The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1875-03-10
La, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 1875

ency which, as individuals, gives
moral weight to our utterances.-
Some of the members Of the Caucus,
who were also members of the Com
mittee Of Que Hundred, and all the
members of the Caucus, approved the
action of that committee, which, after
the midnight outrage of December
1872, were sent to Washington to
protest. Some of the members were
also in Washington during the long
debates and anxious interview which
followed:
Every member of that caucus APP
proved of, the action of that commit
tee, and every member of that caucus
without a single exception, awarded
to the Heroic efforts on that occasion
and the efforts Of others who, with
out having any regard for personal
considerations, laid down everything
at the feet Of Louisiana. During
that entire winter every member of
the caucus approved or the action
that this people took to insure our
standing.
4 long, dreary summer interviewed
and again your Governor elect pre-
sented himself at Washington, being
encouraged by some noble spirit, and
through that second winter / have
yet I'd learn of a single member ofthe
caucus having raised his voice in dis
approval Of the continued effort on
the part of your representatives to
secure the rights to which you were
entitled, and out Of which you had
been defrauded.
ALI of you know what disappoint-
ment these efforts ended in, and at
! last, by every species of outrage
Which might insult free-born people,
the right to bear arms was denied us
though it is right expressly and
forever guaranteed by the Constitu-
ton It became the obvious intent
of the dsurper to drive us into some
act of resistance which would enable
the hsnrper to call down upon oul
heads the wrath of the Federal Gov.
eminent.
In brief hour the people hurled
him from his place; statesmen stood
trembling at the issue which was
presented; politicians saw no means
Of escape from the tolls which hao
been slowly winding around U.s.
Our wisest counsellors refused to say
in advance what would follow aftel
this step was taken.
From the midst Of your ranks Al
unknown hero, who had walked you
streets in the garb of private citi
zen, sprang forth and severed tn
Gordiah knot, and in a moment mad,
the Governor Of your choice de jure
as well as de .tacto.
Need l tell you what wave of con
graduation spread to the remotes
ends Of this great State. To it.
furthest bounds every pulse throb
bed with the same magnetic beat
} that pulsated in the heart Of thi
metropolis.
4 And when the stone was raise,
from the bed in which the body Q
Louisiana lay, with her grave clothe
| still about her, she stood forth in til
light amid the overwhelming con
gratulations of all her sons.
Joy was in every heart; in ever
face you could read the glad tiding
Of deliverance from a long an
mighty woe. Strangers were me
! with enthusiastic greeting as the
passed in the streets and along on
avenues.
| Such an audience as was never Dc
l fore collected in the streets, halle
e with tumhlt the conqderor and til
Louisiana Governor as they rode tt
t gether to take the oath Of office i
+ the Capitol of Louisiana.
If there be tears in Heaven, frol
e ychder sphere to which tie souls {
1 those who fell on that memorabl
: day have fed, Tidy must SHED the'
n now to think that their Blood ha
: been SPLIT III vain.
: No battle for freedom. won or los
!: is ever IN vain: Tie fight of is,
l is victory. Iii the mysterious eco
) omy OF Providence the sapline
: freedom must draw its nurture fro
!, the soil enriched BY Its own fallil
l leaves.
:. 1t sends ont its roots, deep doy
: into the eternal principles that il
y derlie it, and raises it's trrnk arliil