The New Orleans daily Democrat., 1878-01-08
THE GLORIOUS EIGHTH THE DAY
WE CELEBRATE.

VIZ UELEBhAIE.
This great anniversary is to be celebrated
in our city with unusual eclat. Not since The
eighth OF January, 1862, has the great event
which is TO be commemorated to-day beer
properly and justly honored and Its glorious
memories freshened by appropriate ceremo
MES and popular manifestations. Previous
to that last celebration, before the humila
tion Of our city, by Its subiugation by section
al enemies and Its displacement by the long
misgovernment and plumber of the rapacious
camp followers Of our conquerors, the Eighth
of January was the great day In New Or.
leans 1t was the day specially set apart foi
the display Of the military spirit of our citi
zen soldiers, and for the most ardent expires.
sions Of local pride and pretension. Each
recurring anniversary We'd with It's prede-
cessor In the brilliancy Of these demonstra-
tions. The lapse of years had not dimmed
the glory and reward of that great achieve
ment of patriotic valor and devotion, which
had linked the name Of our city with immor-
tality. With each succeeding generation the
memories Of that great exploit seemed to be
renewed and the patriotic emotions they
aroused to be revered and reinvigorated
In their celebrations and manifestation be-
fore our civil war; broad and sincere national
pride and spirit dominated, but did not alb
sorb and obliterate the local patriotism and
pride in the glorious chapter which our city
had added to the history Of the republics
triumph. II was under the stars and stripes
the great victory had been won, but it was by
the bravery and devotion of Southern hearts;
of the men born and reared in the valley
drained by the great Father OF Waters whose
gateway this city has held since the settle
ment of the continent by the Christian race.
1t was by them the sacrifices were made, the
courage and patronage evinced, which saved
the valley and redeemed the nations blurred
and defaced escutcheon and honor and made
the world ring with applause OF the prowess
and devotion of the American people,
The disasters and dishonors of war which
everywhere else through our broad territory
had sullied the fame of the republic were
here within sight Of this city erased and
The invading army. which had
into the very heart of the republic,
had burned the capital, desecrated the ma
tional monuments, chased the timorous
President into some remote hiding place and
like sheep before wolves the
waste horde Of his militiamen quadrupling
n number the invaders, was here met on the |
ield by the youth and men of Louisiana, Mis-
,issippi, Tennessee and Kentucky. and driven |
'aek with shame and slaughter to their |
hips. In less than two months from their |
appearance off our shores an army composed |
Il the veterans who had conquered the great |
Napoleon and his renowned cohorts, an army
4 twelve Thousand of the picked veterans of |
he great Peninsular war, who had won the /
brightest Of all the laurels won by the British !
Irmy, an army conducted thither by the /
greatest squadron ever sent forth by that /
.reat naval power squadron stronger than,
md composed of the very ships of the fleet, |
which had annihilated the French navy at |
Trafalgar.
In less than fifty days from the Haunting of |
he Union Jack In sight of our shores this
rand fleet, bearing the sorrowful remains of |
his splendid army, one-half Its original
umber, with the bodies Of Its two chiefs,
ould be seen in full sail for old England.
heir Union Jack, go long hung with laurels.
-as now yelled with the cypress, which alone
rev upon the soil Of Chalmette, and SO fifty
ymbolized sorrow and humiliation, the sor-
DIV and humiliation Of the invader. Not in
heir defeat do we exult: but in the splendid
Of American patriotism and
eviction, and in the magnificent courage,
ill and prowess Of the immortal chief who
,arshaled our citizen soldiers to the heroic
efense, we have abundant cause for pride,
ratitude and joyfulness over the most
plendid and glorious chapter in our military
istory
The brilliant military exploits of our late
ivil war cannot and should not be forgotten
8 examples of the highest qualities of man.
ood and devotion to principle and duty But
he restoration of our old national relations.
40 duty of resuming the fraternal sentiments
'hich existed previous to that sad episode In
ur national history, impel all generous
carts and minds to court an oblivion of the
Melancholy incidents. il not Of the glories
[ that terrible and sorrowful struggle and
, recur, wi h renewed fraternal and national
ride, to the glorious events in which the
eople of the great republic stood and bat
ed together under one flag for a common
ause, a common glory, and against COM
ION foe
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