The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1878-05-25


sometimes have disturbed the atmoS-
plcre little, bat it was never made
sickuin 6 by any such Infusion as that.
The grand words of Robert E. Lee to
the surrendered remnant of his splen
did army, "Humau virtue should be
equal to human calamity touched
the heart of the Southern people,
and, as the blast of a Bessemer fur
mace transforms the softened metal,
steeIed it against adversely. They
went to work with the same spirit
which animated them during the war,
exhibiting a 1ecuperative power at
which you were amazed, and their
country, then utterly desolate, smiled
again with bounteous harvests, ard,
despite every obstacle, has steadily
advanced towards prosperity and
power. In this material development
of that portion Of your country !
know you have rejoiced, and many
are the hatd-fisted ex.Confederates
who have been cheered and assisted
by their former enemies in their
struggle with adverse fortune since
the war.
There was one popularity about
the Confederate army of which
mention is seldom made, but
which was very significant. 1t was
almost entirely without sntlers. Still
it managed to get along, and even to
win battles. There was great anx,e-
ty among the boys, in the absence of
their own, to get acquainted with
some of yours, but it was very rare
that they succeed, for the gentlemen
sought after were distant in their
manners and didn't seem to desire
any new acquaintance. We didn't
have any for very good reasons. In
the first place there were hardly SUIT
lers' stores enough in the country TO
stock hand cart, and, if there had
been, the inducement to speculate was
insufficient, for nobody hankered at.
ter Confederate money, which was
the only currency; and then when
payday came, which occurred semi
occasionally, if a man wanted to buy
anything he found that it would
bankrupt his entire company to do it.
You remember bow Disguised you
used to be when you captured one of
our commissary wagons. As to
clothing, the man who was caught
with "biled" shirt on didn't fare as
! we'll as "bloated bondholder" in a
greenback campaign or a door keep
er in the present Congress. Never
theless, a sutler is frequently a bene-
factor, and should be grossly lack
ing in gratitude if l failed to express,
on behalf Of the Confederate soldier,
the pleasurable emotions which the
recollection Of those you had always
excites in his heart. They are among
the sweetest memories of the war.
Soldiers of the Union l would not
only by guilty of churlish neglect Of
duty and courtesy, but would do vio-
leuce to my own feelings If l permit
ted this opportunity to pass without
attempting to pay to the brave men
who battled for the supremacy of the
national authority the tribute of res
pect and admiration which the Con.
federate soldier entertains towards
them. H. knows what motives in.
Auenced them. He fully appreciates
the patriotic spirit which inspired
them. He, better than all others, can
sympatbize with them in all the mem
cries which the war recalls. He knows
more fully than all others how splen-
dldly they fought, how patiently they
suffered and how completely they
triumphed. Conscious Of bis own
prowess, he willingly acknowledges
theirs, and will never consent to see
them deprived of single laurel OF
denied full recognition of their ser.
vices. He will vote, as he has done,
to pay the living and the widows and
orphans of the dead the last farthing
which may be justly claimed in their
behalf. He will seek no exemption
from this charge, and will ask nc
participation in its benefits.
No; the manned Confederate SOL
der will cbeerfully contribute to the
pension fund which gives food and
raiment to the manned Union soldier
or his family, and will never ask tc
Participate with them therein. He
knows that common sense forbids the
consideration of such a proposition
and, therefore, it has never occupied
lis attention for moment. The
restoration Of his rights 40 an Ameri'
can citizen-and chief among them
the right of local self government
which he epjoys-fills the measure o.
his expectations if not Of bis desires
and bis only ambition now is to con
tinue in their enjoyment, and to bring
back from its long exile the banishet
spirit of material progress and en-
throne it permanently in bis country
His destiny, under God, is in bis owl
hands, and it is safe. Henceforwart
he will stand by your side in every
effort to advance the honor and wei
fare, to erect again the PROSTATE in
dustries and restore the Commercial
power, of the great republic. Wba
other aspiration can he have7 Wha'
| possible inducement could be offeret
to him to act otherwise He is you
fellow citizen, living in the enjoy
ment Of the same rights aud priv