The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1872-09-28
THE POLITICAL BARBECUE.

people of st. Landry, dawned clear and
auspiciously.
There was an undue quantity of heat
and dust; but a little outof town, on the
barbecue ground, the green sward was
so cool and refreshing, and the rays of
the sun SO tempered by the thick branches
of the forest trees, that heat and dust
ceased to be remembered.
By 10 o'clock, A. NJ, the people began
to pour in. Only a small portion of this
immense parish was represented, but
the gathering was quite respectable in
point of numbers-atleas two thousand
people, more or less, filling the spaces
before and around the platform.
The speakers standwas erected under
the. shade of a clump of large trees,
which we're covered with the sad drapery
of the Tilandsia Spanish moss), and in
many places the grey funeral festoons
touched the very ground. We were too
early I; and whilst awaiting the appear
anceof the speakers, our thoughts, turn
ing to the natural objects around, fixed
themselves upon this same Tilandsia.
A fit type of the Louisiana of to-day
is this parasite. Although belonging to
the order of "Ephytes" or air plants
which claim to take their nOurishment
from the atmosphere alone, the Spanish
moss, by dint of weight and pressure,
dwarfs and destroys the trees to which
it clings. The foliage in time grows
s~tinted-the Springs promise, and the
Summers fulness are alike crushed in
it's cold grasp; and there are few natural
objects more repulsive than one of the
forest giants covered withits grey shroud
OF Tilandsia.
AT a little after eleven the speakers
appeared ON the stand. DIR. j. A. Taylor,
President of the Meeting, introduced
Col. Penn, candidate for the Lieutenant
GovernOrship of Louisiana.
The remarks Of this gentleman were
a brief review of the political situation
of Louisiana, and the remedy for the
evils under which we groan. 1t was the
speech of an earnest, sensible man who
did not deal with flowers of rhetoric,
but touched the very heart of the diff
| culties which perplex us. He showed us
| the hard, sharp angles which are wound
ing us unto death, and asks if through
~supineness, or grave errors we are will
ing to perpetuate an administration
which has led us TO such a ''via dolorosa"?
Col. PENIS remarks were received
with much attention aud applause.
Mr.. Fl. N. Ogden followed in a very
ornate and pleasant address. He COM
menced with a description of Louisiana
before the war, particularly the beauti-
full Teche country with all its natural
advantages and high state of cultiva-
ton. Beside this picture, adorned with
the graces of a vigorous and poetical
imagination, he placed the Teche of to-
day. Step by step he traced the progress
of the Spoiler, in the devastated home
steads-the magnificent plantations un-
titled and lying waste-the sad, dreary
outlook of the inhabitants who see their
industries paralyzed, and their labors
made barren of all profit. Whence comes
this Other countries too have been
laid waste by war, but after a certain
time recovered entirely from it's effects,
The glorious sun Of Louisiana still shines
overhead, her fertile soil is still TEEN
ing with inexhaustible resources. Why
then this r~etrOgTession? In the cOrrup-
ton and malfeasance of National and
State goyernments-the offerings, evil
Nominations and corrupt rings of the
robbers of State and country, the Free
Laneers whose only nationality was il
their pockets. He believed the redress
for all this would be proclaimed In No,
Vember at the polls. The eyes of the
people cannot always be hoodwinked
nor the heart and conscience of apeople
bought and sold like any marketable
commodity. He addressed the eo1ored
people plainly and emphatically. The
closing remarks were to the ladies. He
was opposed to female suffrage, but en-,
treated them to use their greatinnuenct
with husbands, brothers, sons to put
down a corrupt administration, and re.
lieve an oppressed country.
His remarks were so enthusiastically
admiring towards the fair sex that WI
looked down the rows of pretty faces
almost expecting to see wingssprouting
Instead Of that however, a lady near III
muttered:
Why are women always brought il
at the fag end OF every orators address
If we are Of such Importance, why dom
they give us middle places, instead O.
always bowling us downto the very low.
est seat at the FEAST
Now we might have said: MADAM
we hold you all as TOO precious to b,
mixed up with dirty politics. The crown
ing work of the Almighty was his yer,
last But, alas, we didn't say this. w,
never do say the right thing at the RICH
time. So we hlnndered out
Didn't You know that women, am
idiots, and formerly slaves stood prett,
much upon the same platform in tn.
eyes of the law. The last are enfran
ehised, but you can't vote. So ron ar
bound to keep the low seat at a candi
dates table,
We had done itnow witha vengeance
VIZ do not believe that d single We
man'srRights. woman had entered thos
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