The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1875-08-04

The Centennial.

OF divers meth0QS OF eXnlDitlng the
products and the patriotism of Leuisi-
ana at the Philadelphia centennial.
And here we beg leave to remark up
on the singular apathy Of q large and
influential class of this intelligent
community touching q topic seeming
| ~ SO well calculated to enlist the sym-
pathies and arouse the enthusiasm of
our colored population. Such indif-
ference may well be characterized as
9 dereliction of duty. It strikes US
very forcibly that the Hon. Mr..
Pinchback, the Hon. Mr.. Burch, the
Hon. Mr.. Antoine, Whose names are
mentioned without any derogation
from others Of equal renown, should
make these echoes ring with the ac-
cents of an bipartisan eloquence in
behalf Of the high and patriotic duty
| of all true sons Of Louisiana to as
sist in the work Of contributing to
the adequate representation of the
State among its proud, unfettered
and independent peers at Philadel-
pliia. AS invited guests at the ban
quet Of freedom it becomes those
gentlemen, in peculiar degree, to
make the national jamboree a splen-
| did and cheering success. As states
men, charged with the destinles of a
commonwealth whose sturdy inhabi-
tants struck an honest but unaided
and futile blow at thrones and kings
ten years before the Virginia and
Massachusetts, Saxons dreamed of
Iindependence--it becomes those gen
tlemen to see to it that proud and
free Louisiana shall figure at the sec
ular Olympics with splendor beft-
lting her ancestral rank and fame II
also becomes those gentlemen, as ag-
riculturists. to bring to the notice of
| the human race at PHILADELPHIA as
sembled-a truly representative col.
lection Of the hoeing, voting and ru-
| ling class Of our thriving State-the
| softer idiom OF the plantation blend
| ing in genial symphony with the
whine and sniffle of New England
1eonyenticles aud the more sonorous
slang of Western barn yards.
Il would be especially worthy Of
nraise If those of t,,e gentlemen
named who have seen service shonld
| take stems To have the military ele-
ment Of the dominant caste renresen-
| ted as it deserves to be. The typi-
cal chivalry Of the impetuous Barber
and his fiery septembriseurs, the
scared, bronzed and swarthy heroes
who, under the sun of September the
l4th-when Clay's statue was wrap
pea with and blazed with the insu--
gent ightnings of liberty, stood fol
one eternal hour and with the butts
OF their unerrlng rifles upheld a fell
ling government and guarded poo
| but respectable goyernor-these al
true sons Of Louisiana, the superb
should marshal us the way TO Wher'
our lathers pleasea 1heif liyes, thelI
fortunes ana Their sacred honor, tina
they anu taelfs were OF right ant
shoula 1efeFef DC Tree ana lnaepend
eht.
i Such spectacle would be fruitful
of high, noble animating thoughts
and as the men Of Louisiana gaze(
upon the statues Of the mighty deae
and the symbols Of their imperisha
BILE achievements in the cause Of lib
erty and self-government, they NIGH
with tears Of joy, with smiles Of fra
ternal congratulation, renew thei
VOWS of sincere devotion to that Fed
eral Mother which for these man,
maternal 1ohaness ana sollcltude.
Leu the honorable gentlemen al
= ' 'AA A.Ae"iss .noS