The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1890-04-12
LAFAYETTE, LA, SATURDAY, APRIL r. 1890
al, warlike spirit of America bat the

tial, warlike spirit of America bat the
puslllanlmous, covetous, tyrannlcal
spirit of Great that brotaht, that
forced, yea! that drove us into the
war. The whole history of the Colo
mes prior to the dissolution indubita-
bly, demonstrates that they were "more
disposed to suffer, while the evils were
sutferable, than to right themselves
by abolishing the forms to which tEev
were accustomed" 1t can not he
be charged that the colonists brought
about the war, for they entreated, be-
seeched, sppplicated, petitioned re-
dress in the most humble terms. His
tory clearly shows that the war was
forced on us and not one flashing saber
was lifted to heaven to strike in self
defence until the clanking chains Of
bondage were forged. The storm
clouds of war had already gathered
"The king Of Great Britain was trans
porting large armies of foreign merce-
naries to complete the work Of death,
desolation and tyranny already begun
with circumstances Of cruelty and per
fidy scarcely paralIelled in the mcst
barbarous eyes" The war inevitable.
Patrick Henry aftef anxiously and
calmly watching the ebb and flow Of
events for YEARS previous to the final
catastrophe, said: 'eThe war mast 90
on, there is no retreat but submission, :"
and on another occasion he spoke with
the fire Of his soul, Il repeat it, Sirs.
we must fight and appeal to arms and
to the God of Hosts is all that is left
u.s." Gentlemen accept now every
thing the affirmative have plaintively
poured into your ears and ask your
self where was the real strength Of the
ration. In her so-called Statesmen?
Were they not powerless? Were they
not already prescribed and predestined
victims Of sure and certain death?
Ah! but in the Providence Of God the
glimmering torch of liberty was not
to be extinguished.. Great America
was not to be daunted by a single
.frown Of George the Ill, although it
was black as that Of Moloch and his
blood shot eye emitted livid fires Of
malice" No! there was power yet a
vailabie, a power to which the States
men after an unsuccessful attempt to
ride the stormy waters could yet appeal
to and to which after imploring heav-
ems final henediction upon their cause,
they could trust as battlament be-
tween themselves and i'll fated death,
that power was the warrior. After
the Statesman's pen had proven of no
avail the Warrior took up the sword
to right offended justice. Has the
world ever presented grander, subli-
mer spectacle than three millions of
downtrodden and oppressed people RI
sing up in union to oppose the great
est empire Of the world?
By the rude bridge that arched the flood,
Their flag to Aprils breeze unfurled, =
Here once the embattled farmer stood
And fired the shot heard round the
world
@! brave men who focked from
every vale and hill to respond to the
blood of your comrades that cried
from the ground at Lexington, would
that We were Prentiss or 4 Webster
that we might pay you a just and
humble tribute. O! gentle warrior
who through this trying ordeal buck
led on tbs swords of your husband and
sons, and With a farewell look blinded
with sacred tears sent them forth to
brave ''shot and SHE'LL" and many to
find unmarked graves in some lonely
spot there to remain unnoficed, un-
wept until the general roll call, who
shall picture your sorrow? .OF the
sorrows, privations and ,sufferings en-
dured by that brave; little band Of
warriors no human history can posi-
bly, tell and nothing but the archives
will ever reveal. Often despair like
a breeding demon would spread his
black wings over them obscuring the
slightest ray Of heavenly light that
would have guided them on to victo-
ry, and even darkening the counte-
nances of the Angels whose plying
glances woiild have encouraged them
in their death struggles often "troub-
led thoughts at midnight haunts of
loved ores left behind would melt
brave hearts and cause trickling tears
to run down their furrowed cheeks;
often the cold frozen ground would be
stained with blood from their bruised
and bleeding feet and the despicable
soldiery Of England like blood hounds
would follow upon their crimsoned
trail. Tell me Gentlemen, are we not
indebted to these? If there is one
drop Of Puritan blood in your veins,
| it will answer from a hundred mouths.
For seven long years these courage
Gus patriots fought with every dispar-
Eity Of means against the trained sol
diery Of England and never wavered