The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1876-05-31
ONE COUNTRY,
..-rrr, OF HON. HENRY W. HILLIARD-
SOUTHERN SENTIMENT.

Eve have come out Of great in
,ostiue war, but the Republic is now
stronger than it was before the storm
tried its foundations. We arc one
reople; the Government is Our Gov
eminent; its flag is our flag; the
whole country is our country; it is a
GREAT country; the sun at its rising
o;lds our standard with its earliest
baams on the Atlantic coast; and he
sheds his parting splendors upon it
,vbere it floats on the shore of the
Pacific at his sitting. 1t is country
that man may love and be proud of.
We are yet in our youth. What is
century in the life of nation? The
rolitical system under which we live
l. the best on the globe. 1t has stood
the severest test; it still towers in
the majestic proportions peerless as
Mont Blanc among the Alps, and it
will stand. 1t is founded on a rock.
II recognizes the right of the people
to govern themselves. When the
Goyernment was organized many of
;ss friends doubted, its enemies pre-
dicted failure. They were not afraid
of the people. 1t was thought by
sone of the ablest statesmen who
took part in the framing of it that it
was not strong enough they wished
to bind the people. But it is to-day
the strongest government on earth.
t. has shown its power in foreign
wars, it has displayed its strength in
maintaining its authority at home.
We have learned to trust the people
the great, generous, true people
In entering upon another century of
our national existence we have eve
rything to cheer us. We have ami
mating prospects. Our country will
advance in wealth and prosperity and
mower and glory. We shall lead the
way for the nations in the path of
true empirc-the development of the
principles of true government.
We must preserve the Constitu'
ton; we must maintain the Union.
The Government will find its most
powerful supporters in the friends oil
constitutional liberty. 1t is neither
an imperial nor democratic govern,
ment. 1t is Federal Republic, de
irving it's powers from the consent o.
the people, and to be administered fol
their good. Their will expressed
not BY the voice of majority, with
out regard to the fundamental princi
pies of the Government, but in the
authentic forms provided in the
Constitution, is the supreme author
ily. | see around me many that
have known from my youth. W,
have sometimes differed in our polio
ilal views, but have always accord
ell to them what know they attrib
utel to me--patrictic motives.
call upon you now, my countrymen
to devote yourselves to the cause 0
the country. We must save the Re
public. We must set up a STANDARD
against corruption, and draw to i
from all parts of this broad land tru
men--frsm the rock girdled coast O
New England to the tropical plain
of Texas; from tue shore beaten b
the waves of the stormy Atlantic t
the golden slope of California, tn
friends of free government will an
swer to the call of men who know n
section, and trample under their fec
the meaner issues that have so Ion
divided US; they will take the Cor
stitution and hold it up that it ma
catch the first beams of the centur
about to rise upon our country, an
exalt it to that supreme place it hel
when the illustrious Southerner VIII
sleeps upon the banks Of the Pott
mac first swore to support it as b
laid his hand upon the helm of til
new Government. 1 appeal to yo'
my countrymen, to hear me, to cons'
crate yourselves to the great work
rise to the grandeur of true patrio
ism that embraces the whole countr,
1t is high time that the quarrel
to past issues should cease.
We have fought the battle, and tt
South may exclaim, like the King
France on the field of Pavis-sall
lost but honor Those who wish
prolong the strife may bring accus
tons against us; they may chars
that we resisted the Government
that we asserted our independents,
that we took up arms to maintain i
but they cannot take from us tt
glory Of having been from the begi