New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-02-26
THE MASS MEETING.

night, on Dryades street was one Of much
more than ordinary significance, and de-
serving OF more than passing mention.
Such popular demonstrations are Verltable
'signs of the times" which must waken even
the thoughtless into reflection and open
the eyes even of the wilfully blind. We
observe in its Sunday issue that the Times
dismisses this, the largest, the most i'm
posing political meeting ia point Of num-
bers. transparancies, bands of music, etc.,
ever held in the city of New Orleans,
whether before or since that paper began
its base lackey career. in four or i've scot
fing lines. We notice, too, that the organ
which has been SO noisy and arrogant in
its assumptions to be the guide and oracle
of the cOlored people of the state, was stu
diously silent, aud apparently unconscious
that the very night before the men of that
race had assembled for political purpose
i'll unprecedented numbers, and exhibited
unexanpled harmony and enthusiasm.
The readers of these journals are, never
theless. well aware of the facts which we
commend to the consideration OF the pres
ept enemies Demonstration, whether open
and avowed, or treacherous and concealed,
whether those who are honestly hostile; or
those who emulate the bitterness Of spirit
without any of his power, of him whose
choice it was ''tS reign in hell rather than
serve in heaven
Every one present at that meeting knows
what certainly no dweller in the neighbor-
hood of Mechanics Institute will deny,
that not only was the large hall of that
building crammed to its utmost capacity,
but the whole street from Common to Canal
was one compact mass Of humanity, through
which one could only wedge his way by
the most strenuous and persistent eXerticn
If we were to estimate the numbers present
by the scale usually applied to similar
gatherings in Lafayette square or at the St.
Charles theatre, we should be justified in
saying fully fifty thousand were in attend
ance, but close actual counting could NOT
reduce the estimate below fifteen thousand
and we are assured by many who were
there that twenty thousand would be still
nearer approximate Nor could the most
earping or hostile observer say that in the
two vast audiences assembled in and out
side the institute there did not exist to all
appearances the most perfect uRanimity Of
feeling and purpose and the very heartiesI
accord with the speakers that resp sctively
addressed them. In the 0utbursts Of ap.
plause that every few moments shook the
hall and were caught up and re-echoed
with interest from the deRsely-thrOnged
street, the eye and ear Of the spectator
could detect nothing like an expression Of
dissent or disapproVal, and while the null
titude responded as with one voice to every
patriotic sentiment to every declaration
in favor Of the Republican party and ita
efforts for reconstruction, that voice was
never so loud and emphatic as when unity
and harmony in support of regular nomin-
atisns were advocated or dissension and
boiling were denounced. It is true that
out of the large number of white men
present, including full proportion Of
citizens, old as well as new, of seknow.
lodged position, high standing, and just re-
pute in the community, the fashionable
drawing rooms about town were nei
largely represented, no more were the
equally fashionable and more gorgeous
gambling hellS and barrooms the roughs
and loafers generally equally failed to
grace the occasion indeed it must be adj
mitted that the BOurbons and snohs cen,
tributed little or nothing to the none-the
less-maghi6cent success Of the occasion
We also eheerfully confess that the large
majority in the masses present were people
of color, or, as our neighbors delicately
term it, Of the "black and tan p descrip
ton they were not men of the Saxon
the Celtic, or the Latin race, though q
plentiful sharing in the blood Of each Of
these three stocks vas patent enough in
tn the s 90 g ;,;F.s;;:=aea , ssrthyy faces they
were still more certainly neither
g Egyptians nor Abyss:nians y they
were men, notwithstanding, in the full
sense of that term, freehien, Americans
dWellers on the soil, citizens of the state
and country-meB, in whose hearts every
day that passes is quickening and confirm
ing the consciousness OF the priceless value
Of freedom and citizenhood, men who have
been learning so fast and already SO much
in the new school of liberty, that by this
time II is folly, which every day that passes
is making more and mere inexcusable, not
to recognize them at least as men
who know their rights,
eaar Aud knowing, dare maintain"
We have called the late mass meeting q
sign Of the tines We hail and accept
it as most auspicious one, full of hopeful
augury, not only fer the party o.
progress, Heedom, and harmony, but fol
the future peace and prosperity Of the state
and our whole country.
/
AEgaferaaua
I A Frr-. 1 A.