The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1872-04-14
The Blood of the Brave.

In speaking of the " Citizens Defensive
Association" the Picayuse quotes the ex
preston that 'liberty, in the last analysis
is the blood of the brave" It strikes us
that two or three words ought to be added
to that definition 80 AZ to make it read
''the blood of the brave and wise." Surely
"bloody fool" is not going at this late
day to be put at the foundation of all
| liberty, when he has always been spoken
of so disparagingly among the children of
men.
We do not mean by this to say that the
association of gentlemen above referred
are Of that type of character, but we
do mean to predict that liberty is never
going to be uurtured by drinking their
blood, if shed in the manner proposed by
them. The blood of the brave is no doubt
necessary to be shed as a general thing,
whether for the establishment or the main
tenance of liberty, but this must be done
with discretion. There is an immense
quantity of brave blood shed without eff
fecting any good result in that way, and,
in fact, with precisely the contrary result
in many cases. When the sacrifice of life
can effect, almost certainly, great popular
good, 1t may be justified if otherwise legiti-
mate. Without that probability, it is
murder OF suicide. Besides which, it
weakens, without profit, the strength that
ought to be husbanded for more propi-
tious opportunity and rivets more hope
lessly the very chains which it foolishly
strives to break.
These remarks apply merely to hat por-
ton of the Associations programme which
treats of arming, drilling and preparing
r,civil war. AS the Times very prudently
that has all been tried before, on
q much larger scale, under much more
favorable circumstances and with the very
result which we now find SO insupportabIe. |
1t is wonderful to us how any rejecting
man can for moment suppose that Ger. !
Grant will permit local military organiza-
ton to influence proceedings at the next
election even for the manifest protection of
the electoral suffrage. Gentlemen ought
to remember that, besides being hopeless
failure, their attempt will entail immense
injury upon the very cause which they ex-
oect to advance by it. They conld not
possibly do anything more agreeable to our
'ppressors. 1t will, like another Dryades
street riot, give rallying cry to the Re-
publican party throughout the North. Gre
'ellion" will be placarded in large crimson
etters on every old plank fence from Cane
God to the foot of the Rocky Mountains
md then, as soon as that style of enclosure
'ecommeEces, on the other side. If the
Citizens Defensive" want to make a per-
ectly sure thing of q carpet bag victory in
his State next Fall and of victory in the
Residential race which shall perpetuate
ur ruin, let them push ahead their armed
PREPARATION and enlarge it's field of opera /,
ions to an extent sufficient to attract ,
office.
This opinion applies, however, to that =
eature only of their programme. So far 4
concerns the pledge to resist by litiqa L
on all attempts to collect outrageous 8
'xes we wish them every success. There t
IN be no doubt that every respectable b
ember of the bar will give his best SER D
ices in any such cause WITHHOLD compcnsa- y
on aad' so far as we can see, not with out
'od hopes of success The taxes imposed
e not in conformity with the spirit of the h
institution. They are not for the benefit h
the people but to plumber them. They c,