The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-02-22
Aow TO c.IlsaAzs TEE Day.

prosperity Win hbicn We were Diesseu u Tue
"long ago "--and how long ago it seems
now-~the birthday of Washington neyel
passed without being commemorated, bott
publicly and privately, in manner worthy
of him to whose memory it was dedicated.
When, in 1861, the people of Louisians
endeavored to sever their connection with
the government whose cornerstone he had
laid, only because the principles for which he
had fought no longer controlled the nation,
the birthday Of the Father Of his Coun-
try" was deemed the fittest occasion for the
first public celebration of the event. Since
then the people of New Orleans have allowed
the 22d to pass almost unnoticed. In 1862
public interest was too much absorbed
elsewhere, and about other things,
for Us TO take time for merry
making. 1868, 1864 and 1866 were passed
under military despotism, and our people
felt it were nockery to celebrate then the
birthday Of him in whose name their tyrant
welded his rod of iron. When the war
closed, we fondly hoped that under the
benignant sway of a government restored to
its pristine purity, we might again com.
memorate the virtues of its principal founder.
Vain dream from which we were
soon roughly awakened. There is no occa-
sion to tell how the day has passed since
then. The fair tree planted by Washington
and his compatriots, and nourished by their
blood. had become the deadly upas beneath
whose shade no good thing could live. How,
then, could we rejoice over its planting
when our very rejoicings would but have re-
minded us that we had been happier? How
could we make merry by the waters of
Babylon cl
So much for the past But the present and
its duties are what now demand our attention.
How shall we celebrate the ed of February,
1868, is the question of to-day. This is our
answer-by a calm looking in the face of the
difficulties which surround us, by an earnest
endeavor to see into the future, and by SOL
emn resolve that nothing shall be lacking on
our part to make that future all it should be.
What our present is, is soon told We are
simply vassals to clique of Northern politi-
clans, who, drunk with power, are legislating
away. one by one, the principles on which our
forefathers staked their lives, their fortunes,
and their sacred honors. The failure of the
cotton crop has virtually bankrupted the
South, and Northern capitalists, afraid to
abide the result of their own political expert
ments hold aloof, and refuse to aid us till they
shall see that we no longer need their assist
ance. Commercial enterprise is stiAed for
lack Of means native talent must remain
unencor-aged for want of money. Desola-
ti5n and ruin ON all sides.
Let us see now to the future The radical
ranks at the North are melting away like mist
before the dawn, and if we are to judge of
coming events by their shadows it will not be
long before the banner Of the Democracy
shall wave in triumph over the national capt.
tai. With the improvement in political pros
poets will come amelioration in our financial
condition; for, once assured that wholesale
confscation and negro domination are no lon
ger possibilities, the capitalists of the North,
with their ante-bellum experience of the
proftableness of the investment, win no
longer hesitate to trust their money in our
hands.
Such are the blessings which the future
promises. To us belongs the duty of i'm
proving them. Let us, in tn first place,
realize that the past is past, and let us bury it
out Of our sight Our eyes and thoughts
should be turned forward, not backward now. |
Let US realize, too, that to make our city |
great metropolis, cotton will not be sufficient,
and let us set to work to build trade of
our own, that will transform New Orleans
from the mere station for vessels from other
POitS tuht BIG NOW is, INTO the con-
troller Of the commerce of the Southwest.
Let us strengthen our connection with
The Northwest and with Texas. They each
wait but for an invitation to pour into our
APPS an exhaustless stream ofwealth. Let us
give to the Northern Democracy, since we can
give them nothing else, the assurance of our
hearty sympathy with, and complete trust in
hem. Let us extend the right hand of fell
owship to every man, wherever may have
'een his birthplace, whatever the color of his
oat, who, either by casting his lot in life with
is, or by deeds of magnanimity and kindness
owards us demonstrates that he is really our
riend And above all, let us, as people and
strive to practice that virtue,
Iithout which true greatness is impossible;
nd in default of which we may be sure the
leasing of omnipotence will be lacking.