The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1869-05-12

gratitude and thanksgiving. We rc.nem
bered it with enthusiastic pride at Bunke
Hill, Saratoga and Monmouth. But wbe1
IT waived in '61- at the head of invadin.
hosts, we knew it not. 1t ceased to b.
onr banner when its staff was planted upol
the ruins of broken covenant. Sterl
fate has made it still our flag, and when th,
Constitution of our fathers is exhumet
from its hiding place and the dust of part,
tyranny shaken from ifs pages, we will
honor it again. But while we reinembe,
this let no craven heart fear to do homage
to the memory of another, the one unde,
which the boys in grey fought, the banner
ofthe red, white and blue 1t also marched
with then to victory at Manassas and
Fredericksburg. 1t foated in triumph
over the swamps of the ChickahominB.-
1t waved it's conquering bars amidst the
smoke OF battle at Spotsylvania, the Wild
%erness, Gettysburg Charleston, Petersburg
and Shiloh. 1t was the flag Of Stonewail
Jackson, Sidney Johnston, Polk, Cele-
burne; Walker and Hill. Can We ever
forger tile memories it %revives Never!
Let not. them, my friends the traditions OF
a gallant people die. We owe, it to the
memory of the sublimest struggle on histo-
rvs pages---the memory of the gallant dead
who sleep around US, the honor of our in
suited women, to revere and perpetuate it.
The stern messengers of Heath may consign
heroes to an untimeIy grave, but the great
and glorious principles for which they
fought will not die with them, but will live
forever.
This shall resist the empire of decay.
when tllneis over and worlds have passed
away;
Cold in the dust the persisted heart may
But that which warmed it once can never
die" -Il)
Justice is not, therefore, measured by
triumph or defeat. The fiery and untaiiied
Cossack subdued enlightened Hungary aud
the barbdtous Russian holds in DURANGO
vile the land OF Sobieski. We have not,
therefore, fought in vain. No cause was
ever lost which leaves behind it such
glorious memories, or handed down to pos
terity such unsullied honor, chivalrotis
Courage and dndying patriotism. While a
nation mourns her dead: b%ternaljustice will
one day assert the immortal principles for
which they died; and "death is even swai.
lowed tip in victory" IIt)E IJLLt
True, the myrtle and the laurel deck not
the brow of the living. but they crown
with victory the foreheads Of the dead.
The hero of Shiloh, who sleeps in the
Lone Star State, beyond the turbid waters
OF the Mississippi, found victory 10 the
dying honr. The Warrior Priest, whose
remains find an bonored sepulchre beside
the placid waters of the Savannah,
caught its glad shout as his priest took it's
flight. The last hours of that sombre
chieftain, the noblest Captain ofopr MAR
trail host, were soothed by an nnfaItering
trust in the ultimate triumph of our cause.
A proud smile lighted up his placid face as
he murmured, in low accents. "Let us cross
over the river and rest under the shade of
the trees He has crossed the dark river,
and his martial spirit is at rest beneath the
trees of eternal life. A voiceless herald
proclaims victory from every nameless
grave which contains the dishes of onr gal
liant dead. While their life-bldod was eb-
bing fast, and the waves Of eternity were
tashing in their ears. bright visions of
their sunny land hoated before their
dimmed sight, and loud peans Of victory
Gained the agony of tho dying hour.
THE dying boy it's music caught y,s,Rig.
Il do not die il vain he thought,
Freedom by death and blood are bought
For Dixie: .t7gi
Sleep on, young Soldier, with thy dream,
Well didst thou die with that bright CLEAN
or hope to shed its parting beam -
l. For Dixie:"A Seih I
But, my friends. they have gone from us
! forever, the stfife has ended, we have dof
fed the gray, laid down our arms, and
Southern honor; upsullied in defeat as well
as triumph, Is pledged to accept the issue
We will do it and in good faith, bnt bayo.
nets cannot conquer the heart. No prison
bounds can .trammel the affections; that at
hgiance will accept no issie,. or future
that will not accept the past Let us
then. ever commemorate this day, and het.
err cease to cherish the sacred memories /,
calls forth. Let us enroll this tribute
ameng the time hcnored customs of our
land; it embodies a noble design, ant
should ever be as settled and certain a re
currence as the birthday of Washington Oh
the Declaration oflndependence. Noble
woman sets ps the 'example-herj voice is
always heard-her influence felt always in
the contamination ofall that is good hnd
glorious. Her hands have assumed the
grateful task, and it cannot fail" To then
we may safely commit, the memories o
the past. Some writer has beautifully re
marked that womanly character, power ane
influence are facts 10 the economy of Prov
idsnce just as. much as light, heat and gray
~itation in Nature. We believe 1t; the his
tory of the world has proved it. Seek t.
unravel the web of past ages, and watcl
how the golden thread of her Influence il
interviewer with every portion Of tht
Sstrangely wrought fabric. We cannot with
Mlraw it without destruction to the whole
Here it, gleams family through the dark
Mess, or shines with a bold, radiance; Their,
4it is dim and cloudy, but through all il:
Echsnges we see and recognize its mighty
tracey Our cause would not have. livee
1 an hour without her influence. She aus
ttaiued US in defeat aud rejoiced with us, il
Victory. and the manifestations of he
Vhandiwork to-day are the o~utbreathipgs 0
Han interest, which, from woman; is Away
Ethe mute oracle of success.
ri My friends, our sad task is ended, an,
though no marble shaft or gilded shrin'
mark the lowiy' resting places of the boy
lin gray, remember 5f,s
4 "They do not die who in their deeds sur
vive
Enshrined forever in the hearts of men;