The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1877-09-16
The Fourteenth.

The celebration of our great anniversary
took place on it's recent recurrence will
extraordinary eclat. Nothing like 30 mag
niicent q display of troops has been seen
on our streets since the termination of the
war. Not only was the turn out imposing
in point of numbers but the skill and dis
cipline displayed was most gratifying.
Certainly they can have no such volunteer
forces in Philadelphia as those that paraded
our streets day before yesterday. No strike
that has yet appeared in this country would
have stood before them An hour.
Enthusiastic people say there were three
Thousand men in line, but propably con-
siderabiy smaller figure would cover an
actual count. AS for the spectators any
attempt at an estimate of their numbers
would be futile. The whole city appeared
to be mobilized. The streets swarmed.
1t seemed to be the peoples own festival,
from the universal character of the crowds
collected. Very old, decrepit ladies were
ut,-faces and forms which all the Mardi
Grss and Comus Revelries that this writer
has seen have not fsmiliarized to him. 1t
was essentially women's fete, and no.
thing but an intense interest could have
brought into go perilons an exposure num-
bers of ladies whose approaching mater
nifty was quite evident. As we looked
upon the thousands and tens of thousands
crowding every street devoted to the pro-
cession, as we noted the grave expression
of many who were evidently not moved by
the curiosity of mere sigh.-seers, we ssked
ourselves: Is it only the pageantry of
living men, or is it not also the sbadowy
procession of certain voiceless forms, thst
helps to call forth this mighty multitude
Of sympsthisers3
There is an element of heroism in human
nature. Common place as is the every
day life of society, there is chord in the
heart of man that can be attuned to lofty
strains. Men are naturally hero-w wor-
shippers. They raise triumphal arches to
their heroes, and, among nations whicn have
forgotten the truth, after a while the tri-
umphal arch expands into q temple and
the hero is transformed into God. Hero
ism is self sacrifice. Selfshnees is little
ness; self sacrifice is greatness, and the
human heart every where recognizes it as
such, glorities it, worsbips it. Selfshness
is of man self sacrifce is of God. 1t is
divine and it's high altar is built on Cal
vary.
In all ages the chief mysteries OF the true
religion have been embodied in sacrifice,
for g cd has intended TO teach man its glory
and its necessity. No false religion has
ever wandered so far rs to forget that first
great principle, and the Pagan Romans
have embodied it in their tabled tradition
into the chasm that the gods might be pro-
pitatcd and Rome saved.
No great achievement comes without
sacrifice, al i true liberty is only bougE:
with generous blood. Blessed is that land
whose sons are willing TO go forth in the
flower of their days and lay down upon the
bloody altar of their country's freedom all
that bright future of love and joy which is
ever the heritage of saHguine youth. No
farther than this can man go; it is the
highest exsltation of human nature. Give
it religion for q motive, ard it is martyr
dom; give it any other duty as an incen-
tive, and il lie noblest herosm.
II is only a country which honors hero
ISM that can prodace heroes. Listen TO the
echoes of last Friday and say if New Orles ms
is sene!se OF tie high claims of her gallant
sons. To the Surviving all gererous honor,
TO the dead urfAiIiDg tears, TO the day
1nbcurded euvh usiAsm. Henceforth our
gIorious Aurivs:ravy Of the s:h of January
u7ss rank secord TO the natal day of self
esrEed f,eedom. The l4ih of Sectem ber
nz.: 1--we IN alI the IN ure annals Of New
Or.sana a. the proud day which history 10
"a grades: 5.ghrs can never eclipse, the
dag ~bea her youog liberty was baptized
n tie It 5o-g5t blood of her hero sops.