The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-09-02
NV ORLEANS, SEPTEMBER ., 1877.
THE FOURTEENTH OF SEPTEMBER

As the 18th OF september approaches We
note with more qualification than we can ex-
press the preparations that are being made to
appropriately observe that day Of sacred and
heroic memories, and TO commemorate the
patriotic devotion of the gallant men who
made the day immortal There are special
reasons why this glorious anniversary should
be celebrated with more than ordinary pomp
and pageantry. This Is the first occurrence
Of 1t under that condition Of affairs which its
martyrs died In the effort to achieve, and we
should be wanting indeed In all piety and
gratitude did we permit the anniversary
Of their sacrifice to go by without
proper recognition, now, In the first
year Of our deliverance. But we owe 1t not
less to ourselves, to the vindieation of the as
pirations Of past upon which has been
heaped all sorts Of obliquy, to the justification
Of a principle whose adherents were outlawed
as 'banditti," than to the sanctication OF the
dead to observe that day as one OF the
brightest In the annals Of mans long strug-
gle for freedom. This 1t was, and this we
must make It in the estimation of all liberty
loving people, and this can be done only by
the respect and veneration we shall attach
to IL.
This is not question into which any con-
alterations of policy can enter. The man
who would suggest such Is capable Of deny
ing the mother that bore him, or OF any other
depravity that betrayal and treachery may
compass IL there is one thing sacred on
earth, one thing which men should love bet
Ter than life, and incur martyrdom for, and
never abandon for any selfish considerations,
or be driven from by any danger, suffering or
distress, 1t Ia the cause for which the heroes
of the fourteenth of September fought and
died We believe that 1t s SO held in the
common esteem Of our people, and that they
win not, for any consideration, incur the dis
grace Of that cause, or permit the memory Of
those whose blood sanctified our streets In
upholding 1t, to suffer contumely from silent
acquesence in the imputations of their ira
ducers.
But we cannot conceive how such sugges-
lions can have any weight The day we pro-
pose to commemorate Is the memorial day of
the first blow that was struck against that
system Of military espionage and armed
Federal supremacy which Grant inaugurated,
and whose overthrow constitutes the first
and highest glory Of the new administration.
The heroism of that day was provoked by de-
votion to the very principles which President
Hayes has indicated In his Southern policy,
and he, and all lovers of constitutional liber-
BY, without reference to the section or State
from which they hail, should revere the day
and its memories no less than we of New Or
leans and the South. 1t has no longer mere
local significance, nor does it belong to a Sec
tion, or State, or locality It Is the prop
erty Of the lovers OF liberty all the world
over--a splendid chapter in the history of the
grandest and hottest aspiration mankind has
ever cherished, and fought and thought and
died for
Let all organizations of our citizens, then,
both civic and military, join together In q
pageant worthy of the day and its historic
deeds. That vindication which success brings
mas been won in the altered policy of the Fed
eral government, and by that criterion we
make this appeal. The ignominy of failure
does not rest upon this occasion. We may be
eounseled to put aside the sacred memories of
the war; to cherish them as we will, but
hide them away in our hearts as we
would precious jewels in a sanctuary,
Tor they have incurred the reproach Of failure
and the world knows no proof Of heroism and
worthiness and merit save success. These
memories shall be to us like tokens Of buried
10ves-too sacred for vaunting even though
they be as sweet to us as remembered kisses
after DEATH" OF these we must not speak,
for the world has judged against them. But
this day and Its memories we must and shall
proclaim to all the world. Its heroic dead
have won even the vulgar apotheosis of sue
eess, and, try them by what test we may to
them belong the 'laurel, the palm and the
paaan," and these we shall render them.