New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-08-08

venge"
Or it might be called the 'saved Plat
form, or the Infatuated Dog"
Or the Democratic Platform, or the
Crime Stained Mantilla."
1t would be thrilling romance, Almost
as delightful as "Albert Hastings"
The Democratic press of New Orleans is
wonderful institution. There is meeting
in Lafayette Square. The platform, which
was never safe, and on which we have seve-
raj times refused to go for that reason and
got laughed at for our timidity, sways over
and people are hurt. For the accident
every one is sorry. For those who are hurt
E every one expresses sympathy. But this is
not enough. There must needs be a little
false witness borne, to the damage if posi-
bic of the Republican party.
So the Times smugly insinuates in this
wise:
Conjecture is rife as to the probable
cause of the downfall; but although it is
generally believed to be Radical dodge, it
Is not thought they maliciously planned
y the injury to the six persons buried in the
mass. ~
i The Picdyt1e man was one of the unfor-
Inmates who got a little bruised and tire
mendously frightened, and he goes into the
| business of accusation "bald-headed. y
. Just hear him;
1t now appears that the whole affair was
base design upon the life of Rollins, even
though that should involve the death of
every person upon the platform with him,
Gentlemen well known to the community
examined the timbers of the fallen platform
last night, and found that the upright posts
had all been sawed so that a shove would ca
ely PROSTATE the entire structure. The men
who were to perform the service of push
ing the platform evidently stood ready and
Just as Rollins was being introduced TO the
assemblage, committed their base and muir
derous act.
The writer hereof was among the persons
who were precipitated 10 the ground by the
falling of the structure, and were there NO
witnesses to prove that the timbers had been
sawed, the manner of the descent would
Conclusively show design. There were COM
parativeiy few persons upon the platform
when il fell, and these few were standing or
sitting, quietly waiting the commencement
Of Rollins address. The structure could
not, therefore, have given way because of
the extraordinary weight and surging of the
crowd, which are the usual causes of acct
dents, and the fact that it fell, not straight
down, as would have been natural under
the circumstances, but with sliding, side
ways motion toward st. Charles street,
proves that the saw had been brought into
requisition.
That the affair was a Radical trick, con-
coeted for the purpose of wreaking cow
ardly vengeance against the colored man
Rollins, who had dared to entertain indie
pendent opinions and proclaim them, does
not admit of question. 1t shows TO what
lengths the venomous wretches, a swarm
ing pest OF hungry vultures, who have come
South to rule or ruin our land, will go to at
tain their ends, it shows us what we may eX,
peot in the present contest, and exhibits the
true character of our political enemies.
The lesson is dearly bought with the lives
forgotten that we fight no longer an honor
able foe, but one that does not hesitate to
mbrue Its hands in blood to achieve vic.
tory it could not else attain.
So the Picdyuae man can not say he saw
the saw, or saw the place where the saw
sawed, but he saw gentlemen well,known
10 this community ("rellable gentlemen")
who either saw the saw, or saw the place
where the saw sawed. Perhaps an ''intelli-
gent CDemocratic) t'contraband" might be
hired to state that he saw the saw saw when
1t sawed. And so forth.
It is fair to add that the Crescent and Bul.
ietin refrain from this kind of Stiffness, and
the Bee likewise.
And now for the truth of the matter from
the Times of last evening:
We hear that Messrs. L. H. Pile and
Thomas Murray this morning examined
every atick of timber in the platform on
lafayette Square, and gave it as their
opinion that the construction fell because
the trestle work on which the flooring was
placed was not properly braced.
OF course the Pioayune will make the
0rnsnde honorable. Certainly.
Later and most important
If the Piedyune said the horse was six,
teen feet high, he'll stick to it at least
he'll stick to something else just as good,
as, for instance, that it is ten cubits high.
In its evening edition it says
Our statement in regard to the timbers
having been sawed, though made upon the
authority of three gentlemen, who came
into our Office and volunteered the infor
nation, leaving their names for reference,
4 seems to lack confirmation.
A rigid inspection of the debris this
q morning does not reveal the marks of a
saw, though It is affirmed that the pieces
sawed have been removed secretly. How
ever this may be, the fact still remains that
the same platform ut the last meeting sus.
tanned more than four times the number
upon it last night and gave no signs Of fall
ing.
II is fact. too, and can be proved, thai
several police officers, when the meeting as
sembled. seemed to be in high glee at some.
8 thing, whispered among themselves and
pointed frequently in the direction of the
platform, and when the disaster occurred
were fairly overcome with merrimant Par.
ties asserted also this morning that they no
ticed portion of the braces had been re-
moved. and were lying on the ground the
Gay before. Such being the case, it would
have required but q very slight push to have
ioppled the structure over. That the acct
Gent did not occur until just as Rollins
+ stepped forward TO address the meeting looks
exceedingly suspicious. We hope rigid
Investigation viii be made in the matter,
\ and the guilty parties brought to justice.
50 nobody saw the saw, or saw the saw
: saw, or saw the place that had been sawed
by the saw. But policemen pointed and
whispered and were Overcome with
\ mertiment,n and ''parties asserted thai
before the platform was used portion Of
she braces had been removed and were
lying on the ground, and the ''guilty par
uesg ought to be punisheds Guilty of what
And what parties The parties that have
done all the lying in the premises, we
should say.
s. re@
Out with it.n By all means The Times
which attributes every evil to the Radicals,
q cooks attribute every disaster to ''the
NN& $40 na~., .aS.asss, -, an = - 49,. -