The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1890-04-12

t st'uSSle lor llpertv; THIS knitting OF
the muscles fcr the last effort ii, be-
| half Of us; this final attempt to reach
the goal as it really occurred we think
! it would melt every heart in this
house. After successful fleming and
manoeuering by the Americans
CORVALLIS was surprised to find hinf-
self surrounded by men whose very
countenances showed that the decision
meant life or death. Every day an
advance was made and brilliant as
saults were made upon the British
Works, until at last high above tho
smoke and cloud Of battle a single
white flag Acated on the breeze, Il sign
which needed no interpreter. Whose
imagination is exuberant enough to
picture the delight of those war-worn
veterans as they realized for the first
time that they were free? Copious,
gushing tears, not of subjection and
slavery: not Of agony and distress but
Of eSultation, of gratitude and iov
ran down their haggard cheeks. The
ceremony of surrender was an impo-
sing one. The vanquished army with
its colors folded "and its band pla7.
inc the tune Of God save the Queen,
in the hour of their deep humiliation,
marched out and laid down their arms"
The tidiass Of this event spread like
wild fire and ''every heart bounded
with exultant delight as the watchman
pacing the lonely streets Of Phfladel-.
phia cried aloud, Past two o'clock and
CORVALLIS is taken" Brave warriors,
ages may come and 60, nations rise.
and fall, empires decay and time it,
self fade away, but your memory. will
live and live forever and around it,
will ever be entwined our purest and
holiest affections.
"It shall resist the empire of decay Z!
When time is 'er and worlds have passed
| away,
! Cold in the dust the perished heart may
| lie ~ 49, ~
But that which warned it once can never
| die ~
The most touching honr to the brav-
est.of the brave had now arrived-the
disbandment Of the army and the sad
duty Of leave taking. The brave lit
tie. band, that had received 20 little
encouragement, so little sympathy;
that had borne each others sorrows,
and marched side by side; that had
faced the cannon's roar; that had seen.
fond ones fall by the wayside; were
now to sever the mystic cord which,
bound them together and press each.
other to their bosoms, never, never
again to meet this side of eternity.
Stern men who had never shed tear
were melted as they pressed for the
last time the hand Of some dear COM
rade and turned their tear stained faces
homeward. OF gentlemen; though
years have flown and hid themselves
in the cycles Of eternity, shall we for
get our indebtedness to these brave
and simple men? Now came the task
Of forming a government, and while
no doubt the affirmative would have
you believe that this was entirely due
to the statesmen, we think we can
show you otherwise. And here We
appeal to the. only positive and abso-
Lutte testimony that caa be produced
in this case, and that is the unanimous
decision of the statesmen themselves as
to whom the country was the more in
debted for The overthrow Of slavery,
the establishment Of the nation and
the glorious consumInation of liberty.
If you desire. to accept it as such, it
may be utilized as q precedent for your
decision tonight. It was necessary
that the government have a recogniz-
ed head, and on whom did they confer
this honor? Whom did they select as
deserving this mark Of appreciation
and gratitudeg For whom did they
twine She garland of love, fidelity and
affection? Whom did the people raise,
up and with one accord would have
proclaimed King, while an applaading
Senate would withouta dissenting voice
have gladly placed the golden crown
upon his head? Was it statesman!
No. 1t was one who for no personal
ambition, title or honor left his quiet
home and loving wife to accept in
stead the hardships Of war; one who
trembled not before the charging bay
onets, and who feared not to look into
the belching cannon's mouth. It is
to him that we owe.our republican
form of government instead Of mon
arehy; for while the people offered
him crown, he dashed it to the earth.
As Mr.. Harrison says: Never can we
duly appreciate the merits Of WASH
ington, who, with but . handful of un-
disciplined yeomanry, triumphed over
a royal army and prostrated the lion
OF England at the feet Of the Ameri-
can Eagle. His name so terrible to
/ his foes so welcome to his friends
shall live forever upon the brightest
page Of the historian, and be renem-
bered with the waEmest emotions Of
gratitude and pleasure by those whom