The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1872-07-27
THE MEETING LAST SATURDAY..

ana influential clClzenS nom various
portions of the parish. E
The Court House vas filed by the as
sembly who manifested Enthusiastically
their sense of the Importance of the Oc-
casion and a lively interest in the pro-
ceedings had. The President, DR.. John
A. Taylor, late delegate to the Baltimore
Convention, on taking the chair, made
an impressive address, and in abiding
to the harmonious action of the National
Democratic Convention and the liberal
spirit evinced by its action, urged
upon the people the same policy in the
management of the political affairs of
the State. The redemption Of the State
from misrule and the restoration to the
rightful pOssessors of the functions of
government; State as we'll as National,
depends upon the exercise, at this
,juncture, of that liberal policy which
repels no class of citizens and which,
while it presents the single political
issue of hostility to Grant, invites
the entire population to come together
in the great work of reform.
The Doctors remarks were listened to
with marked attention, andthe audience
evinced their approval by frequent and
emphatic applause.
E. T. Lewis, Esq, followed witha we'll
considered speech in which the history
of the present political complication was
given at length and showing that the
responsibility for the troubledand I'M
satisfactory state of things rested upon
the politicians who had been u%nfaithful
to the known wishes of the people, and
who had been too much absorbed in ta-
king care of themselves to act for the
common good.
He said that as all attempts had failed
under the leadership of existing organi-
cations to inaugurate q campaign that
could promise success, the necessity for
the organization of the Liberal party
arose-it alone could unite enough OPP
posing elements to defeat the Kellogg
ticket and carry the State for Greeley
and Brown. .
The speaker dwelt at length upon the
centralizing tendencies of Grants ad-
m~inistration, and looked upon this abuse
of the fundamental powers of govern
ment as the great danger to our institu-
lions, and as the source of the evils now
bearing so heavily upon u people.
Therefore all reform Of State politics
must begin atthe fountain head, the Ma
tional Administration.
In the course of hisremarks MI. Lewis
characterized in very proper terms that
small class of politicians who are at
tempting to decry the Liberal move
ment and it's leaders, as being in the in
terest of Gov. Warmoth. "
The Liberal party of the State of Lou
isiana is a part of the great national or
ganization that will carry Greeley and
Brown into the Presidency and Vice
Presidency, and no mar in the State OF
Louisiana can claim to be it's leader, OF
can control it to his own individual adj
vantage. 1t is a movement of the peo-
pie against the politicians, in ~whichper-
Esona1 claims must be held in Obeyance
to the common good. ..r 't@..'
Before the adjournment the assembly
was also addressedb by Ferreol Perrodin.
Esq, and Laurent Dupre, Esq. Both
acquitted themselvesin very creditable
style, and the audience, aroused by the
eloquence of these ardent young cham,
pions of the Liberal party, gave three
rousing cheers.
It may be truly said that no political,
meeting has been held in this parish
since the late war that brought ogethel
SO numerous a body Of solid and repre-.
sentative men of St. Landry; anditmay
be said with equal truth that no sucf
body of men could have been brought
together here, simply by a published
call, unless a widespread sentiment il
favor of the Liberal party pervaded the
people. The friends Of that party Ger.
tainly have cause to congratulate them.
selves on the complete success of the
Inauguration of the new party in this
parish, upon the harmony and unanimi,
ty that characterized the proceedings il
question, and upon the selection of {
delegation to the August convention
consisting of gentlemen to whom thu
people of this parish can intrust thei
great interests, and in whose wisdom
discretion and patriotism they can place
the utmost confidence. lid
These gentlemen were spontaneously
and freely chosen, and they are, in I'll,
true sense, representative from the PEG
pie. Their names are q sufficient guar
anty for their ability, integrity and in
dependence, and fora wise exercise o
the discretion which the mass meetin;
thought proper to confer upon them.
We can assuretae advocates of reforn
and progress throughout the State tina
the great popular move is initiated il
st. Landry parish under the happies
auspices and diat its completesueeess a
the November election is confident,
anticipated.
The Rapides Gazette, speaking o
the consolidation of the Democrat
and Reform parties and the alteration
the ticket adopted by the late Demo
cratic convention, 80 as to substitute