New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-05-02
THE GRANTEES IN CONVENTION.

That portion of the Republican party of
this State which ties to Grant and his fed
eral appointees in New Orleans, known as
the Customhouse clique, has been playing
at the National Theatre since Tuesday last
an amusing farce called The Tempest in
a Teapot, or the GRANTEES in Conven-
ton" Some persons of a less liberal
turn of mind than ourselves might be dis.
posed to call the exhibition at the Ma
tional, under the direction and manage
ment of Marshal Packard, a ''side show"
but we will not descend toany such sour
rillous treatment of the ''show' that has
been made by orr Customhouse friends in
the interest Of President Grant at the
National Theatre.
The decorations and placards for the
occasion were gotten up with taste, and
without regard to expense. The music
was excellent; and we will say in all candor
that every delegate, as far as we could
see, manfully faced the music. If the
audience was not as large and enthusiastic
as the manager could wish, it was no fault
Of the players. The fault, if it is fault,
must be attributed to the public-to the
great body Of the people-who have kept
away from the exciting scenes that have
been enacted in the National Theatre by a
very select body of National Republicans
since Tuesday last. But, then, if the
quantun S1Iicd was not there, it is true it
may be said that quality was; and that
quality, not quantity should rule the day.
Among the audience some very notable
characters were to be seen, and their
presence, some thought, rather frightened
the scene. This is all very well, SO far as
appearances go. A few fgure-heads may
be good for decorating purposes, but in
order to make an exhibition a success the
public have got to become interested in it,
This is where the exhibition at the Ma
tional Theatre, under tine management of
few national ofice-holders, has failed.
The public did not become interestedin
1t; did not go there to applaud the actors,
and rend the air with their enthusiastic
cheers. Consequently the thrilling elo-
quence of John Ray, J. C. Miller, Battle
Payne, Peter Lightfoot, J. Henri Burch,
Denis Burrell and other bright lights of |
the convention, fell as upon the dull, cold |
ear Of death, without proper recognition
OF its merits. The reading of the platform
and resolutions by Senator Ray, on the
the last day, was certainly mastery piece
Of defamation, and would have brought
down the house, to use a theatrical
phrase, if there had been any house to
bring down. But there was no house to
bring down, and the fine composition of
the platform and resolutions, and the ex-
luisite defamation of the brilliant Senator
rom Ouachita met with no proper re-
'ponse. His well-rounded sentences, fierce
y denouncing Governor Wamoth, whom
he Senator, no doubt, considers a foeman
worthy Of his steel, fell from his lips ike
he Ierfume from the flowers 'tO waste
heir sweetness COR bitterness, as the case
nay be-, upon the desert air." This would
eally be discouraging to d hen of ordinary
minds, but to Mr. Ray and his compeers
n convention assembled for the last two
lays, these are tTitiing ma tiers. They do
lot care about having thf people Of this
'tate with them so long as they are backed
p by the national government. Their
anne is to keep up appearances, and if
ossible lead the ptople to believe they are
he Republican pal ty of this State because
ley have the recolmition of the GRANTEES
l Washington But if the Cincinnati
invention meets the expectations Of the
eOple Of this vast country the GRANTEES
this State viii find it impossible to
UGH longer keep up appearances, even
it'll the aid Of the government at Wash
gton, then the people, without distinc- !
IN of color, will rally around the stand
d Of true Repubicanism, and support
+ President and Vice President of the
nited States and officers of this State
c candidates put forward by the Liberal +
epublican Reform party.