New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-03-12
THE THIRD WARD REFORMERs.


Meeting at National HaII-SOctal Equali-
~ Advocated-Extraor Political
Gymnastics.
In accordance with the published cali,
and in consequence of the lack Of other ex-
element, quite large number of stray
citizens came together at National Hall, on
Poydras street, last night-some to devise
means to reform the third ward, and
through it effect the regeneration of the
State in general and the colOred vote in
particular, and some who were curious to
see how it was proposed to set about it.
There were others, too, who came to see,
like Micawber, if anything was likely to
turn up.
Colonel j. D. Hill was called to the chair.
j. Denegre was called to act as secretary.
Colonel Hill stated that the first thing in
order would be to effect permanent or
ganizatiOn, and on motion the meeting pro-
ceeded to elect the following permanent
officers Of the Third Ward Reform Club.
President, Samuel Mullen; vice pres
idents, F. Antoine, William Hart, james
Mccartney; secretary, G. w. Doll treas
urer, G. Townsend.
Mr.. Mullen, on taking the chair as per-
manent president of the organization, stated
that he was a business man, and no poll
tician. He did not feel certain as to whether
it was incumbent upon Kim to crate, but
but he would say that he was heartily in
favor of the reform movement and the ideas
expressed by the provisional central com
mittee in their address.
Messrs. j. d. Hill, DIR. Knapp E. Solomon,
James Todd and w. B. Koontz were ap-
pointed committee on constitution.
The committee having accepted the
arduous task imposed upon them, retired
for few moments, when they returned-in
fact they got through with their undertak-
ing SO quickly that cynics might suppose
that the constitution had already been cut,
dried and properly packed before hand.
The constitution reported was Of the
usual style predominant upon such occa-
sions, and, to further warrant the suspi-
cions of the aforesaid cynics, was adopted
without amendment.
After this was done it was discovered by
some stickler for parliamentary rules that
the concern had gone a little too fast, and
got ahead of time. 1t became necessary
that the officers so hastily elected as per-
manent be seated under the constitution.
The ratification was passed with few
dissenting voices.
Mr.. Hill being called upon, took the
stand, and proceeded to explain the in
tentions of the reformers-the principal
object being, as stated by the speaker, to
sweep the State of Louisiana. He alluded
to the tenacity with which certain promi-
nent members of the Democratic party
veterans he called them-stuck to the
idea that the only salvation for the country
lay in the concentrated power and action
of that party. A sop was thrown to the
colored $1,000 in the shape of an acknowl-
edgement that the admission of their votes
and influence in favor of the Reform party
was not concession, but simply neces-
sity-a state of affairs which, in fact. could
not be got around.
The Republican party was also reviewed,
and the sharp incisive angles and barriers
erected by the two prominent parties
within themselves, and which drove re-
formers from their embrace, were duly set
forth and descanted upon.
The workingman and tenant got their
usual amount of blarney, the bone and
sinew being recognized as the pith OF the
new party, and whose interests were to be
the prime object of the new organization.
They must be made to understand that the
settled object and sole aim of the reformers
were to work for their particular good and
glorifcation.
The puzzle to get from the Democratic
and Republican parties the mass OF their
rank and file, without which, the speaker
naively observed, they could not hope
for success. was solved by the worthy vice
president by summarily cutting the knot
which binds State and federal politics.
Having achieved this feat to his satlsfac-
ton, the speaker sat down.
l. N. Marks had just come from the meet
ing of the Central Committee, in order to
fulfill promise. That committee had just
adopted an address that he was sure would
be highly satisfactory, as it embodied the
| exact principles he had set forth at the
| mass meeting at the City Hall. This ad-
dress laid the colored ghost emphatically:
i
| citizens could play the reform role as well
| as anybody. Mr.. Marks talked of what
| constituted successful revolutiOnists in a
mildly sulphurOus style, and finally went
| in head and heels for social equality
in the barroom, on the steamboat,
the cars, the legislative halls, and
| everywhere. There being some signs OF
discomfort at this extraordinary and sud
| den flop, the speaker labOred hard to prove
| the dire necessity of these concessions, one
of the objects of the cave-in being to save
| the cOlored citizen from utter ruin at the
| hands of the carpet-bagger. In support OF
| his argument he read note from a dis
tinguished citizen of Northern State, and
firm friend of, and possessing great intiu-
ence with the federal administration which
| promised in a vague and misty manner a
sort of pretended semi official Endorsement
| by tho powers at Washington OF the ideas
enumerated in the piece which the speaker
| got off on the occasion of the meeting at the
| City Hall.
The speaker stood ready to cast his vote
| for Grant if it would only save the State.
He had before stated the same, and the
Picayune had got itself into hot water be-
cause it was supposed that that concern
had Endorsed his idea. He could not see
| the Endorsement.
The orator then went into discursive
speculation upon the probable results of the
| Philadelphia and Cincinnati conventions,
and the effect they would have upon the
| Southern people. He got rather muddy
here, and the reporter could not exactly
make out whether he wished to become a
Philadelphia or Cincinnatian. He wanted
| to know whether Sumner or Trunbull or
Logan, or half a dozen others, were any
more acceptable than Grant, and the an
swers were SO contradictory and various
| that the question was left in a most lament