The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1873-05-28
Specch Of G, A, Sheridan at the Car
peater Dinner.

GENTLEMEN lin common with all
VIII" are gathered here regard it ne a
great privilege and high honor to meet
the distinguished gentleman Who isour
guest Tonight. Our pleasure i'll meet
ing him is unallo> I'd, save by the fact
that we caun"t present Louisiana tn
him as we wonld wish to.
Sir, We would like to show you this
great city Of tile South, filed with hap.
py people, its streets thr"nged with
the v"taries of commerce, the flags of
all the nations floating from the n,asts
of countless ships in the placid cres-
cent Of y"nder river. 1t would please
us t" ill your ears with the music that
swells ever up from the marts of trade,
telling Of prosperity and joy. All this
We cannot do; We can only point to 4
population horne down by oppression
to l,arhor with only here and there a
wandercr OF the sea, with white wings
folded, rocking in listless idleness; to
sflrlnes of commerce almost deserted.
We can gveet yonr ear only with the
sad music that wells ~ fiom tl'e hearts
Of people that are sore distressed.
1t would he, air, to ia a matter Of
pride if we could point out to yon
thousands of broad acres where corn
and cane and cotton, were gathering
with invisible fingers the glad sunlight
Of these summer days, and weaving
witt, it in natures laboratory the har
vests that make glad the autumn fields.
This we cannot do; we can only show
here and there spot where the t"ilers
are at work ; only at intervals, homes
that filed with joy, and fields that give
PROMISE of golden harvests in the days
when the reape1's sickle shall shine
among them.
We would like, sir, to show yon
people in possession Of aud enjoying
the same political freedom, tho same
liberty, that is justly the pride oi the
great State from which you come. We
would like to point out to you men in
high position, the choiee of the people,
adjoining the plnces to which the voice
of the commonwealth had called them,
working with unquestioued purpose
and unchalleugc! integrity for the well
fare of the State. Instead of such a
condition Of affairs, We present yon a
chef magistrate abhored by the great
mass Of our white citizens, whose mis-
fortunes lie has taken advantage Of;
despitd hy our c"lored citizens, whose
confidence he has betrayed. A man
to whose heart integrity ia a stranger {;
whose religion is immortality; whose
daily walk and life is snch that in all
this great State he knows not where
to lay his baud upon a single man and
truthfnlly say "this is my triend."-
Side by side With him within the por-
tails OF our capital, guarded Ivy soldiers,
o,e to lie found fit companions for his
inf,my, holding, like him, their posi-
ton Ivy the force of hayonsts rather
than the voice of the people.
We cannot, sir, show you courts
where justice sits entl,roned. where the
pnrest and the neancst in the land
find equal favor with the rich and
powerful. We are compelled to point
to courts from which justice, wrapping
her robes around her, has fled in haste;
where liberty sits bound and helpless ;
courts where passion, prejudice and
guild are the authorities to which jud-
ges refer where questi"ns of life and
death, right or wrong, slavery Or free
dom arc Mt issue.
In brief, sir, it would be our pride
aud joy to present Louisiana to you
with radiant fuce and brow bound
round about with garlantls woven from
her wealth Of tropic flowers. We can
not do this; we present her as size is.
clad in sombre robes, ber people al