New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-02-23
UNION AMMK AND NAVY OFF
GERS, ASSOCIATION.



This association yesterday met in it's an
nual session in Lyceum hall, for the purpose
of not only celebrating its own anniversary,
but that OF the birthday of Washington.
The hall was tastefully decorated with
banners and battle-Aags- flags that are
stained and tattered from the strife of war.
The large picture Of Washington was drsped
in the folds Of the stars and stripes, and a
framed likeness ofthe martyred Lincoln was
prominently placed in front of the presi-
dents stand, where all ey IS must behold and
revere it. ....r ...s,
Captains Roberts and Ludecke showed
themselves competent to decorate.
A band made the hall echo with nation.
al air that FONDA hearty response in the
hearts Of the large audience present.
GenerslL. A. Sheldon, the president, an
nounced that after prayer by the Rev. N.
L. Brakeman, formerly of the first Indiana
artillery, General Cyrus Bussey would de-
liver the speech of the occasion. rg3
The general, in pleasant way, said that
he hoped on the next anniversary he might
see the associationiswelled into numbers so
large that the hall would not have capacity
to contain them all. He found In this sec
ton many fellow .ex-officers who had, like
himself, made Louisiana their future home.
The speaker paid a tribute to the memory OF
Washington. He stated that this assoeia-
ton was in no way political organization.
He referred to Eli Whitney, inventor of the
cotton gin, who in his youth emigrated from
the East to the Carolinas, which he found
bowling wilderness, but through his ma
chine made the land to bloom in plenty, but
at the same time riyeted shackles on slaves;
he was cheated out Of the benefits of his
great patent, and then returned to his for
msr home and produced the Springfield
was greatly instrumental In unriVeting the
chains of bondmeR,
Unexpectedly civil war conVulsed the
country, but friends of the Union promptly
responded ere formal call had been made,
and sober citizens were on the instant con-
Yerted into as brave soldiers as the world
ever saw draw sword. The speaker for q
moment dwelt on the parting Of those who
were to march to battle from home and all
its peaceful associations. For himself, he
was afraid that the war would end before
he might have an opportunity to smell gun
powder, but by marching his men both day
and night he was gratified In meeting the
foe--4oes composed Of traitors to their
country. At first success was not with us;
must punish-that sin was slaYery-and
when that sin was abolished we were from
that time successful to the final issue. We
might have continued fighting until deoms-
day had not Lincoln wisely abolished
slavery. h9 - Wos le3
We are here this day in part to perpetuate
the memory of departed compatriots-
who in the strife fell in honorable battle.
When finally Lee surrendered his weakened
forces and the light Of peace began to dawn
there was q solemn hiatus, and the victory
lacked one essential--Linooln had been
murdered; Lincoln, the man only second to
the great Washington. fn
We are now living in the calm which has
followed terrible strife, but we find the
South wofuliy devastated and impoverished,
her finances and products greatly reduced;
mourning and poverty are jewellers in
nearly every habitation. In the other por-
ton Of our Union there is prosperity in
most branches of business, but the weeds OF
mourning are there too.
We have land 10 give away, sufficient to
furnish sscf sl,ltaist Of he world with
seven acres, and then cur beautifnl country
would not be SO densely populated as Bel
GUM and ali can thrive. With q few men
our ndaionaA debt appears as q pail that can
never be lifted. TO such say their fears
are gruundlesH The Increase in the value
Of cur lands and the development Of eqI
AADAlAklt
increasing at tho e1txaUrdinaFy rate Of
dhirty three per cent. AZ the end Of ten
wears where win be Ghe friends Of the soss
causef None will have the hardihoOd III
The year 1880 70 acknowledge their paFtieis
patton ihthe lafs conflict. We will an then
heIirln8 under the starry dag-that Sag
which has been deeply dyed IN blood Of tho
There ekisEa n this section ofour Unian Z
pfeinaioe against Mnrthernera; q preindice
that 81 iliuHtratad by an incident; "A mans
team and wagon had become stalled il q
miry place, and the driver despasfed NOV
ing on, 4 man sagsossed that Il be nm
might be Femediea.i But the wagon had no
load, There Is nothing ID the prejudice,
fhafefoke IL c@ltn9s be moved. A9A
The eDeaker urged hie heareFg TO preserve
sheiR integrity and keep 10 the straight
paths Of fectitude. For hinseif he was
ready 70 strike hands here lh his Ad0pted
sse9e WIN apy Nl.p would mpaseE under ths
Whal thesF pItsIi qities fgela hetoieferS.
The band struck mp Yankee DQoaler
spifitedig and good nAtured Gudssbce
cneefad heartily. il 10 m ~ sa
General sheldon announced that the
meeting mnst now necessarily Ad5onta. ~
tle het yag fsn1araea b we caterer who
was N furnish the banquet, SITE tbs a.
heMhleke UNIV willing "a kasaa and par
sllert calls we're made for other aneasere
Ihe prssldent was inpelsa - address,
she7u Lor few minuies; and his timenls
were evidently y fuA eceQrdaace with
those 81 hIf t5tNat
lAe UosnA fi8 snd Eir4 0f1cogg asad
QIafidp l4sn |c7laed antH night 81 tho
a'Aae FopM. t4S l.a Qrfr6aa 1f RI each
Other aNa l2 IA 81 slll4 ~ 4 81 alf4G tofsf.
We n4tIfel sasalaa poems q 4aas "a
Ole aud 1iie ar q IadIet
1e1 He111 iqs1 aad ace sd 5
eonl beside fAs v Esa
h 4siins n6alloaed atese
tla1 81 & - $ ilgle ps 3 rare lla
"a bs aazae hall Al eighl s'tla kbsbl
h1aaiad ss - )
asel vim rare aelioscias
psrigak q no -
aad FAen ArieA H
a
4MtfltHH
MUSE
1rn = '.is
11Ia