The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1872-09-07
TO YOUNG MEN.

We have frequently observed, in po-
litical campaigns, that the most Elf
cient canvassers and workers are men
young in years. There is in what they
do, a zest, Il sincerity and enthusiasm
that bears down obstacles and sti mu-
lates activity and confidence in the
weak. Whole neighborhoods have
been aroused and set in motion by the
persevering and enthusiastic course of
a single young man. The youthful
Pelham at Fredericksburg excited the
the admiration of two armies and won
the p1audits of world, and in his mar
tydom to duty set an example that
aligned erect many thousand tottcring
forms in the unwavering march to vic
tory.
In the present perilous crisis in the
history of Louisiana, duty calls old and
young alike to exert their influence in
behalf of State redemption. But it is
more especially to the young men we
appeal, in this article, to enlist in the
pending conflict. Let no false delicacy
obtrude upon their aspiring thoughts
and yearnings in behalf Of their imper-
illcd country. When the bleeding Con-
federacy found her borders thronging
with advancing hostile legions, and that
her own soldiers Of mature years were
insufficient in numbers to arrest tn Q
exultant hosts of the enemy, her wise
men, in their extremity, applied
to the youths of eighteen and upwards
for recruits for the wasted Confederate
regiments. These recruits poured into
camp and field, and were received with
joy and enthusiasm. The noble cause
of State redemption appeals to the
young men to-day to do their part.
No matter whether they are eligible as
voters, or not; they have agile frames,
enduring muscles, and stout, courageous
hearts, to lend az agents and supports
to the wisdom, experience and pyhsi-
cal inability of their fathers. They can
execute plans, and gather and report
information, and, even though school
boys, they can instruct, persuade and
convert the weak and the ignorant
whose votes are to be counted in the
grand result.
Youth must precede manhood; but a
successful and vigorous young man.
hood is preceded by experience and good
lessons we'll learned in youth. The
boys of to-day will soon be men and
rulers, and upon them will devolve
tho nc. ro o,,J roS,>on.;b;J;%;o, nc WAN,
ging the affairs of State. Let them,
even now, begin to acquaint themselves
with those duties and situations which
will soon necessarily call for their at
tention. Let them throw into this in
vestigation the purity of purpose and
sublimity of moral courage which ever
characterize the young in beginning
life, needing the maxim, however,
that politics is game Of "buli-pen"
where wary Juggling and an accurate
aim generally brings success to the par
ties drumming the inc.' But, in DEM
onstrating themselves how q State may
be saved and made prosperous, let
them not suffer the ardor and impul-
sivencss of youth to tempt them into
heats of passion, act. If inprudence
and violence, or anything which shall
turn their victory into defeat. Their
course can be peaceable, conciliatory
ANA moderate, and yet manifest the
greatest enthusiasm, the hcarticst RI
valry and the most untiring devotion
to the cause of their friends and their
party. \ few little indiscretions may
lead to serious results, and these to the
wreck of all our hopes. While, there
fore, we bid the young men go actively
in the canvass and do their full share
of the work, we, ut the same time,
urge them to employ smiles instead of
frowns, documents rather than dirks,
and facts, Of which we havca superb
bundance, instead of violence. This
thought, we may better illustrate, by
stating, that, i'll the investigation had
by the Stevenson Committee, in 1865,
into the conduct of the canvass and
the election in this State iu that year,