The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-10-11

iFeeoom TO the stranger for miserable gold,
and peace such az dastards love; but let ms
| remain free from reproach and shame. Let free
Bruges once again pour out the blood of her
free children for the right! So much the fairer
floats the blood-red standard; so much the
faster stands the peoples powerm
Here Deconinck made O short pause; and be-
fore he could resume, Master Brakels again
broke in:
:" repeat il, say what you will What dis
grace is it to us that our prince is a stranger Z?
On the contrary, we ought to feel proud that
we are now part of mighty France. What
matters it to nation that lives and thrives by
commerce to whose sway it bows7 Is not Ma
hornets gold as good as oursf"
The indignation against Brakels was now at
the bighest,-so high, in truth, that no one
deiSned to answer him only Deconinck 81 ghed
deeply, and at last exclaimed
o, shame! Lilyard, a bastard has spoken
In our hall We are disgraced for ever ~
tumultuous movement passed through the
assembly, and many an eye flashed wrath IL pom
Master Brakels.
Suddenly voice was heard from the midst
OF the assembly, Turn the Lilyard ont, no
French hearts among us!" and the cry was re-
peated again and again from one to another.
1t now required all Deconinck's influence
to keep the peace; not FEY seemed inclined to
violence; and the question was put, whether
Brakels should be expelled the company, or
fined in forty pounds weight of wax.
While the clerk was busy taking the votes,
Brakels stood with unconcerned air before
the Dean He relied upon those who had received
with favor his first speech but in this he greatly
deceived himself, for the name of LIyard, q
sore reproach in the eyes of all, had not left
him q single ftiend. The sentence that be
should be expelled the company was given
without dissentient voice, and tie announce
ment was received with general reclamation.
Upon this all the fury of the Lilyard burst
forth, and a torrent of threats and abuse flowed
from his mouth. The Deau sat on in his place
with the greatest composure without deignipg
to reply to his adversary's insults Presently
thore came up two stout journeyman, who
ofticiated as doorkeepers and required Brakols
to leave the hall forthwith, as no longer a
member of their body. Full of spite and bit
terness, he obeyed, and now thirstiug for re-
vepge presented himself without loss of time
before John Van Giste, the principal tax
gatherer, whom he informed of the opposition
organized by the Dean of the Cloth workers.
Peter Deconinck continued at considerable
length to address, his fellows, the better to
encourage them to the defence of their rights
1t was far from being his desire, however. that
they should do anything tumultuously; and he
strictly epjoined them to confine themselves to
refusing payment of the eight greats until he
should call them to arms.
All the members now left the hall. and made
the best of their way homeward. Deconinck
proceeded alone and in deep thought along the
old Sack Street, intending to have a con ference
with his friend Breydel. He foresaw how great
would be the efforts of the mobiles to re-cstablisb
their power over the people, and he was medi.
tating on the means of preserving his brethren
from falling again under the yoke. The mo-
ment he was on the point of turning into the
Butcher Street, he found himself surrounded
by some ten armed soldiers, while the hiph
constable of the town coming up to him, re-
CURED him, in the name of the magstracy, to
surrender without resistance. His hands were
bound behind his back. as if be had been u
common criminal; to which, however, he sub
mitted without complaint, well owing that
resistance was in vain. In this w ay hs walked
quietly on through four or five streets between
the halberds of the sergean's, without seeming
W pay any dbtenIlOn TO the EXPLANATIONS of
wonder which everywhere greeted the process
sion; and was at last conducted into an upper
chamber of the Princes Court in which the
city magistrates were already assembled. and
along with them the other chiefs of the Lily
ards,-John Van Gistel, chief receiver of the
taxes, and the warmest friend of France in all
at their head. The latter no
sooner saw Deconinck before him, than with
an angry voice he exclaimed
=" So, insolent citizen, you defy the authority
of the maeistrates We have heard of your
rebellious doings, and it shall not be long be-
fore you pay for your disobedience on the gal
lows" !
To this insulting speech Deconinck calmly
answered:
The liberty of my peopleis dearer to me
than my life. In such death there is no
shame, and for me there is no fear, for the peo-
pie die not. There will still be men euoup oh