The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-08-18
ALTO, FnANKLIN PARISH. Aus. 9. lses.

ALTO, FRANKLN PARISH, Aug. 6, 1868.
Ed. Crescent The sixth day of August. 1863.
win be day long TO be remembered iu the politi
cal annals of Franklin parish. On that day her
sons and daughters, joined by their friends from
Tensss. Madison, Carroll, Morehouse, 0uaehta
and Cald we'll. united in one joyful accord to vel
come with the return Of Democracy the happy
celebrations which they we're wont TO enjoy IN
former days but which have, during the late Ridi-
cal despotism, been denied them. On that day
twenty. five hundred sons and daughters Of this
once proud parish were assembled TO worship
again with their friends their long lost goddess,
1t could not be doubted that this great rallying
of Democrats would prove TO be success 10 every
sense Of the term. Truth is mighty, and will pre-
vail. Truth is mighty sword with keen edge,
that lays bare the putrescent body Of error.
Truth is mighty pen, which dscloses the dark
and dsmning plots of demsgogues, consprators
and tyrsnts.
At precisely halfaiter eleven o'clock, Col. R.
Richardson more popularity known a. the gallant
leader OF the grand and brave old 18th Louisiana
Infantry was introduced by DIR. j. t. Lewis,
marshal of the day" The colonel was received
with a hearty good will, and discoursed in elo
| quent tones for three quarters of an hour. The
| audience lent him their undivided attention; (it
could not have been other wise) and Col. Richard
son made some strong and telling points. ln COM
pairing the Radical record with that of the Demo-
| crscy, he laid bare their glowing atrocities, un-
| constitutional usurpatiOns, in such strains OF
| pathOs and glowing eloquence, that thunders Of
| applause greeted bin. The most casual observer
could not have failed TO by the close attention;
the glowing eye, the hearty responses, that were
| manifested on this occasion, that upon this ques-
| ton the people feel q powerful interest and an
| abiding faith in the truths proponnded by their
| speaker. So thoroughly convinced was the colonel
of the political faith of bis white audience, that
| he begged that he might be permitted to address
| the remainder Of his remarks to toe freedmen,
| who, the speaker remarked, needed infOrmA-
| ton on the political issues Of the day" and for
half an hour he reasoned with them Ia all truth
II 49,
| sponses came from them in telling words, That's
| The Gods TRUTH" al there and saw it,"
| "Our eyes are open now" were some OF the re.
| sponses, coming from that once misled people.
| What duty devOives on the Democrats OF this
| day, do you see IL? We have not space to follow
Col. Richardson further. Upon taking hts seat he
| was cheeIed again and again by white and black.
| Marshal Lewis next oduced COL McHenry.
| Upon the appearance of Col McHenry he was
| greeted with immense applause and enthusissm;
every ear lent its attention. every heart leaned 20
| the speaker. Col. AcHenry had been delegate
| TO the National Democratic Convention, aud this,
| Of itself. was enough to secure him favorable
reception. He opened his discourse in that
solemn and impressive manner, known only to
| him; his exordum was brief, pithy. and besuti-
ful; his defamation was OF the elevated, sena-
tOrial order. The colonel said the Democratic
party of the South accepted the termination Of
the war, that the great issues which formerly oc-
| cuped the minds of the people were now buried
sDd laid aside. The duty now was unity. The
issue constitutional liberty military despotism.
That the Radical party only worked for party sg-
grandizsment; that under Radical rule we were
no nearer restoration TO day than when the ar
mics of the Confederacy surrendered; but the
star Of hope had arisen, 70 set no more forever.
| The Democratic party was unit pledged TO re-
| deem the country from Radical msrue.
| In describing the scenes in the New York con-
| vention Col. hcHenry was truly vivid and we
imagined that body Of patriots 70 haze been be:
| fore us, and saw the grasp OF friendships hsad
| as they pledged themselves TO the redemption OF
| Qur
| marked that the Radical party was thrown on the
defensive that no enthusiasm prevailed at the
North in favor of the Chicago nominees. And
| now, what interests Us momentaTIy, the colonel
| dared with treDchant arm 10 deal blew on the
| gourd head carpet baggers and scalawags, and
| told them TO their teeth in New Orleans that the
| eaumBy which that august body OF roustabouts.
| the LEGISLATURE had aud was continually heeping
on North Louisiana was lie After addressing
| the freedmen for half an hour 10 plain and for
chile manner, the colonel sat down, amid the pro-
foundest enthusiasm il was ever our good fortune
In giving this brief synopsis of the coloueps
| speech we are aware Of its incompeteness,
though it is beyond the province OF this report 10
, | do him greater Justice.
: Or. Jennings, of Rayville was loudly called for
and made very pretty little speech, onerlng MS
| mite" :" as he said, 10 the great cause. HIS re-
| mnit cepces of Northern travel we're truly edhyng
4 | to the audience and did the freedmen coed.
r Major Cook, OF Alto, now was loudly called Tor,
end with the srdor Of youth he held the audience
enchsiDed with the magic spell OF his feryent elo'
uuence; he filled their hearts with patriotic feel
!. | ines. With discriminating Judgment eminentlJ
suitable to the times he warned the leaders OF the
| Democratic party not TO put their trust too in
Q plieitly In the popularity of the cause, and tc
work while il was day The enemy were upor
us upswares, points would be assailed that We
a thought were invulnerable; that success onlI
q | crowned the efforts Of the brave aud vigilant
/ | Dr. Wm. G. Bulger next addressed the freed
| men In one of his grandest efforts, replete with
II | sound sense and good advice; scathing the luke
n warm INDECENT and indOlent freedmen with invec
tive witticsms sharper than Damascus swords
!, | auding the vigilsnt, sound and sensible 70 tn
| very last notch OF his adjective department. q
" Dinner while DR.. B. was addressing the freed
D. | men) was now served. On repairing 10 the table
4 | We inadvertently thought Of the good old times
j. | when we were boy. The ladies aud gentlemen o
e Alto and surrounding viciniiies deserve really muc
e | credit for their prompt energy In furnishing
| erand an entertainment Under the supervision Q
A | that epicuresn gentleman. r. s. Bonghton. IN
a | meats were splendidly cooked. The table fsirl
| erosned beneath the weight OF niceues. meat
barbecued poultry dressed in every oonceivabi
\. shape, pastries in pies, tarts cakes, etc. stsc
70 cakes adorned the table. Apples, pears, peAche
"A and melons, the finest ever behed furnished =
~ treatment after dinner and all passed on 10 th
a, happy style of the marriage bella glorious "a
~ | for the Democracy.
we would be guilty Of the gravest o1ense wer
70 we 10 close this paragraph without bestoEng thi
OF pleasant homage TO the fair sex, which IS que
4. all occasions. Beauty, fashion aud iovelinel
n | were largely represented. The biushing ave-
or GIRL of fourteen summers to the beauty OF twenty
n grave matroDs, looking the very personihcauon
n. virtue and womaDly dignity, were there arrayt
A. | in the richest costumes Of the day.
r.. After dinuer, Major Charlie Breard, OF Colun
n. | bia, took the stand, and though this gentema
on | was disturbed by passing showers OF raia. u
ne sterner sex stayed and heard him out: Inc pom
~ Major Rreard made will tell on the Radical part
y. when and wherever produced. Political freedo
81 and sectional issues we're the main topics argu'
by this eloquent gentleman, with poweri9l enec
In his closing peforstion he was truly eloquer
30 q t;reece had her Alexander, Rome her Cesa
I'll England her Cromwell, France her Bonapart
M. The United States might have her Grant
DTS