The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-07-14

bu5 VI ClflltHdGiUQs
You guard your cities, desiring to rest
the streets in darkness, and you are still
in peril. Imagine much greater dam
ger, the human mind in obscurity. In
tellects are open roads-they have
corners and goers, visitors good and
bad they may have robbers. A bad
thought Is identical with a midnight
thief. The soul has it's evil. workers.
Let the day shine everywhere. Dc not
leave In the human intellect those dark
ened corners where Superstition may
cover, or Error may hide itself, or
Falsehood lie in ambush. Ignorance Is
twilight. Evil prowls there. Let the
illumination Of the streets be attended
to, but consider, consider above ali, the
illumination of the mind.
For this, without doubt, an immense
expenditure OF the light Of intelligence
is necessary. France has expended 1t
for three centuries. Gentlemen, let me
make filial avOwal, which am sure
Is in your hearts as in mine-nothing
will prevail against France. France Is
the public interest. France rises on the
horizon of nations. "Ah!" they ex-
claim. sit is daylight" France is
there"
That any one can object to France Is
dSJOHlSuAHS lu5LS bE6 SOul5y uOWeFeIt
who do so. She has enemies. They
are the enemies OF civilization itself;
the enemies of free thought, the enc
mics OF emancipation, Of inquiry, Of de-
liverance; they are those who see in
dogma an eternal master, and in man
kind an eternal deliver. Their enmity
is vain, for the past is gone and the ma
tions will not return TO their Vomit.
Infatuation has an end, the influence Of
ignorance and error are limited. Re.
move your party, men OF the past, we
do not fear you; continue work, we only
look on with curiosity. Try your
strength, insult '89, discrown Paris,
mathematics liberty OF conscience, lib
mathematics civil law, mathematics
the revolution, mathematics tolerance,
anathematize science, anathematize
progress. Do not tirei Dream while
you are at it, syllabus large enough
for France, an extinguisher large
enough for the sun. Unanimous ap-
plause.l | do not wish to finish with q
better word.
Let US ascend and rest in the undis
turbed serenity Of thought. We have
commenced the declaration OF concord
and peace. Let us abide by that calm
and dignified avowal. l have said be.
fore, and / repeat, "All human wisdom
is contained in two words-ConciliaLio
ideas and reconciliation Of men"
Gentlemen, we are here as philosoph-
ers. Let us profit by the opportunity
and speak truths. Here Is one: man
kind suffers from terrible enemy
Hatred, the mother OF War. The
mother Is Infamous, the daughter
frightful. Let us give them back blow
for blow, hatred for hatred, war for war.
[Sensation.
Do you know the utterance of Christ?
Love one another" This disarms
hatred; is the cure OF the human race;
true redemption. Love one another"
An enemy Is more easily disarmed by
Offering him hand than by showing
him a first. This, the ordinance OF
Christ, is a command from God. It ia
we'll. We accept it. We are for Christ.
The writer should act with the apostle.
He who thinks is with him who loves.
Ali let the shout Of civilization ring
forth. MOI No! Mol Away with barba-
rians who wage war, with savages who
assassinate. We want neither war OF
people with people nor war of man with
man. All murder is not only ferocious,
but insane. Glory Is absurd and the
poignard is base. We are combatants
OF mind. and it is our duty to prevent
the combat OF matter. Our place is al
ways to throw ourselves between two
armies. The right to life is inyiolable.
We do not see crowns, IL there are any,
we only see heads. Mercy is the estab-
lishment Of peace. When dark hours
are rung, we ask kings to spare the lives
Of the people, and we ask republics to
spare the lives OF emperors. [Applause.l
It Is happy day for fugitive when
he can supplicate people for prince,
or when he tries to use in favor OF an
emperor-that great right Of mercy
which is the right OF an exile. Yes, to
conciliate and reconcile, such Is the mis-
sion Of US philosophers. 0, my broth
ers in science, in poetry and in art, up
hold the all.poWer ul thought OF civiliz8-
ton. Let us feel the profound JOY Of
truth rise within US at every step hui
manity takes toward peace. Let US feel
the proud contentmenC Of noble work.
Truth is unique and has no diverging
rays. It has only one synonym
Justice. There are not two lights. there
ia only one-Reason. There are not two
ways Of being honest, sensible and true.
The ray in the Had is the Identical
light that shines to-day. Tncorruptibly
it shoots athwart the centuries with the
directness OF the arrow, the purity OF
the dawn. That ray will triumph over
night; that is, over antagonism and
hatred. It is the great literary wonder.
There is nothing more beautiful.
And now that am about to finish,
let me make wish-a wish that adj
dresses itself to no party but to every
heart.
Gentlemen, there is Roman who is
celebrated because Of his one fixed idea.
He is always saying, ''Let US destroy
Carthage" I have also besetting
thought. It is this: Let us destroy
hatred. II human literature has an end
it is this. Humaniores Literal.
Gentlemen, the. best destruction OF
hatred is to grant pardon. All let not
this glorious year finish without definite
peace; let it terminate in wisdom and
cordiality after the extinction of foreign
war. This is the intense hope OF our
hearts.
France now displays her hospitality,
let her also show her clemency. Glenn
ency! Let us lay that crown on the
head of France. ALI feasting is broth
erIy, but when one does not pardon the