New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-03-05
WHOLE NUMBER 1900

| limitations laid down in statute books, has
issued its decree, and public offices
have closed, workmen have laid aside
thelf tools: the marts of commerce
are deserted, the courts of justice have sus-
pended their labors and even the haunts of
| politics are no longer thrOnged, that all the
| people, men, women and children, might
| join in the pageant, and help to do honor to
| the conqnerors. At an early hour the streets
were filled with TIE pOpulace, habItations
became deserted, and tie ordinary thorough
| fares OF travel were impossible from the
throng Of humanity with which they were
crowded. Balconies, supported and propped
| for this extraordinary occasion, We're filled
| with human beings. and the youth and
| beauty of the city looked on, while en-
| couraged with the approving smiles OF age
! and "espectabl,ity.
| At length, amid the hush Of the anxious
| and admiring multitude, the procession
| moves. Savage beasts do not precede it:
no exhibit ton OF brutal cruelty is intimated;
| no detected captive mars the glory of the
day, but the soldiers. themselves are there,
needing no other display than that of their
own persons 10 signalize their deeds; sol
diers OF peace rejoicing over many peaceful
victories gained, and exulting, not over
| the lives they have taken, but over those
they have saved and they bear with them,
in their 1midst. their beloved president,
only anxious that they may excel in doing
| him honor, even above their tellowcitizens.
! Mark the shout which greets the hero OF
| peace, the protector OF the city, the leader
of those who fight the elements! No con-
queror, be he King or Kaiser, ever made so
| splendid record, ever received so heart
felt reward. And as the Roman Emperor
stood when all was over, in the capitol, and
| received the O6eisance of the admiling
| throngs, SO mark You now orr leader, and
recognize how much greater he.
Honor to the hero. honor for the
| vices of a lifetime in a noble and glorious
cause: the history of our city is impressed
with his name; the devotion he hos dis
played has organized victory, and the vet
erAn president of sixteen years continues at
his post of duty, faithful and steadfast to
the end.
Honor to the hero. No blood but that of
his own companions in-arms has ever been
shed in any of his mauy battles: hut their
hands have ever been stretched forth, their
feet have been quick, and their hearts have
been ready, at his lead, 10 save and protect
life and property.
| Honor to the hero for the glorious work
Of charity which he has founded. main.
tanned and perpetuated; the grateful faces
of many who have reaped the benefits of
that work now beam upon him as upon a
protector of their heiplessness; and the
fond prayer Of the widow and orphan
nightly ascends to the throne of heaven to
implore its blessings upon his head more
effective than burning clouds of franklin
cense and myrrh with Him who ruleth the
world. doing all things well.
| Honor to the hero Honor for the honor
you have conferred upon yourselves by
placing him at your head tor so many s,lc-
cessive years for the skill and wisdom he
has displayed in your service; for the Or
ganization of the department upon its pres
ent firm foundation, that he accomplished :
tor the preservation OF it in its integrity
when asSailed by interested fees; and for
that Cry of mingled sympathy and expostu-
latiOn, which his proud defiance wrung
from the bosOms. the hearts and the sym
pathies OF your fcllow-citzens of every creed
and opinion, when officials, blind to the in
terests of those they sought to serve.
thought to annihilate it.
Honor to the hero! We can place upon
his venerable brow but an emblematic
crown of laurel; but we will enthrone him
in our hearts, aid pray God to spare him
| long to us in his career Of usefulness and
benevolence: an when the immutable de
cree is pronOun'-"d which shall translate
him to the sphere where his merits will re-
ccive their just ward, we shall cite his
| noble and glorious acts to our children, and
say:
''Ris life was gentle; and the elements
| SO mixed il him that nature ght stand up
And say to al the worl, This was mani"
Mr.. Marks. the high honor has been
conferred upon me representing to-day my
brother tiremen Of New Orleans, and it is
nv pleasing duty. in their name, OH this
OCCASION which should be memorable to all
having an interest in our immunity, to as
sure you of the high consideration and es-
TEEN in which they hold you: incidents OF
the most important character have lately
occurred, which must render this cele bra
tion of our anniversary more significant
than usual and all feel as if new life had
been given to the fire department through
your unpersistent, untiring and esstul
efforts: it needs no words from me to
sound your praises III your ear, the
satisfaction vOu must feel have been
guided SO long by your wisdom
but it is the wish of your comrades, who,
from a well-spent life, would far outweigh
them. to commemorate this occasion and to
materially testify their appreciation OF yonr
inestimable labors in their behalf and am
instructed to that end to ask your accept
ance of this slight testimonial; its greatest
value consists in the love and affection with
which it is rendered, and we trust that YOU
may preserve it a. a memorial OF the recog
milton OF your valuable services, long
rendered, to the Firemen's Charitable As
sociation of New Orleans.
Response Of Mr. Marks.
/ H2nt'emen OF JDe tOmiilltIte. DItIHtl
Fircmen of New OIieans-The highest
earthly reward human being can receive
tueXt 10 the approval ofhis own consciencel
when he shall have performed any inpvrt
! ant duty assigned to him, is the appropt-
ton of his fellow men.
1t was truthtuly declared by the i'm
mortal Southern patriot, Lee that duty L
the slIblmest word in our language and
he illustrated it, in his life, for he was "A
man of duty, in an age of self He who.
hOnored by his fellow men with public
trusts taking dhty as his watchwOrd Ut he
|, has been sincere and unselhsh), and re-
ceives from his colaborers that support,
encouragement and appreciation which a
faithful discharge OF duty will ever exact,
has already in his possession honor and re-
ward which will outlvc emoiument or pub
! lie testimonial.
| 1t is a common thing in our se1ish age to
mark out by some pointed recognition the
faithful discharge OF a public trust, as if I'M
selfish deeds had become the exception, and
were no longer the general rule, This is a
sad commentary upon the failing character
of modern human nature. There must be
something radically wrong in the teachings
Of the day, when the man who is willing to
devote portion OF his allotted probation
upon earth to the amelicration of his fellow
men, has the sor,lid exclamation continually
sounded III his ears upon every side, .'Whv
do You thus sacrifice your valuable time
trhen It does not poyf In this age of brass,
must man so measure out his time that
every hour OF 1t must pay, in the modern
acceptatlOn of that termi Is he to turn a
deaf ear to the appeal of the widow and the
orphan because the miserable mite he may
be called upon 10 dole out, either in time
or money, may abridge the exercise OF his