The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1872-06-16

One Of the darkest pages in American his
tory is sh,t on Which LeSefsIISv has founded
fate Of the Aendians. Acadia was the French n
name for what is now called Nova Scotia.
This province was settled by the French nc a
very early period and the people we're indus
erious. thrifty, and attached to their New
World homes. In the constant wars. between
England aud Frauce they frequently fell into
hands of England and fuaily by the treaty OF
and though the treaty gave them the right 10
sell and move away, there weye none to buy.
Even the English authorities induced them to
remained without being compelled to bear
arms against their own race. At last, in ITS,
the English Government resolved on o terribly
cruel blow. They were summoned to take the
full English oath of allegiance. Tbcy asked
to be allowed totake it modified, as OF old, and
be left in peace. Bnt, fearing vengeance
from the preparations making. they offered to
swear allegiance Internationally. They were
told that, by clanse in . statute of George II.
persona who oLcs refused oatb could not be
allowed to take 1t, but were Popish recusants.
oia and younN men, down 70 lads Of ten, were
pointed day, Sept 9Th, they ,obeyed at Grand
Pre-. .Four hundied and eighteen came 10 they
were marched into tho church and surrounded.
Then they were told that their lands, tene-
ments, cattle Of all kinds, and live stock Of all
| sorts were forfeited 70 the crown, sndthat they
were to he removed. ont of the provinces
Their wives aud families shared their lot.
The blow Gvas sudden they had left home
but for the morning, and they we're never to
return. They had not even food for their chill
dren. Guarded in separate camps until the
ships were ready, they were at last dra wu mp
six deep, and they Dung men, one hundred and
sixty Id number, were ordered to march first
gu board the vessel. They could lesve their
farms and cottages, the shady rocks on which
they had reclined, aud their herds and gardens
but could thcy, without Q struggle, he tern
from their agod parents Bot they had mot q
weapon even of the rudest kind. The bayonet
areTe-t hem on to obey; they marched slowly
and heavily fEom the chapel to the shore, be-
| ~ cen the women aud children who knelt iIr
| prayer. Tho old went next; the wives and
children we're kept till other vessels came;
keOt on the shore without a comfort fOr the
aged and sick. These poor people, as they
were borne off, saw their home :. the church go
dear TO them, all cO0sunIed Ivy FIRE. What
was done at GraDd Pre- was done elsewhere.
From Annapolis TO the isthmus all was ruin.
A beaatifal aIsd fertile tract Was redncsd to u
DoIitude. There was nothing left roa0d the
cottages Of the Acadisne bat tho faithfnl
! watchdog, V0inly seeking the hGnaIs that fed
him. Seven Thousand people were tina driven
| 90 shipbOaTt, father sePRra te6 from child, aud
husband from wife, aud brother from sister.
helpless on the coast from Boston to GeorSia,
! without means, ignorant of the Language
Hundreds and hundreds persisted Of " ant and
disease: hundreds more fell q prey to the In E
dams while sndeSvoTiRg TO Teaah Canada or
| Louisiana. That any reached any Of these
| provinces is almost q miracle. Yet numbers
did. There husband aud wife, who pSrte.l
that morning in their Aoadian home, CAME at
last to each others arms sitter yeaES Of wander
ing, happy, too, ii they co1ld clasp ono Of the
Others wandered on for yearn 10 fruitiesS
search others sank and died IA p1or houses,
! where c0OtemPt alone was eoNt" S-i Il S0n them
! a;3 e:-aiS sIs3s&iaSs.