The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1897-04-10
GOV. FOSTERS PROCLAMAy1,x

Va "o 'ihl AlsIIlctS OF LOulSluna:
STATE or LOUISIANA,
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.,
BATON ROUGE, April 3, 1897.
FEhLow-CIr1zENs or THE DELrA:
A great crisis is upon You.
The vast food now coming down tho
Mississippi has oyertoppel all the rec
ords. The volumes of water which bus
to pass out to the sea through tho chan
nels OF the main stream and the Atcha-
1alaya IS undoubtedly greater than the
levees have heretofore been called 1pon
to withstand.
| A fateful period in the history of the
lower valley is therefore at hand.
Alter years of patient industry, enor
nous sacrifice and burdensome taxa
tlon'' by the alluvial districts of our
commonwealth, aided by the State at
large and the national government,
protection against overflow, if not
Drot int to a state Of perfection, has at
least reached stage justifying the
hope of an early contamination of a
leVee system secure against any con-
tingency.
These long and mighty lines of earth.
works which guard your fertile acres
now call for. your most strenuous ef-
forts.
These bulwarks should be held at all
hazards.
Their downfall means your impoyer-
lshment, and perhaps your ruin. Their
downfall may mean a deathblow to the
nope OF ultimate security for which you
have so long and so vigorously labor.d
Their general wreckage would strike at
your credit for season to come. and
smlte the value OF your lands, even
those which the waters may not touch. |
kally, then, along the front as you
would were an invading army attempt
ing to march across your soil. Turn
aside from every other vocation, and
send every strong right arm and brave
heart to help hold the embellishments
until the danger is past.
The eyes of the nation are upon u.s.
The friends that have helped to pour
out the national wealth in building these
clkes are watching to see how ably
they will be defended in the hour Of
peril. The good and true in every part
OF the Union are hoping and expecting
you will prove worthy of the magnif-
cent estate you have 80 laboriously
wrestcd from the waters, and PRAYING
that you may take on new and ereater
courage in the day of supreme triu],
and by indomitable energy add another
to the long record of the grand achieve
ments OF our republic.
An all-wise Providence exacts trib-
ute from man for the enjoyment of the
benefactions of nature. The choicest !
gifts can only be held and their boun- !
lies rcaped to the fullest extent bv the 4
exercise of vigilance, OF courage, and Of
industry.
Man has never contended for su. =
'remacy over more splendid domain 4
han the Delta Of the Mississippi. The
oval harvests that spring from it's bo- !
om urged your forefathers to the =
and you, who more fully
ealize the exhaustless wealth of these
possessions. with larger and ampler =
means, equipped with all tho improved .
ppliances and scientific methods of s
ur time, encouraged and aided by the 8
ihole nation, cannot and will not now E
alter in the struggle. E
The time is at hand for action, and :
Or perfect union. Stand CALAMITY by =
be only works that can shield YOU !.
'om ruin. Give no heed to the car r
er or the critic, or the faintheartcd in F
lis hour ofsupreme effort. Face like =
'ue men the problem that lies before g
on; stand by the lines on which YOU -
ltched the fight, and uphold the y
andard you yourselves have sent to q
10 front of the battle. =
The present story of ruined homes y
I'd the vail of istress which comes q
ON our sister States OF Arkansas and a
ississippi, should warn of the great a
niger now upon you, and nerve to y
o highest cxertion to save every foot y
leyee that human power can pro- a
ct. q
Bear in mind that in this contest y
III have the advantage of fighting as y
organized army with able command a.
s.. The engineers OF the United y. ~
"tes, the whole corps of State ensi-
ers, the chiefs of the various dis
cts with all their STATS and discip-
led forces, are now in action along
e front.
You have but to fall into the ranks
'eady vigorously pressing the fight
d by granl and united effort secure d
brilliant victory.
MURPHY J: FOSTER,