New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-07-06

Such a Resistance by the colonists was q bold
step to take for it cast off their chief re
source for a comfortable subsistence. They
had no manufactOries-ha made but little
progress in the mechanic arts-had few com
mercial privileges beyond those which the
mother country furnished or controlled, and
by this step they would involve themselves
in q war with one of the most powerful ma.
tions in the world, and that, too, the nation
from which they sprung into existence, and
toward which they had the closest ties
Who was TO give them succor or deliver
them if they failed to accomplish th6r de-
liverancel
Two wears more passed before the sepa
ton blow was struck, and the colonies, one
and all, declared themselves forever free
from British dominion in the manner and
form set forth in the Declaration Of Iude-
pendence, which has been so elOquently
read to you, and the anniversary of the
eventis the day we celebrate. l have thus
given YOU, my friends, a hasty historic SUM
mary Of the day and time that tried mems
souls. and gave light to that instrument
which Is the symbol Of our liberties. Look
at those startling words of that old Declar-
alton of Independence, for tsay the tramersl
Eve hold these truths to be self evident, that
ALL MEN are created equal, and thus they
IelB LldB moral SbutlLutuUy lduBA 1T III bAAob
dav by them was an evidence of their re-
latiOn to those men, and an indication Of all
moral principle in them. Every living soul
is entitled to these principles equally as
though they were the blood of the blood
and flesh of the flesh of the men who wrote
the declaration. God breathed into the
uostrils Of man the breath of life, and he
became living soul, and the purpose Of
tile declaration is to allow him that free
sd III LII No
what is his color, class or condition, as part
of the grand whole of this mighty repub-
Inequality, justice aud freedom! That
ia the electric cord that links the hearts Of
patriotic and liberty-lOYing men together,
and ever will Ink those hearts as long as
the love of freedom exists in the minds of
men throughout the world. But, my
friends, let me divert your attention back
to the Olden times again.
For several long years after that declara-
ton was promulgated our foretathers
passed through a bloody and gloomy revo-
luton, narration of which would occupy
more time and ability than can now com
mand; but suffice it to say that under the
lead of the gallant Father of our Country,
George Washington, a complete victory was
obtained, and in 1888 an honorable treaty
of peace was framed, recognizing the United
States of America a free, sovereign, and in
dependent nation. The history of this gov
eminent from that day until before our late
civil war began is read and known by all men.
In the years of our colonization we were
obedient to the plain purpose of God in re
serving this continent as theatre whereOn
the capacity of the human race for selfgOv-
eminent should be fully and fairly tested,
and the men to whom was intrusted the
great experiment of civilization fifty built
the infant republic upon the principles of
civil and religious liberty. In this spirit
and for this cause our fathers went through
the revolution, and gave us the victory in
the shape of our fundamental law, declar-
ing it to be "tO secure the blessings of iber-
ty to the people and their pOsterity." I'm
der such auspices, my friends, was this gov
eminent inanguratAd, and all was well IN
the onward H.arch Of the nation until the
late unfortunate war.
Of what passed under it, know not what
to say. The past, the mighty past, lies in the
shadOwy distance, silent and changeless as
the dead-a world for thought. though
from It's skies has fed the gloomy light of
life. for memory plays like a moOnbeam
over the dim scenes of other days. We can
not drag from It's dark recesses one treasure
that we have lost or wasted; not one step
of the devious life track can we retrace.
How awful is the fall DER that which
nothing can recall" Suffice it to say that
we all know the cause, sutferings and re-
suits Of the late war, and with the pen of the
[ leave that work. Hence let the
take new inspiration so as to
buckle on the armOr TO perform new duties
within the line of their citizenships, made
necessary by the everchanging scenes of
the nations progress in its inward march to
the empire Of liberty.
Let me remind our Southern friends that
1. ~ II.
earn at this celebration. The battle-cry is
no longer sounded, wars thunders have
rolled muttering away, and the skies are
bright after the storm. Our heroes are
sleeping side by side with those whom they
in battle, and they sleep in peace.
In the grave dead foes have stricken hands |
and proclaimed truce forever. Let the !
living strike hands also, for we are not enc |
mics, but brethren. The nObler part of men
nay succumb to a temporary madness, but |
ne is nevertheless a man, and when the |
loud has passed away he is to be restored |
% mans loves and rights and privileges. !
Brother, late our foe in battle, but our |
brother still, this country was always our
Oint inheritance, this flag was always our !
Oint banner. The glory of our past belongs |
% both of us. Our grandsires and our |
athers stood side by side in baStle, and sat |
tide by side in council. The glory of the |
'utur6 belongs to both of US. This purified |
and, this great united people, these broad |
lcres stretching from ocean to ocean, yet |
pound by cord of commerce that makes |
# oceans near neighbOrs, and of noun |
aims level plains, this boundless wealth, |
his tireless energy, this hunger for pro-
yress, this thirst for knowledge, it is yours,
{ is ours, and no man can take it from us. |
We alone can despOil and destroy the rich |
Inheritance. Over brothers graves let |
,rOthers' quarrels die. Let there be peace |
us, that these. swords which we |
rave learned so we'll to use, may, if used |
lgain, strike only at a common foe. Let us |
ing anthems of peace; let the song be |
aiken up throughout the land, by the |
hores of the great lakes, by the waters OF !
he gulf, in the land of the loom and |
pindle. in the land of gold, on broad |
Jrairies. in sunny savannahs; let the chorus |
gain and again break forth, Peace on |
,arth, good will toward men" We have |
lad enough war; too many widows weeds |
ire scattered in this land too many or
,han children are gazing upon the past. |
t was a Just and righteous war; it was |
lobly fought and nobly won. Thank God |
t is over; and let US hope it will be re-
lived only in memory.
But, nv friends, think the war has done |
Is work, and the time has now come for |
he law to step in and do its most apprOpri- |
Lte duty. As to what that duty is no hon
st patriot can doubt, for it is fully set forth
n the Cincinnati platform, as explained by
3reeley's letter of acceptance. If we are
rue to ourselves, our country and institu-
us, as individuals and as nation, moth |
| oF>ut the decree of Omnipotence can limit |
| anyhOundaries to our progress. Is there |
accom- too hard for resolute people to |
ready Dc in view of what they have al |
the future, Is it possible to Over-estimate |
mas lar exeesging by the past, when that |
Iit DtGlQQlceS our avnpafafiCDsy When !