at, but you
persevered and accomplished your object.
The people of the Confederate States, are it
seems to us. experiencing these same feelings.
They are climbing the mountain. They know
that the path leads to the top. They look back
upon the long road they have already passed
over. In viewing what they have accomplished
they should find the utmost Encouragement
They certainly can, but be buoyed up by faith
in ultimate success, and this should sustain them
in all present fatigue and trbulation.
Honor, duty, selfrespect, liberty, the princi.
pies OF free government, love of country, rever-
ence for our forefathers. nay we humbly believe
the finger of God pointed us in the course we
took four years ago. We have been wonder
fully-almost miraculously sustained ever since.
We are, by our accomplishments, the admiration
Of the world. We have every encouragement
from these facts, to go on. But if it were not So
we have no other course left us. If we turn back
we are ruined. If we leave our path we are de-
stroyed. Dependency is fatal. temporising is
equally fatal. New plans are at least dangerous
we know not into what snare they viii lead u.s.
we 10 know that we are in the right Let us
pursue it with renewed spirit and vIgor. certain
that it will bring us to the end we seek at last
Let us be encouraged by viewing the past, and
let our confidence be built upon its substantial
and glorious accomplishments
Houston Telegraph.