The weekly Louisianian. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1872-1882, 1872-11-02

J. Ross Stewart, Esq.
His Speech.at Lake Providence, Saturday,
October 12, 1872.

His Speech@at Lake Providence, Saturda,
I October 12, 1872.
1 feel very proud to meet so man,
good citizens Of this parish presen
to-day on such an important occa
sion. I have ever regarded thi
parish as one Of the most beautiful i,
the state; and the people as indus
trious, thriving, and law-abiding.
do not wonder that the people liv
ing here love the parish and wish tx
see it prosperous. You have ever,
reason to be proud Of this beautiful
country. Hundreds who are listen.
ing to me now, were born hero, and
have seen their children grow up, o,
perhaps have followed them to tho
quiet of the grave, and there laid
them away to sleep forever. Many
who are here to-day listening to me
with hustled breath and closed hearts
have waited anxiously for years, to
catch the sound of the bells that
should ring the death-knell of human
bondage felt their hearts grow strong
when that knell was over, as it filed
tho heavens and earth with music
for the patient bonds,nan. Fellow
citizens, VIC have come here to-day
to rejoice with you, and to counsel
with you as to the best means and
measures to be taken to preserve
liberty, and not only our liberty but
the liberty Of the whole people. We
all know that from the hour that
General Grant assumed the rcins
OF this government" that he has
never failed in word or act to main
tain the integrity Of the Union; but
has put forth the full strength OF
it's party organization, calling to
his aid tho nerved patriots of the
country: and has successfully carried
it through it's terrible trials and
troubles until he once more planted
our banner high in the tenn
pie of the nation; and we may say to
you, fe]low-citizcns, that he has done
this in defiance of all thepower that
the Democratic party could bring to
bear against him. Now let me say
to my Democratic freinds, if you
expect to get a man who will carry
out all your IDEAS of public policy,
you will get mistaken. Get the
purest man you can find, and, in
many respects, he will come short of
your calculation. Then, as Grant is
nominated, let us support him as
our man. We can give him the
credit of giving us good admins
ration. He has given US all the
same privileges, both black and
white. He has collected the reven-
les of the country honestly, and
devoted them to the paying Of the
public debt. He has given us what |
We most needed above oil other
hings, and that is peace. This we
needed in order that the country |
night recuperate from the long and
bloody war. That it might develop
and that we might carry
'ut the true policy Of universal suf-
rage. We want to rebuild the
and make it what our fore
athers intended it to be-thegreat-
st on earth.
But few years have passed since
wrong and outrage seemed to be
'ur lot; brutality seemed to be borne
II wings, to chase us at every turn;
ghen hope seemed as dark ae con-
entrated midnight; when we were
eady to exclaim, "Aiy God! why hast
hou forsaken us?" The Republican
'arty changed all chat, and above
Il, it has placed in our hands the
allot, which is the safeguard of all
ther interests, and is the sign Of full
aanhood.
One word more to my colored
riends and I have done. lCries go
NJ When the first sound Of hos
llity was heard at Fort Sumpter,
'hen tie loyal people Of the North
rose as one man, with musket in
and, to vindicate the integrity Of
be Uuion, among the many thous-
nd Of true and gallant men who
uckled on their armor and march
i triumphantly to the gull, where
,e candidates whom you are called 1
pom to support. Fellow-citizens,
,e Democratic party tells us that
le Old White Hat has been our