The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1870-11-11

men should receive III, anu III Is DSHo
and proper for those who owe debt OF
gratitude to pay it. And in this chris
tains, above all others, should take the
lead, for to them especially is it writ
ten, "Render to all their dues: tribute
to whom tribute is due; custom to
whom custom; fear to whom fear;
honor to whom honor" is due. The
Teacher and Savior of the world has
said: "Render unto Caesar the things
which are Caesars, and unto God the
things that are Gods"
Preserving the true and just senti-
ment of the text, I change the phrase
ology only, and read-Thus shall it be
done IN memory Of the man 'chose name
his people delight to honor. ta
!. Thas shall 1t be done. How 2 Not
the empty pageant of an hour, tlattering
to human pride and vanity, but really
emptv and worthless as il is short and
/ fascinating. Not the decking in royal
/ robes. to which there is no birthright,
3 nor the wearing of a regal crown with
, out the title and the sceptre. Not the
S mechanical prostration of the multi
0 tudes as Prince proclaims the man
q date of one of earth's mightiest mon
# archs. These things might tickle the
# ears of the vain and ambitious Hannah,
: and amuse an Eastern monarch, but
e here they would be all out of place and
G little less than sacrilege.
d Thus shall it be done. HOwg Why
J. there shall be an honor deeper, higher
l, wider, nobler and more sacred than al
Of this, There shall be a heart offering
al as extended as the country for which
ii he fought, deep as the love Of the PEG
st pie he called his own, free as the South
y ern winds and pure as ever mortals OF
ch fered. When it is announced tina
ly Robert Z. Lee is no more-that tn
he pure patriot, the great captain, and tn
he christian hero has ended his career
lat fought indeed his last battle and II
Ter ceiyed from the skies his discharge
n behold, from the Potomac to the Gu
us of Mexico and from the Chesepeal
he Bay to the Rio Grande, as the new
flies from city to city and from town
ire town, the whole land puts on mour
ON ing. Among all the people there
md scarcely heart which does not feel
so pang of sorrow, nor an eye that &c
ity, not drop at least one tear. PUP
,ss, Halls, churches, edifices, stores, prlvf
mis- residences are all draped in deep
du- mourning. Business houses are clos
e, a the quiet of Sabbath rests over toy
ex- and city, and the tolling bells tell h
the a land mourns and nation weeps
Ter No imperial mandate nor President
this proclamation calls forth these expf
the sions, but they are the simultane'
, it, outburst, the sincere heart offerings
ion, the people. There is something
pure love in the heart that prompts
the to bring its offerings and say
card shall it be done in memory Of the n
take whose name his people delight
ma honor.
ans 1t is Just this feeling that draped
E the house. wrote that name in black
wreathed it in mourning.* just
hon. feeling, this pure desire to do so
and thing, caused your humble speake
when devote this hour to and bring his n
efore BILE offering in honor of the memoir
n in Robert E. Lee. In proof OF the az
,ped and purity of our love to the men
20 of our fallen chief, is the feeling
tho we can bring nothing good enough
in all do nothing great enough to mee'
thou demand mace upon u.s. ~,
ocreo we ought to do and must do sometll
~ to that not to give expression to our
;o;cea ines would be next to unpardon
cd and yet do our best and it fall
a gal short OF our desires 's.' " us ~ ~,
No. cause we know that up to the pr
no duty just like this one has eve
/, ,,ot yolycd upon us, and we feel tina
shall never Eve long enough to
oon .h. such an one in the future; that f
ees there is and can be but one Rob-
&c tho Lee! s--g-,,5.L j.
and on There IS, however, o''o oiio
what thought and that is, that our dut.
lone to parallel with our ability, and
ots an each one is required to do all b
me for he is not required to do more.
Who is the widows mite was a more &C
N was BILE offering than the larger 6
Of the many of the rich. If am not a
King to bring whole wreath composed
he had richest and rarest flowers and p
or was. around the memory of our falle1
4. DIET vet can bring q rose, white
once to for it is the offering of a sincere
me INTO Thus shall it be done. How
hteth to as already intimated, this gr'
hat the unique occasion lays the whole s.
severed. land under tribute, and justly d
in royal of every profession, class and
IS horse. ual, revenue. And even hey
street Of bright skies, pleasant breez
that Ha- lovely flowers Of our own
ecai, the home" this demand will be fell
-, ,tJnouladrod Wherever there