The American patriot., 1855-06-16
Great Democratic Demonstration.

Great Democratic Demonstration.
The news from Virginia of the success of
democracy, the defeat of 'Sam," and the cleo
ton of Wise in that State, caused the Demo-
cracy of this city somuch JOY and qualification,
that the elfervescence had to be let off or an
explosion guarded againts. Accordingly, on
Saturday, evening last, the people, resident and
nonresident of this city and Algiess, together
with the passengers about taking their depar-
ture on the up-river boats, were treated to a
cannonadc Of one hundred and ninety.three
guns which voley cd and thundcred al the foot
of Canal street. The excitement in tho ranks
Of the unterrified is said to have been prodigous
during the bombardmcnt and, considering the
long intcrregnum since the party has had a
chance TO burn gunpowder and if natural, in.
herent and ineradicablc proclvity to do so
whenever an occasion offered, we have no doubt
that the statsm in correct.
The cannonadc was an opcning anthem on
ly, however, to the grand demonstration in
honor of the Democratic victory. During the
day the walls of the city, the pillars and posts
thereof and the screams of the coffee houses
were covered with playcards in big type, round.
cd off with a forest of exclamation points, call
ing on the Democracy to "Huzzah for Virginia.
and also to "Come Forth" for grand evening
exhbtion-thns, by one and the same cere.
mony, demonstrating the much-doubted exis.
tence Of a Democratic party in this State and
its power in another. At the hour appointed
the classic precincts of the st. Louis Hotel, as
celebrated as st. Tammany's in New York,
suddenly grew musical under the efforts of a
brass band, and the faithful came trooping in
not by thousands not even by hundreds, nor
yetby dozens-but by crowds Of two and three
from the avenues and allcy-ways adjacent tc
head quarters.
After quite free concert had been given by
the band, to the evident edifcaton Of all the
corgregated Diegos and black boys in the vi
c'nage, and when it was apparent that neithe,
whisky, Democracy nor melody were capable
Of attracting more the procession formed and
took up its line of march in honor of the Vir.
ginia victory and for the object of striking ter.
ror into the hearts Of Sans disciples. 1t was
not believed that the party would turn on,
quite so many men on this occasion as it did
when the dead fellows came up from Metairrie
Ridge and didn't carry the election of 1875
but some thousands were confidently counted
on. The surprise and disgust of the patriotic
gentlemen who planned and conducted the af
fair can be Judged, but not described, when il
was found that only one hundred and forty-ont
individuals formed in the line as it drew out O
4 the crowd! Notenough to beat Sam in single
Ward-uot enough to terrify the fceblcst ant
most timid Jerry Sneak ever known. As the
procession marched up towards Canal street,
second count was made, which gave one hun
dred and forty-two. A third count resulted ir
one hundred and fifty-ninc, and fourth in one
hundred and sixty. 1t spossible that at some
one or two points the procession may hav'
sufficient grounds for such belief, and If eve
it did occur at all it was wholly owing to th
incorporation of the idle crowd that invariabl,
follows brass band.
we pity the Democracy and condolc with
them from the bottom of our hearts, We pit
led them on the evening of their unfortunat,
demonstration, have pitied them ever since
and intend to continue our commiseration un
til there is justifiable reason for believing tina
the cloud of chagrin under which they at pres
ent are has been in some degree lightcncd b,
forgetfulness We so strongly simpathizet
with the unfortunate dozens who constituted
the procession, and who were compelled "tc
stand up to the rack, fodder or no fodder,
that we would willingly have gone into tn,
ranks and added little to their numerical in
crease 1t was only the fear that such a cours
might be msconstrued into insulting misfor
tune that restrained US.
The procession passed from St. Louis stree
to Canal, and from thence up ST. Charles to ST
Charles to St. Mary's Market-without in thu
least incommoding any one, blocking up tn,
streets or cumbering the sidcwaks-and final
ly rested from its display in that we'll knowr
and most classic region, were whisky and elo
qIence, both of very inferior order, closct
the days demonstrations than which, we ven
ture to say, more unique and wonderful on,
was never scared up in this city. It is mucl
to be regretted that our Democracy were no