The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1872-07-06
FUa1n som The Square ,a-~VOices
From The ReOpRe-sDOm't Rati-
fy WOrtHRa Gent.

The meeting held last rightin Lafay-
cite square was called to ratify fhenOm-
Of Grant, and a large crowd re-
manned throughout the entire proceed
ings, which were conducted with but
Interruptions until the close. The
call was made for half-past seven-at Il
time when chickens go to roost, and
hence was not blessed witht the shades of
night, that cover so many defects visible
by day, Only a few stragglers were
present at this time, arriving by a sort
o~thltratlon FROM out the crowded streets.
thronged with Wayfarers going home.
The first maj eel was a CarOndelet
street broker, who wandered into the
square like some General i'm the ruins of
Tyre. Then came other individuals
4 hard worked clerk from the City Hall,
the inevitable gamins, who amused then
abundant leisure nth playing e" fate
about the legs of the platform then
came the musicians, dragging their big
instruments over the grass in Il lazy
manner, and about quartertO eight the
band began to play, and Il few of the
organizers ct the meeting arrived, while
an attendant lit up the pltroline gas
The preliminaries were thus settled, anC
every body about the stand stood witt
nv III U1ICIA pJNECtS NH1tlIs 4OI
the ball to begin. The impression oil
those who were soon on hand was thai
something mOmentOus, they scarce knew
what, would come out of this, and hence
there was more than the usual amount
OF curiosity to see what would turn I'D
About eight o'clock a crowd of one
thousand people were present, which
gradually increased until, when the cal
to order wasmade, about three Thousand
persons were bOisterOus listeners of the
programme which was nwOund and de.
VelOped lii the manner following.
The crowd which had collected in tbs
rear and ON the sides of the platform be,
gin to drift toward thefront, the buzz O.
conversation on the platform ceases, anC
Judge John p. Becker steps to the stan(
and states the object of the meeting tt
consist III a protest against the manage,
ment by the Customh0use of the BatOI
Rouge convention, by which the voice
Of the people was notheard. When the
speaker had closed the crowd in front
swaying to and fro, grew turbulent, and
discounted the speaker, who retired in
bad order.
A voice-Three cheers for Greeley.
The cheers were given with a will.
Mr.. Joseph III. Wils0n-The object oil
the meeting tonight is a protest against
the action OF the convention who do moi
represent the people. d
A voice-Greeley's the man.
Another-Nominate Greeley, anG
you'll be all right.
Another-What place are you from
Hong Kong?
1t was under such circumstances tina.
Mr.. Wilson tried to continue, but hi
voice was drowned in discordant cries
and groans, n voice saying, at a poin
where he complained of the action o
the convention, "Served you right,
other voices crying out all sorts of cries
for Greeley.
No Southern man, said Mn. Wilson
can consistently vote for Mr. Greeley
who said just after the rebellion was Owe
that he would like to see the rebels il
starvation.
a voice-Say, don't you want to veal
a white latP Loud laughter
Mr.. Wilson tried to finish the sentence
A yoice-Give us a rest.
Anothef-He's no man of the Custom
house ring.
[ tell you, continued Mr.. Wilson
whether you want it or not, Presiden
Grant will occupy the chair, and will TO
G1kE 4O&AI " GStIS 1GE&u bLlG GOHGG u
prosperity and happiness as he has don
breakdown to the crowd, and shortl,
after reappeared, leading Colonel Carte
by the hand, and introducing him to tn
multitude.
Colonel e.. w. Carter-fI understan,
the objects of this meeting, it is one o
Republicans who aresin harmony witt
the national administration.
"A Eoice-Did YOU ever see such a res
pectable Republican meeting as this 3
Idon't propose to make a speech i
faY0T of Grant, because my position o.
that point is well understood.
A voiee-Youn be for Greeley yet he
fore this things through. {
Whenever the government officers us
the power with which they are intrustet
to control the popular voice, it is the,
that national government is liable t
become a desp0tism and should he re
sisted.
A yoice-GFeeleyI1 fix that all right
There's something superi0rto the con
stitution and the national government
and that is the power of the people
Whenever a President authorizes to b
done this thing, that they shall becom
the agents Ofthe government in creatin
the officers OF the governmental become
d desp0tism. / could no longer act i
sympathy with the federal officers Whe
they use their power to a perpet11ati0
OF their influence. make no fight q
the personnel of the ticket. | maintai
that the Gustomh0use officers, for u
other ground than that the PresideT
wished it, formed a ticket. and thereb
thWarted the popular will,
Ayoice-W0 uld You be hereif YOU
got Attorney Generals
Colonel arteE-~In the voting fornon
nations there were delegates who wei
so much inundated they did not DIN
to voteatieketof the opposite color, an
who hid their own ticket in one of tl
Customhouse color. Whenyou ees me
attempting to thwart the popular wi
by packing conventions, and by intim
datiQn and threats, you can not make
ticket that will rouse the popular hear
Though / said / would not say anythin
against the personnel of the ticket, VI
there was one man who was nominate
that made it pointof Directing again
every man not in his clique, who In
something to say against the record
every man. He was nominated for j
pisby. A delegation from the countl
vas met with inquiry, "Wllat are yc
doing here |? 2
"0h!p said they we've come to se
tle.H
" Why. ! thought yoa lived IN u
eounhyggn
Yes, but we've come to- settle vii
Mr.. Clinton gE
This was the manner in which The
We're conducted. TIN Tor General Graz
if he'll let me be for him, beeausehe 81
In the Presidential chair and minds b
own business, and ] believe he'll say
the Intermediates, mind your own bus
ness, and let the people mind their
ThisWasIlailed withshonts of defision