The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-09-24

our city sBd State. No matte, no" gloomy me
prospect may continue, we shan cling 70 the
ars never conquered until they are self.conquered
Geutlemen on behalf Of the Blair Knights.
behalf Of the various clubs Of this city and its
vicinity who are present; nay, sirs, on behalf Of
the Democracy OF New Orleans. extend to you q
hearty welcome. The Blair Knights will ever re.
gard IL as happy inspiration which suggested the
name of bssouris isvorite son as that by which
their club should be known. They little thought
Of the great compliment TO which their selection
would give rise. Bat, sirs, Il was in no whim, no
mere caprice, that the Blair Knights assumed their
name. There was time when of all men, Frank
p Blair was most obnoxious to the South. There
was no point of sympathy between us. He had,
on the contrary, held opinions, aud be was pro.
psgandist Of those opinions, entirely At variance
with our own: He had favored the abolition of
slavery in Missouri. He was opposed TO the
extension of ii in the territories. He was
moreover from the first an Uncompromising Union
man. From his sntecedents We never ia the day
of our d. aster hoped for clemsncy from him. The
long years under which be endured the sc ifs and
taunts of an overwhelmin g majority were cslcu-
lated 10 inspire any other than the lofest charac
tiers with revengeful feelings: He had friends TO
reward, enemies to punish. He was in position
TO satisfy q boundess ambition. He had been as
brilliant in the political councils Of his party as
he was irresistible in leading his columns to VIC
tory. He was beloved throughout the North, bat
in the West he was idolzed. There was but one
thing for him to do to attain all that his ambition
could crave, that was to cease to be Frank p.
Blair, and become opponent OF Radical
dogmas. Just at this point of his history, his
noble nature shone out with transcendent luster,
for when the spur of that Percy Of the Southern
cause grew cold, your hero sheathed his sword
and staunched the wound IL had inflicted, for he
loved mercy and not sacrifice. Full of admiration
for his exalted personal character we adopted
his name and baptised our club the Blair Knights,
and surely there never was drawer or more gene
rous Paladin when chivalry was at its zenith than
Frank Preston Blair.
We accept your splendid flag with sentiments
which it would be vain for me to express. We
pray rather that il may be the memorial of an
enduring sisterhood between the two great cities
of the Mississippi; we long to renew aud to ex-
tend our social and commercial relations.
This vast valley has become antempire an EN-.
pire in It's numbers, in ita wealth, and in its power
TO control and direct the policy of the govern.
nent. IL is, therefore, while looking upon this
flag, which now waves over the renewed friend
ship Of a people, separated only temporarily,
can foresee happy and prosperous fu,ure-I
can fOresee the period when this flag shall wave
over and accompany the commerce OF the valley,
from Fort Benton TO the Balize; when the men
of Montana shall send their precious metals to be
exchanged in this port for our own products and
the products of the Indies. And, gentlemen,
can foresee the period when, if that flag shall
receive an insult, or that trade encounter an OBJ
s,sce, the men at the mouth Of the Mississippi
will fall into the same ranks, and answer to the
same rOll.eall with the men OF st. Louis and her
sister cities.
The force Of circumstances the mighty power
Of facts, is bringing order out of chaos. Our
laboIing people are fast learning that they must
depend on themselves; that fair promises will
neither feed nor clothe them and they are be-
ginning 10 work, interrupted 10 be sure by GER
tain class Of politicians, who inculcate the doc
trne that il is better TO vote for them than to eat
Bot every day dscloses the selishness of these
adventuTers, and there is a prospect that at no
distant day their occupation will be gone for
ever.
few years of industry, Of uninterrupted
labor, will restore prosperity to our people.
What we most need is relief from political quacks
and chaIlatan Legislators. These harpies are our
bsne; they eat out cur substance; they create
disfrust and destroy confidence, and capitalists
are tmid in engaging in business. After NOvem-
Der, when these miscreants shall call the moul-
tains to hide them from the gaze of their fellow.
men-then, with wise legislation confidence will
be restored, and honesty and integrity will walk
again in their old places, our levees will be re-
basis, and we expect that New Orleans wnl be ne
attractive, socially and commercially, as in the
olden time.
And now, gentlemen, while you soiourn with
MS, see for yourselves whether our enemies speak
truly of us when they represent that we are still
rebels, and that We desire another war. Look at
that legislation, the object Of which is to bind
hand and foot, and place Us at the mercy OF set
of political mGIauders, who by lavish expendi.
lures end inquitous taxation, blast every effort
which we make to retrieve our fortunes. Tell
your people that the fair fame Of our city was
once taInishtd by the ISLANDERS Of a congressional
committee who falsely charged on our party the
July riots of 1866. Let our forbearance now
vindicate the truth of history in reference to
that event.
No people have borne more of tyranny, more
Of wantOn, cruel and malignant oppression than
we have borne. None ever bore it with more
calm and patient counsel IL may, however, come
20 pass that our fUrbearance will be suicidal, and
if, when prompted by the law Of selfpreserVa-
hall ha N m
then shall your banner be unfurled, and by the
grace Of God, the Blair Knights will carry it to
victory, with the battle cry Of Blair and consti-
tutional liberty.
At the conclusion of Gen. Hays address the
curtain fell, hiding much iovliness from the gaze
of the audience, whilst preparations were being
made for the tsblesux. In the interval, however,
occurred another pleasing incident. The Broom
Rangers, determined that they too should give our
St. Louis guests token of their visit to the Cres
cent City, had prepared amagnihcent illuminated
bouquet, which, on their behalf, was presented
by Mr.. Julian Michel in an eloquent address, a
copy of which we regret we were unable to OBJ
tain, and therefore cannot here reproduce. After
this pleasing interlude the curtain rose and dis.
closed the various ladies who had occupied the
stage prettily grouped. Again the curtain fell
and again rose this time on tablesu which made a
fitting ending to the imposing ceremonies which
il concluded.
In the rear of the stage, on the raised plat.
form, were three young ladies-Misses Mckay,
Eliza Greenwood and Clno Dimitry-represent-
ing respectively the Goddess of Liberty, the God
dess Of Peace and the Goddess of Justice-ths
three diviniies whom Democracy invoke to
crown their triumph in November next. Behind
them stood their escorts. Messrs. E. A. Bancker,
+. B. Briggs and VIM. Y. Logan, each bearing
transparency inscribed with the name of the
spirit beguarded. The young ladies representing
thiriy-6ve of the States, having risen from their
chairs, stood as they had been seated and be.
hind each her escort, with q handsome trans
parency bearing the names of the States. In the
center stood the ladies representing Missouri and
Louisiana, emblematic of the bond of Union
which was last night drawn closer between these
two States. The various delegations. occupying
the places to the rear and sides, made an appro-
pirate background.
The tsblesu was Of course en9ore6, and when
NJ the close of the last ~ eseX ton Missouri