New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-04-05
GREAT SPEECH OF GENERAL j.
t IA. sYPHER,
At the Grand Ratification Meeting In
Congo Square, ON Friday Night,

Congo Square, ON Friday Night.
Mr.. PRESIDENT AND FELLOW CITtzENs-
When look out upon this vast assembly of
intelligent citizens / am convinced that the
Republicans of this district are alive to the
duties and responsibilities of the hour. This
large audience demonstrates the fact that
JaS; arc ready and Wiling &. perform Toar
whole duty in the political struggle now 60
ing on in our state. The terrible war that
swept over the land destroyed the local gov.
ernments, annihilated their institutions.
demorallzed society, and laid waste large
district of fertile country Allthe old land.
marks are broken up, and upon the ruins
and scattered fragments of the former in.
stitutions we are now about to erect a new
structure, dedicated to freedom, iustice. and
equality. (Great applause.) - -
The enormities of slavery, state riphts
and secession have been annihilated. They
went down to infsmy with the ''lost cause. y
and their places are supplied by national
unity, freedom, and individual liberty. IAN
plause,) The fruits of the great Victories
achieved upon the battlefield by the Union
armies arc engrafted in our new constitu.
ton.
We fought the war for liberty and union.
and these viii be irreversibly secured BY the
adoption of the constitution submitted by
the late convention. All the enemies Of
liberty, justice, and equal rights are against
US in the struggle to ratify that instrument
and establish loyal civil government ia
our state. All the copperheads al the
North, and the mourners Of slavery and the
lost cause (applsuse) at the South are
plotting in secret to defeat loyal recon
struction.
The Democrats claim the right to settle
this dispute with the rebels upon the
ground that they belong to the same family,
were brought up together, lived together.
and when they die expect to 20 to the same
place. daughter and applsuse.) +-
What carnival there will be when they
all get there. expect the author of all re-
bellions to be cheated out of all his pristine
glory. (Great applause.l May they go
there soon; not that wish them harm, bat
rfor the Lords sakep as the deacon
prayed, believing that they win burst uD
Fluto's government In less than a week
daughter and prolonged applause,l -a
AltAOugh the new constitution is wise,
Just, and magnanimous In its terms. IL will
never be ratified if within the poWer of
rebels TO defeat It. They labor for its defeat
because under itan the rights Of men and
citizens are secured; becausekhe Industrious
poor man has . chance TO get home, edu.
cate his children, and attain position in
society according 10 bis merits; because il
does not give the control of the political
power of our state 70 the men whose hands
are req Nth tne blood pt our murdered
country; because it does not estab-
lish a white mans Eoyernment.n and
recognize the aliehaRle right Of rebels to
rule because under thai consfitntion
the scePtre of power passes forever ont Of
the hands of rebels (appiausel and re-
stores loyal men to power "a Tire state. For
these reasons our constitution Is opposed 80
bitterly, so violently; and f1r Tie same
reasons the loy9l people will declare ID the
organic Law Of our state BY al unmistak.
able majority at the polls. (Trsmendous
applauae.)
louisiana win receive new birth under