The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-08-16
Draymen's Democratic Club.

charmed last Saturday night, by the SPLEEN
did display made by the draymen of New
Orleans in their club parade. Multitudes
of people turned out to see them, but few,
We presume, expected either the numbers,
the splendor or the discipline of the impos-
ing procession that soon appeared. Stand
ing on the neutral ground, the eye could
follow an unbroken double line from half a
mile to a mile in length, of uniform transpa-
rencies, star shaped, beautifully tinted and
Illuminated, and at an equal elevation from
the ground. These were borne by stalwart
men mounted chiefly on mules, and riding
in disciplined silence, broken only by the
ringing of iron shoes OF the square
the men whenever passing Seymour and
Blair flag or other Democratic emblem.
While the eye was filed with the bril-
liancy of the demonstration, the mind
could not avoid entertaining a sentiment of
wonder at the unanimity of purpose which
could bring together five hundred men of
that one occupation of so many different
nationalities end prejudices, yet SO earnest
and united in their present object. Irish
Spaniards, men who had never before been
known to unite in political sympathy, some
of whom never before took the slightest
interest in public affairs, had saddlcd their
tired mules and devoted their hours of
repose TO n demonstration, the mere ecfat of
which could never lure laboring men from
their beds.
1t must mean something more than mere
Misunderstanding more than simple party
enthusiasm. What was it The speeches
made on the presentation of their banner,
the character of the men, and the circum-
stances of their organization, all give
clue to the meaning of their acts. 1t was
the assertion of conviction too clear to
admit of question; it was protest against
ruin. We do not now deal with the subject
as n political one, but merely as an event, a
fact. This demonstration was fact which
embraced three others: first, that Radical
ism neither drives nor employs drays in
this community; second, that the unanim-
ity which organized it out of such dscord-
ant materials raises it above the level of
party, and elevates it to the dignity of pa
triotism; third, that popular instinct
recognizes in the present Government,
National and State, all the elements of an
archy and ruin. Whether this popular
sentiment is just or not, is not now the
question ; we merely state the fact of its
existence. ,,.
Thus, we see the singular fact, III re-
public, of not merely a majority being ruled
by the minority, but Of an almost unani-
nous people being ru'ed by n faction in
significant in numbers and mostly alien in
interest. The unanimity among the people
/ against the governing power is not equaled
anywhere In the world, unless, perhaps, in
Poland. Westill speak of these things only
as facts. The opposition embraces every
grade of society-labor and capital, intelli-
gence and phys strength, the enthusiasm
of youth and the dignity of age. Thevery
negro population, not properly or legally n
political element of society, are rapidly
abandoning the leaders who, they think,
have merely used them as~instruments of
selfish ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, while involving
! them, in common with the whole country,
in impending ruin.
Wehave no intention of making this paper
parIisiin journal ouG VIC cbhnoe cohsiuet
the present issue hero as one between
parties it has degencrated into a contest
between the people and an inconsiderab!e
faction, and in such II case we will>not re-
frain from proclaiming our sympathy with
the fears, the hopes, the aspirations for
freedom, wisicf, 80 profoundly agitate the
whole community. We rejoice that their
lexcitement has taken the form of peaceful
exertion-a road to success far more just,
more desirable, and more certain than
that of violence. -
We, therefore, join with the. young lady
th.. 10