The Opelousas courier., 1889-12-21
Let the south Mourn.

there passed out of this life OF
the most notable men of the nine
teenth century.
Jefferson Davis is dead; let the
South mourn.
Let the South mourn for M who
represented, more than any other, the
cause for which a million of her most
chivalrous sons drew their swords and
Joined battle with the most formidable
Of adveisaries, their w countrymen,
for rights and Liberties that freemen
must ever hold most dear. /
Let the South mourn for, one around
whose name and deeds are c~rystaliized
tie memory of the holy principles for
which II hundred thousand of her sons
poured ont their blood and gave their
lives,
Let the South mourn for one at whose
summons her glorious daughters freely |
sent forth their husbands, sons and
lovers to do battle in the most wofal
war Of modern times.
Far across the time that has grown
into d quarter of a century and is has
tening on to half q hundred years. we
hear the sweet voices of our women.
tender and low, but brave and firm, as
they said the last good-by and layished
kisses on the men they were sending
away to war, havoc, disease, mutilation
and death. Far across those years
come to us the battle shout and the
rattle and roar of guns, and the tramp.
ing of men in steady columns, and the
~galloping Of horses, and the rushing Of
squadrons, and the shouting of the
great captains, in the confusion and
clangor of mighty combats. They car
ried, did those men, d flag which pro-
claimed TO the world that a new nation
had been added to earth's galaxy. Oh,
how g~loriously they bore it!
The aged man, feeble of body but
strong of heart and vigorous of mind
who has Just been numbered with the.
dead, was its chief, was the ruler of
that nation.
OF the mighty captains and the great
statesmen who gathered around him
when be presided over the destinies of
the South, but few survive. They
passed away before him, as did the
rulers and nearly all the great soldiers
of the cause that he confronted 80 bold
" and opposed SO stoutly. Lincoln,
Graut, Mcclellan and nearly all the
great men who stood in council or in
battle against him have gone before.
Jefferson Davis, whom no defeat could
crush. whom no adversely could over
throw, preserved TO the last moment of
his life the moral power. the intellect
ual wealth. and the firm courage that
should have characterized the leader
Of the Southern cause, and through all
the years that II Was sought to load
upon him the whole burden of the sins
of his people, lie never blenched nor
faltered, but with the composure of 4
philosopher, the courage OF d hero and
the faith of d Christian he stood to bis
principles and braced himself against
d the storm of persecution and 0bloquy.
He has outlived his great and noble adj
versaries. He saw them pass away
mourned by a nation and w0rthily
wearing its honors. He can now afford
to go, asking no honors, secure In ths
love Of the people to whom be wa
faithful 10 the end.
We shall not attempt here d review
of the character and achievements b
one who yielded iii devotion to princi
ple and III love for his people to no maj
whose name the annals of the centur,
bear. As the leader of q people non,
knew better how to draw all hearts Il
him. and al 4 statesman ne must judg,
him not By failure, bnt by his achieve
ments under difficulties which beset hi
career as lias befallen nc other man Il
all history who essayed to lead q PEG
Pile ID Independence. Let some othe
moment demand his enlogy. To-da,
we are called % mourn the death of NJ
I'M -