The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1872-08-31
q. washington Smith Rides n Mule TO
Liberal Meeting

To the Editor of the opelousas J~oURHAL:g
Mr.. E~DTToR-Through the columns in your
last issue, the Liberal Cub OF this place received
an invitation from the Liberal Clubs of Wash
ington, to participate in their meeting Oh last
saturday night. 1T was impossible to resist so
courteous and polite an invitation, so as the sun
went down behind the hills, We put on a bran
new paper collar, BACKED our boots tive are a
married MANI and mounted our mule, and l 1--WE
drop the plural after leaving the old womanl
wended my way to that classic and beautiful
City of Washington. Being omewhat OF a
stranger in that place. the night heing rather
dark and the place Of the meeting unknown,
trusted to the instincts of my mule who is a lib
eraI in politics, too liberal sometimes in the
way he throws out them heelsl to take me to the
right place. He did his duty to perfection, for
when lie stopped the first face / saw was that
liberal hearted and jorial friend of my youth,
known among his friends by the name of
'sJake." I was thirsty, so / disnou6ted. Having
refreshed myself, and tied all four of my mules
legs to a lamp post, and then knocked him down
tokeep him from straying, l Joined the members
Of the opelonsss Club and struck outfor the place
of meeting. On reaching the building selected,
we follnd quite q e%Onc0urse OF both white and
nolored citizens. The meeting was organized by
A1ASNA 4 A9atkAGgay NOAVALAf NnhtAAS INT NhAkA 81
President, and Geo. w. Brown, coloFed, Manuel
Aubeapin, colored, and c. Donate, coloFed, as
yiee.Presidenta. The President rose and stated
10 the meeting that Mr.. Z. T. Lewis, who was to
have addressed them on that occasion, was
prevented from attending on account of the
sickness of his family. A call from the audience
was made for Thes. H.LeBis, who responded in
a short speech addressed exclusively to the col
Ored members upon the Presidential campaign.
He was warmly applauded. Messrs. Perrodin
and c. Mayo each In turn. were called upon and
responded in their usual eloquent style. which
at the close of their remarks brought down
fhunders of applause from the whole house.
Tne President being called upon by the audience
rose and explained in afew veil delivered and
eloquent remarks, his course in the Pinehback
Convention. his cause for boiling from that
body d hts reasons for joining the liberal
ranks. His speech during the course of its
delivery was frequently anniaaded and heered,
and we ventureto say its equal has seldom been
heard lii our parish. He was followed by Geo.
". Brown, one of the yice-Presidents; also, one
Of the sBOlters from the Pinelloack Conven-
ton, who atfer reviewing his course In that
convention closed by an earnest appeal to his
fellow-eal0fea members to stand firmly by the
Liberal party and pointing out to them the
great advantages to be gained inthe future, by
joining with those with whom they had lived
among all their lives, and who now for the first
time lare extended the hand ef fellowship
toward them, burTying all past differences, and
piedglng themselves TO protect their rights. ]
fsta s0Frg nm nlahle1 To give verbatina his whole
sTeeeAs as II vas one which was wen worthy Of
being circulated, coming as III did from Il true
honest cnloEea man. and one who not only has
the good and prosperity Of his race atheart, nli
also has the foresight til see the brink unor
which they IRE now standing
The meeting then adjourned after returning
thanks through their President To the gentlemen
OF the Opel0uaas Liberal Club, who had par
tieipafea in their meeting. for their attendance
Your correspondent then went in search d
g that mule y who strange to say was still q tn,
place he left him, taking his second snap
After being made To understand we were stil
Liberal IN politics, he allowed Us to mount him
and with q thousand strains Of a brass ban,
ringing in 0Hrears, and innnmerable cheers fo
Greeley, We found ourselves lying on the pave
mcnt IN front uf cur |. modest little dwelling,
trying 10 whistle thetune af that charming son.
sPu me In my little bed. and gazing at til,
retreating torn oil ON mule who never kicks
nan when hes doWla. We drop the curtain.
&, WASHINGTON SMITH.