The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-05-20

See the perfect obedience to constituted
order and authority which yet prevails,
notwithstanding the severe ordeals to
which 1t has recently been subjected.
Observe the workings OF its admirable
just emerging from sore strains and
perils, but yet vigorous and unharmed,
and capable, under patriotic guidance,
of still vindicating the wisdom of its
founders. Look at its vast domain,
stretching from sea to sea, separated by
oceans from every powerful or dan
gerous neighbor, SO that, with an army
Of q handful Of men, 1t rests in
perfect security and tranquility. OBJ
serve how her wide stretches Of
territory are diversified with every va
riety of industries and production, the
superhuities OF every section exactly
other; how they are interlaced with
railroads and mighty rivers, and indis-
solubly locked together with the mana
Giles OF commerce, 80 that there are no
conflicting interests, but, on the con-
trary, the prosperity Of every part con-
tributes and is essential to the prosperi-
ty OF the whole.
Was there ever a nation that possessed
80 many elements of power and great
ness? Was there ever people that had
80 great Inducements to peace and
brotherhood?
What threatens to mar and disturb
this fair horoscope OF happy and glo-
rious future? Nothing but party spirit
and sectional malice. Shall they be
permitted to prevail? There is mag
nanimity of the conqueror and mag
nanimity of the conquered, and the ex-
ercise Of both is essential to heal the
wounds OF sectional strife. The magma
nimity OF the CONC terror Ia displayed by
trusting the conquered, restoring to
them liberty, and using q wise patience
and generous forbearance of any abuses
which may result at first from the sore
ness OF long irritation.
In the beautiful phrase Of Macaulay,
there i5 but one cure for the evils
which newly acquired freedom pro-
duces, and that cue is freedom. When
q prisoner leaves his cell, he cannot
bear the light OF day; but the remedy is
not to remand him to his dungeon, but
to accustom him to the rays OF the
sun. The blaze Of truth and liberty
may at first dazzle and bewilder nations
which have become half blind in the
house of bondage; but let them gaze
on, and they will soon be able to bear it.
In few years men learn to reason. The
extreme violence of opinion subsidies.
Hostile theories correct each other.
order Is evoked out of chaos"
On the other hand, the magnanimity
of the conquered consists in subduing
the natural human instincts OF revolt
against submission to superior force,
the revengeful promptings Of wounded
pride, the brooding over injuries OF the
past-in adopting the bright school boy
philosophy OF shaking hands after the
fight and trying to forget all about it;
and In faithfully observing the condi-
tions upon which we have received and
accepted peace.
In adopting the noble profession
whose livery you. assume to-day, you,
young men, have In some measure con-
stituted yourselves the guides and CEN
sors of public opinion in matters Of gov
eminent and politics. Your studies
have necessarily embraced the history,
philosophy and nature OF governments
and the relations subsisting between the
citizen and the State. These and the
cognate study Of the fundamental prin-
ciples Of right and wrong, justice and
injustice, rights and duties, fit you to
take large and liberal views of the con-
duct and motives of men, to measure
them by correct standards, and to ap-
pIccIhto Iuo IOily buu WAchouHoSS VI
perpetuating animosities growing out
of past conflicts about buried issues
between brethren whose every interest
in the present and the future is abso-
lutely identical. They make you their
natural advisers and leaders OF popular
sentiment and the public policy of your
State. AS you step forth into the arena
of active life, suffer me to hope that the
words / have uttered here to-. day may
quicken in your hearts the sentiment OF
national patriotism and stimulate you
to cooperate with good men Of all sec
tions in the noble task OF true paciflca-
ton upon the basis OF mutual tolera-
ton for past differences and common
try.
know not IL, in thus stretching forth
the hand of friendship, you shall meet
with responsive grasp. know not II
the prophets Of evil and the apostles Of
hate may not, with flaming swords,
overcome and expel the angel OF peace
and reconciliation. But there i5 con-
tagiousness In noble thoughts and gen.
erous deeds. There Is an electric cur
rent ever flowing between lofty souls.
The right has, inherent In itself, q sub
tie magnetic power, which attracts with
silent but ceaseless force. I, for one,
have confidence in such influences, and
believe they will prevail. So the North
and South, each clarifying its own
achievements in the past, each tenderly,
cherishing the memories of it's dead and
living heroes, each uprightly maintain
ing the justice Of its own cause, may
lock hands and march forward TO the
achievement Of common and glorious
destiny.