New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-05-31

The following letter was received from
Judge A. B. SlOanaker:
RoOM No. s, COTToy EXCHANGE.
New Orleans, May 3d. 1872.
R. D. Mitchell, Esq, American Union Club:
SR-Your kind invitation, in behalf of
the club, to participate in the pleasurable
duties of decoration day" at Chalmette
Cemetery with my late comrades in arms,
who desire to decorate the graves of the
fallen braves, has been received. 1 exceed
ingly regret that previous professional en-
gagements prevent my attendance, but feel
assured that while absent in person, am
with you in spirit, as is exhibited in the fol
lowing sentiments hereby expressed:
The eOmmemorati0n of such celebrations
rs a duty as well as a source of patriotic
qualification. Every people, in some form
or other, observe the great days in their
national calendar; the days which have
given birth to nations or founders of ma
tions, or have been signalized by some de-
cisive victory on land or sea, that has laid
the basis of national independence. Such
celebrations spring from the most generous
impul ses of the human heart, and they ele-
vate people in their own esteem and that
of the world; they feed the flame Of patriot
ism, that intense love of country which en-
dears men to the land in which they were
born, and to the political institutions Un-
der which they live and prosper they
have tendency to more closely combine
the members of political communities into
compact and sympathetic masses, thus
giving them that identity of sentiment and
unity of purpose which constitutes the
chief strength of nation. The tone of
national feeling is elevated and purified,
when as on such day this we assemble to
recite the virtues of the Illustri0us dead to
recall their words and actions, and spread
before the world those glorious pages of
our history which will ever shine like leaves
of gold in the general history of the human
race. If Greece and Rome could
boast of their long line of philoso-
pheres, poets, orators, statesmen and
warriors, and challenge the world
to equal and initiate them, we have yet
greater reason to exult in the fact that in
period of less time than century in dura-
ton, this country has given birth to men
whose names are now the symbols of the
highest forms of human excellence; names
which, whenever mentioned, are recognized
as those of pure patriots, sagacious states
men and human benefactOrs; but with all
their glory and greatness, none of them eX-
celled within their sphere the humblest sol
dier whose patriotic grave you this day dec
crate: for, humble though he be, he has given
up his full measure of devotion to his
country in laying down his life that the ma
ton might live. This much we owe the
republic; hence let the survivors take new
inspiration from these graves, so as to
buckle on the armOr to perform new duties
within the line of their eitizenships, made
necessary by the ever-changing scenes of
the nations progress in its onward march to
the empire of liberty. In conclusion, let
me remind our Southern friends that there is
yet another lesson which we may learn in
this presence, The battle-cry is no longer
sounded wars thundeTs have rolled, NUT
tering, away, and the skies are bright after
the storm. Our heroes are sleeping side by
side with those whom they withstOod 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 enemies,
but brethren The nObler part of man may
to temporary madness, but he is
nevertheless a man. and when the cloud |
has passed away, he is to be restored |
to a mans loves, and rights, and |
privileges. Brother, late our foe in |
battle, but our brother still, this |
country was always our joint in |
heritance, this flag was always our joint |
banner. The glory of our past belongs to |
both of us. Our grandsires and our fathers !
stood side by side in battle, and sat side by |
side in council. The glory Of the future be-