The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-10-27
AN ALLURING GALL,

The courtship in progress on the sole plr
of the Radicals to persuade those who fol
about thirty years were known as wings tt
form themselves again under their ancien
name, to resume their ancient opposition II
the Democratic party, to unfurl again the ban
ner which was sometimes victorious anc
never diegraced by the defeat which 1t SUI
fered, is something quite moving and pathetic.
The suffers do not ask the Wings to join
them in general opposition to Democracy
thew know that such wooing would be re.
ceiyed in silent contempt; all they want fol
the present is to break the union now
existing between Wing and Democrat
with, perhape, the Interior purpose to
form radical old-line-republican-whig joint
stock association, in which the Wings viii
furnish one.tenth of the votes and all the re-
speciality, while the Republicans furnish
nine-tenths of the votes and take all the OH
ces and spols, which is strictly in accordance
with Radical equity and generosity. But
thew do not ask this now. Their Ovldian
maxims forbid too great haste in their tactics.
They must meet the coy, demure and dls-
trustfuI objects Of their wooing without
alarming them with the fear OF falling into
the Black Republican dye-tub and losing
their identity. They ask Wings to 90 where
they will still be Wings. with any sort OF an
organization Of their own and with just such
tenets as they may see fit to adopt, the wooers
being utterly Indifferent as to creeds OF
all kinds. "Come out from the camps OF
Democracy" they cry, Sand bring with you all
your Jewels, the ashes Of your torefathers. the
mementoes of your champions Come forth,
good Wings, and be again political nation
by yourselves Come forth and dwell in the
flowing lands of political promise, where
Radicals will never more trouble
you Come ys patriarchs. come ye
gentle Wings, come ye honest men and
be party by yourselves We would not lay
hands upon you, dear countrymen. but We
have raised our Ebenezsr and We are abou! to
smite the old-line Democrats with the bosom
of our wrath and consume away their hopes,
even as the fery-tailed foxes consumed the
wheat fields of the Philistines Come forth,
good friends, that ye may escape our over
whelmins power"
The gentle persuasion is not limited to
mere dull prose, but accordingto ancient Gus
tom of suitors, songs of invitation are sung
and recorded in the chronicles of the party
press. The Republican, of Sunday Last, had
one of these, entitled: "The White Wing
Flag" beginning thus
Take down again the white Wing flag,
The glorious flag of Henry Gay; s..
Bear it TO eve y mountain crag,
And bear it foremost In the fray.
It is something new, perhaps. to our readers
that the Wing flag was white. Clean it GER
tainly WAS, but it was anything else than .
Gag of truce, especially when carried by that
defiant, belligerent, valiant, wise and spirit
moving leader and captain, Henry CLAY.
IA the next verse the poet goes little out
of the range of mundane politics:
The glorious Wings are back again,
Ihear them tramping round the skies;
They come to cleanse the battle plain,
And bring their sons the brilliant prize.
Since they come on so gracious an errand
as that of cleansing the battle plain" none
will object to their "trsmping round the
skies" until they shall be fully satiated with
that skylarking promenade. In some star
lighted night other poets may not only hear
but see Q procession of GLORIOUS Wings
tramping around the Zodiac. ..,.......s
The white Wing flag! unstained by blood! 90
Wave it once more upon the breeze; N
For Henry Clays vast multi ude
Have sunk. in sorrow, on their knees.
Their god has heard! woman eriesl f.s'
Up gallant Wings, and fight once more!
An angel hangs his splendid prize
Above Columbia's starry shore.
The white flag being "unstained by blood"
it is evident that the Wings. when invited to
fight once more" are expected to fight
only in metaphoricL sense on the newly
sleansed battlefield. So at least would it
seem but for the reference to purely martial
music in the next lines:
The gods have come, oh gallant boys!
Blow loud the fife, and best the drum.
The gods send you immortal joys,
For Henry Clay to earth has come.
There may be no precedent fox it, yet,
when the gods come to America to make ar
rangements for political campaign they
might as we'll be received amid the strains Of
"the ear-piercing fife" and the spirit
stirring drum" as in any other manner The
should be novel and peculiar, like
the visit .... ..........
The poetical call to the Wings proceeds:
That snow-white flag! twas sent by France,
When first she sent her ships afar!
1t is the snowy plume and lance
or glorious Henry Of Navarro.
Our Henry sends you back the sign,
Ye ladies seek your bridal robe,
And broit your husbands flags divine,
To circle round singing globe.
Why political flags made of bridal robes
should be sent circling round the globe, which
is set to "singing" for the occasion, is not
easy to understand. Without attempting an
explanation, We will give the remaining verses
OF this inspiriting poem: