Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-04-30
blood Of the nations. For what have
they come I Why are they gathered !
Is il to decorate the graves Of the Con-

blood of the nations. EOr WnHV Aasc
they come Why are they gathered
Is il to decorate the graves Of the Con- :
federate deadY
Is this, my friends, an idle ceremony,
now that sixteen years have passed since
the Conquered Banner was furled and
the last tattoo was beat for the slaugh-
tered armies Of the South2 Think not.
This world is too busy; it's cares too
pressing; it's rust and canker too cor.
ruptine its selfshness too ready to cast
a pail Of oblivion over the past, for all
idle and nnmeaning ceremony to sum-
mon YOU here to-day. You come forth
year by year, from your homes, ana
gather about the gates of the city OF the
dead, to weave the wreath and garland
to scatter the lily and the rose, to Irvine
the cypress and the laurel, you meet
with swelling hearts, with friendly and
fraternal handclasps with moistened
eve, to reach back across the chasm OF
wears and place your tribute OF gratitude
and affection on the graves Of the noble
dead.
| No, this is not all idle. nor an I'M
meaning ceremony. Its significance Is
as deem as the fathomless fountain OF
tears it is as the eternal, unquenchable
love of the human heart ; it is as faithful
of good as those miracles OF healing
which gave sight to the blind and health
to the afflicted.
What is the significance of this sol
emn gatheringg Why do you strew
these flowers Why do you make green
again the memories of these dead why
do Won burn incense to their names, and
find in the recolections of their great
sacrifice balm, for the crushed and sor-
rowing hearts
It is because you have right to be
proud of these men-of their deeds, OF
their lives, and of their deaths. VINO
were these menu Soldiers who bore the
brunt of the battles shock undaunted
and unmoved Who, when the wedge
of war was driven at their lines OF pat
+ tie, turned it's edge like very heart OF
oak, invulnerable; and who, wheh
their colors we'll welded by master
Q hand. went like a Damascus blade
q through coat of mail and heart OF man,
irresistible. l see the stout infantry OF
Louisiana sweeping the green valley OF
s Virginia under StOnewall jackson ana
Dick Taylor, or charging in the seven
) DAYS Fight for Richmond and at Gettys'
e burg, see them under the hero Prelate
p the warrior Bishop-Polk, or the grim
: patriot. at Perryville and Murtrees
e boro. and Bragg at Chickamauga, ant
n Frankin-in half. hundred battles
winning imperishable renown,
see your cavalry, circling like a falcol
/ in it's fight, and swooping down on TN
i foe. see. again, your famous artillery
as saw it of yore, dealing its destruc
: ton and pouring its iron hail on the en-
If envy: and everywhere l see the soldier
: of Louisiana meeting death as II 1t wer
not the end bat all episode OF the Sol
le dier's career, an adventure, not the So
le emu sleep that knows no waking. On
they were gay brothers, they Wee ga
liant gentlemen; they were splendid he
I'd roes. they were martyrs. Yes, martyr
,s They died for you: and greater lov
hath no man than this, that man ma
y Law down his life for his friend" There
ed fore you reverence them
IL. Therefore, you decorate their graves
Therefore, you keep green their men
lie cries.
he Therefore, you raise up your chlldre
70 follow in their footsteps and initial
no their example.
ch Yes. those dead were martyrs
n Neither was the cause for which thu
fought and fell unworthy of the sacrln
they made. The historian will not I
cord that this costly and desolating W
.os was begun and maintained by us IN
10 interests of human slavery. That was
pa commercial question, one ofdol.ars al
ted cents, and every one knew that I
=, cheapest and surest adjustment OF s'l
JIG a question was in peace, i'll comproml
M in submission even, not in war, Win
ota armies of liberation and its calls to
'''' surrection. No, my friends, the prln
ton ple for which we fought was a broat
ma and more fundamental one than chat
:, slavery, which in the nature OF thln|
ao- was transitory. The principle for VIII
, at our soldiers fought and died was
right of self government and reslstal
to q crushing Capitalization. Do
low fear that they died in vain. The idea
the which they struggled may have suffer
G.. temporary eclipse-nlay assume
ioi- other form, but it does not die Slave
the is dead, but liberty lives. Secession
the persisted, but the right of revolution
WV wives, and the spirit of local aud mt
the cipal institutions the right OF PEG
eta to govern themselves-is not dead b
-, onets may thrust your State leglslaat
'ou- from its balls but all the power OF
iced greatest government on earth cannt
,,oss did not-could not-and will never
'i' able to subordinate your right to
tied. government to an alien and deleg'
r. authority-to the deputies, civil or
=, 4 itary, of any power on earth. You
Jas weathered the storm. You have reat
tely safe harbor Beware now hereaftt
q pirates and buccaneers.
" AS have said so much, may
lonS more. trust no one will imagine
in what have said instill any cou
o,,od of reprisal OR revenge, Of hatred or
"'lo' ousy or animoslty. We have met Il
the cruelty, malignity and unjust and !,
-. varh