The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1888-06-02

~ A. - ~ ASA> - = y ~ NAA ~
u gentleman within the sound Of III,
voice, who did not have an ancesto
whose story he has read, among tn,
the soldiers who followed
THE BANNER OF WASHINGTON
In the seven years. war for indepen
dence.
And when the convention that had
framed the constitution was held or
the invitation of the northern states
and statesmen OF old Virginia, who pre-.
sided over the council chamber but a
representative Of Virginia, the peerless
Washington !; aud whose was the peu
and whose was the brain that more
than any other perfected that match-
less instrument, the constitution of the
| United States, il not those OF Madison,
! who has been justly styled the father
Of the constitutional constitution
which Mr.. Giadstons has described as
the most perfect work ever constructed
by Il single effort of the human intel~
! lect. and which must stand for all
time rs monument Of the statesman
ship of America, aud especially to the
genius of southern men, II discrimina-
ton could be made. l do not refer to
the grand document the Declaration OF
Independence drawn by Jefferson, who
by the inspiration Of genius seemed to
pick up the jewels which were lying
untouched and scattered about in the
minds of the people Of that epoch and
arranged them like skil!ful lapIdary to
form the brightest jewels iu the crown
OF
MODERN LETTERS AND STATESMAN.
Why in the second war tor inuepen-
dence, the war of 1912, who were the
leaders that determined at all hazards
when our country was still in its iu-
fancy to defend her rights on sea and
land against the mighty power Of Eu-
gland? 1t was Clay and Calhoun aud
Lowndes of South Carolina-if was
southern men who declared that the
flag and the rights of the United States
souid be recognized on every sea un-
der the sun. IApplause.l
If may bc permitted TO mention 1t,
no Louisianian can read the story Of
that war without recalling the glorious
memories of the field of Chalmetla.
where the prowess aud patriotism OF
their forefathers overthrow the veterans
of the British army. fAppIause.1
1t is true that we have had our con.
tentions and disputes; we have had
great civil conflicts, the greatest civil
war in the annals of mankind, where
more blood was shed, more men killed
and wounded, greater losses from
disease, more treasure destroyed than
any war
OF WHICH HISTORY GlVES AN AC-
COUNT;
but where is the people, where the
nation which has escaped civil CON-
tlict How few the families that have
not had their domestic differences and
trials growing out of disputes between
their members ? And Il nation, after
all is only a great family. Name n
people whose institutions have not been
and preserved by the instru.
OF human blood. 1t seems
to be a sacrifice which men must pay
for their liberties, for civil government
in passing from the ba,baric
to the civilized state. 1t was the
sacrifice offered up by religion
when she came 10 teach men to love
one another.
FelloW-citiZens, there never was
people who, by the heat OF tromen-
dous civil conflict, were 50 fused to-
gether as the people OF the United |
States. 1t is true that here and there !
are to be found a man, a camp follower
during tho war, perhaps, or demaKo-
que, some man brave in bravado, some
man who never wore Il uniform nor
musket, who would make
you believe that tho northern people |
were bent on humiliating the people
Of the south and that they distrust and
lespise them.
Fellow citizens, this is not true.
THE PEOPLE OF TIE NORTHERN
STATES,
in my judgment, are anxious and will
ling to recognize the people of the
south as their fellow w-cOuntrymen.
believe that they are proud to do it.
recall an incident in the life OF Tresi-
dent Lincoln when he visited the bat
tic field Of Gettysburg accompanied by
the commanding officers OF the federal
army, and by a gentleman who had
been my friend from boyhood, and
who related this circumstance to me
"Ifere," said an officer standing up
on Cemetery lIill, "here is tho point
at which the tide Of battle was deter
mined in favor OF the north. Such and |
such an officer commanded here and |
lost nearly oil Of his men and their
names will live in imperishabtc iuster |
upon the pages OF the history Of our i
; and generations yet to come"
said this officer, "wili prize their |