The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-09-24
NUMBER 3s.


Brothers Of the South, our hearts ana hands
are with you IN your struggle for constitutional
Our message of affection comes to you all, but
we bring token and an emblem to one of ybur
bsnds, who bears the name Of our gallant leader.
the "Bsysrd Of American chivalry,n the "chesya-
lier without reproach," whose sword flashed,
bright as the honor of Christian knight, in the
self when the bloody strife was ended, and whSss
magnanimous heart was touched with the herGssm
of bis fallen foe. rtr
" Blair knights in this struggle you have
chosen name Of which any people may well be
proud. No man living to-day combines grester
number OF the noble and heroic qualities of tue
knight than Frank P. Blair, of Missouri. Brsve
as lion and gentle as . woman, steadfast TO his
plighted faith, and true to his troth terrible in
battle, and msgnanimous in victory-generou7 in
power, naughty and defiant in defeat, the pride Of
Q proud profession, the strength of 9 strong bo-
litieal party, and one of his country's highest
hSss has pSs 2SJHsugs h% sP S Ss gS
study of his life. have crossed swords with dim
at the hustiDgs and on the battlefield and spisk
from experience of his power aud bear testimtny
to bis vslor. He has been subjected to all she
tests which try mems souls, yet stands before ths
American people day without q blot upon lhis
fair escutebeon, or the stain Of single igndble
act upon his honor, his hands unclotted taith
cruelty or oppression. - II
Wear, then, the name that you have chssen,
-
further endesred you TO Us, and, in proof OF Fhst
say-n the name Of the Democracy of saint
Louis, we present to you this beautiful flag: and
banner. .sf
Their folds are crimsoned, not with the bloN OF
the slain, but with the warm and glowing afec Eons
OF our hearts. Guard well these colors, witsthe
kn1ghty heroism OF your leader, the gallant
Harry Hays, and they will light you to pro der
fields of victory than anyo'er which Cour de
Leon fought or Saadin's crescent banner waved,
TIE brightness Of their stars have never yet
been dimmed, with sights of bloody carpsge.
They beam, only with peaceful splendor,: and
herald 10 you the coming Of glorious n,)ru,
when the darkness that now broods over you shall
be dispelled for ever-a " day of victory" Shen
your Holy Land" shall be redeemed from the
And then shall peace return to bless you vith
her smiles and in her train prosperity shall seu-
mite your broken energies. Personal security pnd
personal lberty-the " Household Godsr of every
American citizen shalt dwell in your homes assan.
Your fields shall once more whten wits the RI
costly product OF your favored cline.
The swft-winged messengers Of commerce shan
flock 10 your barboTs as Of yore. =;
The wise and great of your country sh all it In
your council chambers, and even-handed j4tice
poise the scales in your courts.
And then can every Southern heart exclaIS:
Great Cod we thank thee for this homes
This bounteous birthland of the free
Where wanderers from afar may come
And breathe the air Of liberty.
Still may her flowers untrampled spring,t
Her forests wave, her cities rise,
And yet till Time shall fold his wing
Remain earth's lovelest paradise.
II now remains for me to perform the sweetest
and saddest part of my duty-sweet becatse
love to dwell upon the theme, and sad becatse
have no power TO do it justice. 1t is to cofvey
to the noble women Of the South the knit thtly
courtesy, and affection, and veneration In Which
they are held by the Democracy Of st. Louis land
to place under their special care and proteStion
the s"Blair Knights,n bidding them rene slbss
a
'Ts always the spirit gallant in war
That s fOndest ana truest in love.
We do not ask you to vote or to mingIe b ths
political strife, except TO cheer the faint heal ted.
encourage the timid, and aid us you have tYer
done with your prayers and smiles.
No greater mistake was ever made than byS the
gifted poet who hkened your power TO thJ ivy
that clings around the oak. For, as the Wind will
sometimes lift itself TO a higher point of attach
ment and then support the tottering old mouirch
in its exile arms, even as in some Of the VII Test
storms, women will push the tendrils of her Sath
upward into the clefts of the everlasting rock saud
there sustain mans failing strength by her u1fal.
tering trust and her undying affection, liSGg
him heavenwards on the throbbing tide other
heart.
The banner which Col. Hatch then placed ii. the
hands of the knights is one of the most suterb
we ever saw-of much more than common size
its dimensions may be gathered from the fact hat
instead of being held up by staff in the cester.
1t is sustained by at either end it is msJ Of
the mort costly material and adorned with ioD-
summste taste in the highest style Of art. It Of
the heaviest silk, the front white with spesSing
likeness Of our next vice-presdent painted u boR
it-a blue border, and handsome gilt decorations
finish the description of this side which sool to
say, were sufficiently adorned had it naught 5poH
its pure white but the face of the hero stateshau
Of the West. The reverse Of the banner is hale
blue and is inscribed simply I" Blair Kniglss.'
The same blue border and gilt decorations wsica
the other side bears are repeated. Hands Sns
cords and tasses, heavy gilt fringe and Gle Sant
eagle surmounted taffs finish the descriptions
And here occurred one Of the prettiest tici-
dents that could have been desired. As the IsIr.
ner was brought forward immense natsDel
flag, as long as the width Of the stage, was Re
down from above, and for a few moments:05-
scured the whole stage back of the officers kthe
knights. Col. Hatch and the banner, thus masing
a back ground against which the banner resaed,
its every beauty intensified with the contraA bf
bright colors The flag drawn up, Gen. Brfdg
then presented to our guests Gen. H. 7. Htyb.
saying, he well might, that any introduction 10
our own people was supernuous. Gen. HayseI bad
been selected by the Knights to speak for t:,m.
and how well he did it let our readers judgeStor
themselves from the following:
l have been selected by the Blair knight to
receive for them the flag and banner which you
now present, and 10 respond to the sentim,Dts
expressed by your committee on behalf of the
generous donors. -
This splendid gift is. indeed, surprise. I'VE
well how the citizens OF Missouri sad
those of Louisiana were once bound together by
social ties, as well as by the bonds of a large and
profitable commerce. We delight 10 recall the
days when the mighty steamers, which were tho
prid a NJ W fOR
this port, laden with the products Of your teeming
praires, and the various minerals Of your hex
hsustible mines-for so prodlgal has nature baen
of her bounty to your people, that We SCARCELY
know whether your greater wealth is under. okoa
the surface Of your lands. Yes, we delig& to
recall those days when your merchant PRICES
followed their ventures TO this mart, and kere
scattered with lavish hand part OF the prof. y ia
the continual festivities which made the winter
season of New Orleans renowned In the annals OF
pleasure. Alas. gentlemen. l need not tell gou