The Opelousas courier., 1868-05-23

Young Men Of the South.
| Editors Southern Cagsiuator To those
who stood by the Lost Cause until ssthe
bitter end" we would address this arti-
Gle. Those who fa1tHred and tainted by
the way -side-who were .sweary in we'll
doing, from what cause soever, are to be
pitied. Many of them wanted in faith
many were jealous of the favor, 80 to say,
shown to others, became recreant to their
high trust many lacked true courage,
indomitable will, perseverance, and the
nobier principles of our noble born
Southern youth. Whether 80 constitu-
ted by nature, or a wrong bias given
by education, it is NC less true, they fall
tered and fell by the way-side, and we
pity them and their progeny.
But there are hosts of ye left. that
! stood up to our Lost Cause until the very
end, and whether with an ssarmless
sleeve or but one leg to hobble ON
through life, yet ye are mobiles, heroes,
every one, and if you will but carry out
your principles through all the changes
and fluctuations of life, you will be Ger
tain OF receiving your reward-if not i'm
this, you will i'm another and better
world. ~
Patient perseverance will give yon at
least the knowledge of a conscientious
discharge of duty, worth all the silver
and gold, with the s'mines of Golconda"
added.
We have accepted the issue placed up-
ON usFby force; we have been overcome
by numbers; we have acknowledged
defeat. Let us, one and all, old and
young, stand BY our acceptance, and 70
steadfastly in the line of duty, as you
all have shown capacity to do-not in
! f1uenced by the cold shudder, or doubts
or fears of the timid. Each and all of
you had high hopes, and an occasional
misgiving, or may be not 80 far as that
but something like fear, we might fail !;
yet you relaxed not-yeu tired not. You
were first to the reveille, and last at the
zasaEafal dirse that put se rest the last
hope OF liberty on this continent.
i We are no fiatterer-we speak simple
truth when we say, when History dips
her pen i'm ink, and writes for unborn
millions 10 read, the young men who
stood shoulder to shoulder until our Joe
Johnston yielded his sword and struck
his colors. will be classed with the he-
roes of Thermopyle, and new song
WILL UC 5NAA3 C4faSSAD& l4IE11 UdlHGG Will
''the hravest of the brave" There was
even hope to some, when the great Robt.
E. Lee yielded to superior force-never
to superior Generalship or true bravery !;
but when Joe Johnston FELL hope were
folly. !,
Il Your courage and steadfast adherence
to principle, proves beyond all question,
that you are capable of building up our
walls, battered down by q bloody and
hired fanatical soldiery. And we beseech
you. by all yon hold sacred ON earth or
in Heaven, that you now turn to the
peaceful vocations OF life, and show to the
world that you are as competent to han
die the pillow, the hoe, the spade, the axe,
the sledge, the hammer, the plane, the
saw, the adze, &c, &C., as you did han
die the sword, the carbine, the rifle, the
musket, the cartridge. Let others say
or do 10 they viii, but let us 90 to auork,
and make 0mr 0sga, oasr saRny Aoath, eor<
than she euer scas. We have the talent,
the energy, enterprise, the industry and
zeal. for any work-onIy let not ease and
, luxury and display draw you from the
work. Those of us who were horn to
gloves and broadcloth, can, without de-
tracing from any worth we may have
had, lay them aside, and il for o blis-
tered hand and sunburnt face, they
win be only the s'shihboleth'' that will
pass US on to higher station. Leave
all unkindness and harsh expressions oi
: individuals, to these who lacked spirit
70 act. Be courteous and civil. even I'd
those who were our enemies, and let in
| dnstry and perseverance, with good mor-
! ala. be FOs1r ieyAla Y0r ha nm rn..1a t,ac