The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1870-11-02

lege to speak in the hearing of the en-
tire nation, ] would utter with the pro-
foundest emphasis this pregnant truth
that no people ever traversed those
moral ideas which untlerlie its charac-
ter, its constitution, its institutions and
its laws, that did not in the end perish
in disaster, in shame aud in dishonor.
Applause. Whatever be the glory,
the material civilization of which such
a nation may boast, it still holds true
that the truth is immortal, and that
ideas rule the world. Applause
And now, sir, have but single
word to say, and that is that the grave
of this noble hero is bpdewed with the
most tender and sacred tears ever shed
upon a human tomb.
was thinking in my study this af-
ternooD, striving to strike out some
thing l might utter on this platform,
and this parallel between the first
Washington and the second occurred
to me. asked my own heart the
question, would You not accept the
fame, and the glory, and the career
of Robert f. Lee just as soon as accept
the glory and career of the immortal
man who was his predecessor Jap
plause. Sir, there is q pathOs in allen
fortunes which stirs the sensibiiities
and touches the very fountain Of hui
man feeling. am not sure that at this
moment Napoleon, the enforced guest
of the Prussian King, is not grander
than when he assembled the throne OF
France. There is a grandeur in mis-
fortune, when that misfortune is borne
by !: noble heart, with the strength OF
will to endure, and endure without
complaining or breaking. Perhaps
slip easily into this train Of remarks
for it is my peculiar Office to speak OF
that Christening with which a gracions
Providence visits men on this earth
and by which he prepares them fol
heaven hereafter and what is true o.
individuals in Il state Of adversely Ii
true of nations when clothed in sorrow
Sir, the men in these galleries tina,
once wore the gray are here tO-nigh
that they may bend the knee in rever
ence at the grave of him whose vote,
and hand they obeyed amidst til.
storms of battle-the young widow
who, but as yesterday, leani upon til,
arm of her soldier husband, but nov
clasps wildly to her breast the young
child that never beheld its fathers fac,
comes here to shed her tears over thi
grave to-night-and the aged matron
with the tears streaming from her eye
as she recalls her unfOrgotten dead
lying on the plains of Gettysburg, o.
the heights of Fredericksburg zap
iplause], now, tonight, joins in on
dirge over him, who was that SOM
chieftain and guide, and counselor ant
friend.
A whole nation has risen up in tn,
spontaneity Of its grief to render thu
tribute of its love. Sir, there is uni
ty in the grapes when they grow to
gether in the clusters upon the vine
and holding the buuch in your han,
you speak of it as one but there i
another unity when you throw thes
grapes into the wine press, and TIN
feet of those that bruise these grapes
trample them almost prOfanely be
meath their tread, and the rich, warm
ripe, red blood flows together in tn
communion of pure wine: and sueh
the union and communion of heart
that have been fused by tribulation an,
sorrow, and that meet together in tn
} true feeimnn." of an honest grief to ex
press the homage Of tncc;r affection, a
well as to render a tribute of praise t
him upon whose face we shall neve
look until on that immortal day W
shall behold it TRANSPORTED before tn
Throne of God. Applause