The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1880-01-08
THE GLORIOUS EIGHTH.

To-day ls, or ought to be, the special holi-
day Or our city. To the great event OF which
ID Ii the anniversary and the illnstrious hero
Of that event, q thrill OF gratitude and OF proud
memories should pervade and absorb the
hearts and thoughts Of our people.
The event was the rescue of our city from
invasion, occupation and possession by for
elgn enemy. Numerous 10 have been the
disasters, calamtles and misfortunes Of this
city, this threatened peril and humiliation
would have inflicted upon 1t its difest humi-
Iiation and disgrace, aud In this humiliation
and disgrace the whole nation and people
would have participated. From this we were
saved by d glorious exploit OF valor, patriotic
devotion and military prowess, the renown
and glory OF which, though shared by the
whole people, are the special and privileged
property and proud legacy OF jackson and
his gallant army and Of the city OF New Or
leans.
The campaign, down to Its closing victory,
was the achievement Of these men, with
little aid from the national government
Even he required munitions with which the
great battle was fought and won were not
furnished by the national government The
city was defenseless save by the strong will,
heroic courage and energy OF jackson and
his gallant army, and the noble devotion and
patriotic sacrifices and zsal OF Our people A
government too weak, discordant and push
Luminous to defend the national capital
against an invading armyof five or six thou
sand, marching long distance from Its fleet
lpto the centre of the republic, could not be
t.N nifat bENu
for midabe invasion Of an extensive frontier
town, fifteen hundred miles from the centre
OF the republic, and 1t did not. No city was
ever 80 defenseless against so formidable
Invasion az jackson found New Orleans when
he reached this city In December, 1914, The
muskets which had been dispatched to arm
his unarmed mllitiamen were thousand
miles off, In flatboats sent from Pittsburg by
contract. They could never have reached the
city before the campaign was over. Even
the local mllitlamen and the frontiersmen
which jackson marshaled to lead against the
British army, the day Of their arrival, were
without iiints for their guns, and only OBJ
tained them from the recently captured yes
sells OF the go called pirates or Barataria.
Lailtte, the victim OF SO many romantic sto-
rios OF piratlcai exploits and mlsdeeds made
d larger and more valuable contribution to
the defense Of New Orleans than the national
government at Washington.
From his vessels were rolled the barrels Of
llnts from which a large portion Of Jacksons
army were supplied and the crews Of his
vessels, then prisoners In the calaboose under
Indictment for violating the neutrality laws
of the United States, were, by orders OF Jack
son, placed In command Of his most efficient
battery. We claim for jackson and New
Orleans the largest share OF the glory Of
this day. Without such chief and such a
united elevated and gallant community, New
Orleans, for all the power, resources or Inter-
est manifested by the national government,
would have been an easy prey to the power
full army which invaded this State. |
The navigation OF the Mississippi by |
4 foreign and hostile power, against which |
Henry Clay 40 gallantly fought, would have
been yielded or extorted. and the disastrous
war with England would have been pro-
onged. The traitorous disunionsts OF New
England would then have executed their
threat OF seeding from the Union. They
would, too, have had some justification fer
he assertion OF Josiah Quincy, that the Union
lad been dissolved by the purchase and cess
lion of Louisiana.
In view Of such momentous consequences
II defeat, how glorious was the great victory
Il jackson and New Orleans? How sacred
he duty OF our people at every recurring an
iversary of this great event to render their
most heartfelt and earnest gratitude and
tributes OF patriotic pride, exul-
alton and joyful recolIections to the illus
rious event and Its great heroes,
Jackson and Nem Orieans.''