The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-09-20
ICommUnicated.l

lCommunicated.I
In the hands of men entirely great, the pen is
miShtier than the sword"
A more apt aud beautiful quotation could not
be applied to the recent grand effort of Louisi-
! aua's true men, than this one from Bulwer's
classic drama, entitled Riclelieu. 1t applies
with full force to the gallant citizens who
have shown themselves entirely great in their
brave enterprise, their noble forbearance, and
their most glorious success. In their hands
victory was nnstained by cruelty, and bravery
knows no reproach.
Their Penn, the exponent of law and order,
| of peace and justice, has proved mightier in
deed than the sword of tyranny, while the
| government he represents needs bayonets
! to hold it in the peoples hearts, We do not
| believe history can show popular uprising
as grand and glorious as that of the 14th OF
| September, 1874, where net one step was taken
which was not dictated by moderation, not
one action undertaken that can be regretted,
and not one word spoken that is not worthy to
live forever in the annals of Louisiana's bis
tory.
Noble State! We salute you as the
Qaeeu and Mistress of our love and homage 9!
We almost thought that your proud hands had
wearied of their work, that your proud heart
had yielded to it's fate; but how iguoble were
our thoughts the 14th September plainly
shows,-and we thank God that the land we
feared was dead-was only sleepiugl It's
waking has brought US ali that freemen prize,
honor, happiness aud constitutional liberty.
As Catholics, we should also acknowl led ge
that the directing hand of Providence has
clearly revealed itself, and that the prayers of
united, though long suffering people, have at
last been heard.
Last April the spirit of the Crusaders was
evoked among us by our Archbishop's grand
design of a Novena of Pilgrimages. In the
long professions that wendell their way from
shrine to shrine, we saw the learned and
illiterate, the proud and the humble-judges,
lawyers, merchants, doctors, all taking part in
the silent crusade of prayer; who can doubt
that the same spirit leaped to life in another
form last Monday, when Southern chivalry
bore down all obstacles and carried off the
precious prize of liberty!
Religion and Patriotism should ever walk
together, and the bravest soldier must always
be he who acknowledges that God is over all.
Hence came Gov. Penis appeal to the people,
last Wednesday, September 10th, to repair to
the churches, there to praise God for the
mercy shown His people, and to offer up
thanks for the restoration which bears with it
such glorious promises for the future.
Just seventy-four years ago, on the same
day of the month, September 18th, 1900, me-
mortal from Louisiana was forwarded to Napo- |
leon Bonaparte, which induced that far-seeing
man to obtain possession of the colony which
he considered lone of the elements of the
great system he had devised to carry to the |
highest degree ofsplendor, the commerce, navi-
CATION and manufactures of the country he
had made so illustrious by war"
But scarcely bad Louisiana passed again
under the French flag, when Napoleon, reading
The logic of events, recognized the fact that
his grand and much coveted possession must
soon be wrested from him by English force,
and therefore determined to cede it to the
United States
His words on that memorable occasion recur
10 our memory how. "This increase of terri
tory will forever strengthen the power of the
United States-in while Mr.. Livingston, on the
part of the American Commission, expressing
lis satisfaction at the treaty just concluded,
laid: From this day the United States take
heir place among the powers of the first rank"
To these words, which show us the great i'm
'ortance of Louisiana newly acquired terri
DRY, and the splendid prerogative she conferred
pom the Confederation which received her rs
ne Of its equal members; we may add tibet
be noble stand assumed last Monday wiz