Shreveport news. [volume] (Shreveport [La.]) 1864-1865, 1865-04-18

wonder of the world Falsehood, du-
plicity, and mean cunning, marked
their course in it's inauguration; and,
in its progress, every artifice Of low
diplomacy and persistent misrepre-.
sentation has been resorted to, by
them, to lessen us in the estimation
of mankind. Our struggle for the
right of self-government; which they
themselves have always declared to
be inalienabie-has been held up TO
the world rs contest for the main
tainahce Of African slavery, a purely
State institutions, over which neither
the Confederate States Government
nor the United States Government
has any conditional control.
In tho invasion of our soil neither
private property, nor age, nor sex,
has been spared from the rapacity
and brutal passions of the mercenary
legions.
Wherever they have passed over
the surface of our fair land, the black
ness of desolation marked their path,
and such barbarous desolati has
been their devilish boast. Public
and private Libraries, pillaged Or
burned, and the temples of God sac
rilsgicusly defled.
Fellow ceuntrymen. will you, can
you ever submit to be governed by
such a people? Can you ever join
hands with them, in fraternal union2
Can you, with all these things fresh
~ before you daily occurring on your
native soil, ever return to political
union with these despoilers Of your
houses - these violaters of your
wives and daughters. Never! A
dark crimson stream divides you,
which all the skill Of negotiation can
never bridge Over. The southern
people have determined to be free
and indep and if their forti-
tude ana courage do not fail them,
it is impossible to doubt the issue:
But.there must be no hating, no
hesitation, in the only path to the
goal. We must prove to our enc
mics, and prove to the world, that
We cannot be conquered. We must
convince them that, though our soil
may be overrun, the faith of our peo-
pie in the great cause for which they
ere r0ntendin. is unbroken, is tn
change i, and their will irvinci5ole.
Success gives rs q country, and
good position among the nations of
the earth. Failure makes us the
vaSsals Of an arrogant people, secret
ly if not Openly hated ty. the most
sn,ightered ard elevated portions Of
mankind. Success records us forev-
er in letters Of light upon one of the
most glorious pages of history. Fail
ure will compel us to drink tie cup
Of humiliation even to the bitter
dregs of having the history Of Our
struggle written by New England
historians Success is within orr
reach. We have toiled and painted
onward nearly TO the goal. We have
almost grasrcd the costly price of
independence, never won except
through anguish ard blood. The
crown stands ready 20 encircle the
fair brow OF our young Rcpubiic.-
The shades of our martvrcd heroes
hover over us and beekcn Us on
The fearful entreaties OF our mothers
Hlye: and daughters to save them
from namel"ss horrors urge us Oh
VII, we pause! Can We tialtcr -
VIII We allow the weapons which
the God of battles has so often direc.
ted TO the shifting VI the DIES poilcrs
Of our homes, now drop from our
ne.ve.ess hands Shall We be dis
couraged by the superior number of
the enemy
The battle 10 the strong
a., Is not given. ~
While the Judge of right and wrong
Sits in Heaven.
The God of David still
chi les the pebbles at His will;
There are giants vet to kill
Wrongs uushr.vcn.''
l:nt the enemy has already put
forth his utmost strength. lie has
made his most gigantic effort. He
ha- strained his energies to their
greatest tension. He has taxed his
resources to their utmost limit. He
Is almost spent and breathless with
his tremendous cXrrtions. Let us
stand firm. Let us be calm and reso-
lutte. Let us show that our faith in
our cause, and in His guidance who
shapes the destinies ef nations. is
fixed, and cannot more. In that
faith, and with humble reliance on
that guidance. let us hope all things.
endure ali things; and whenwe strike
the invaders; OF our country, let re-
ligion. patriotism, love, honor, noble
pride. every sentiment sacred and
dear to the heart of man, nerve our
arms and give vigor TO the blow
Then shall we conquer the peace for