The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-02-28
ADDRESS
ADDRESS
OF DIR. J. DICKSON BRUINS.
At the Grand Mass Meeting, on
Friday night last, in Opposi-
ton to the Proposed
Compromise.

:
At no desire or solicitation of mine, but il
obedience to the ca, Of my fellow citizens | ap
pear before you tonight. Recognizing civl
virtue as the corner stone of republican govern
meat, l believe that in grave conjunctures Q
public affairs, civic duties rise to the height 0
great moral laws, and no man, howeve
humble, or however mean his talent, has a Oh
to foreSo his part and participation in pubic
action when his Voice is demanded.
Twice within a fortnight the people of Thu
great city have met III convention Two week,
ago you assembled IN large numbers at the Cla1
statue, to protest in advance against this com
, promise, the nature Of which had then for the
first time reached your ears and standing there
Id that vast assembly, looking up at the statue Of
! the great orator OF kentucky Y, | thought that il
that iron form could have descended from it,
granite pedestal and once again those bronze
bps could have spoken III the trumpet
tones you anew ana loved so well. the
man who had spent his life in vain attempts
to compromise for the interests and safety of his
people, would have warned you not to
enter INTO any adjustment which sacrificed vital
principles Tor temporary policy He would
have warned YOU that it is true for nations as for
| individuals, that the people, or the man. who
commit 80 fatal mistake, will find the whole
current OF their lives thencetorWard bound III
| shadows and in miseres.
| YoH have heard read to night letter from one
OF the most distinguished urists in this, or IN
| any country. The question, in Its legal aspects
has been presented to you by eminent gentlemen
! OF your bar; i'll clear, direct. forcible, and un-
mistakabe terms the resolutions have set forth
| the ambuscade prepared for YOU | do not
propose to put on the mantle which, while it sets
| form and ad0rns the noble proportions of these
| distinguished pleaders, would only the more
| glaringy expose my own insignificant stature
but to speak to You a citizen his fellow cit
| zens. AS man addresses his fellow men in the
| stirring hour Of great excitement | propose to
speak III unvarnished language, and l desire 60
say, i'll advance, that while permit no man to
lmpugn my motives my sincerity, | do not
lmpuSn the motives or sincerity OF others
and II III the course ofmy impractical speech use
any language which, by extreme construction,
may seem to reflect upon those gentlemen who
differ from me. | at once disclaim any intention
OF aftfont and declare now that it is the meas
ures ADDRESS my voice against and not the men.
1t seems to me, IN the first place, that to arrive
at a just appreciation Of the grave responsible
ties we are about to assume, if we attach any
respect to that consistency which, individuals
can alone give moral weight to our utterances or
our actions, we should consider well the moral
HISTORY OF our past.
Some OF the members OF the Caucus were also
meAlels of the Committee Of One Hundred.
and all the members OF the Caucus approved the
action OF that committee, which, after the mid
night outrage OF December, 1872, was sent to
Washington to protest against the heiuous wrong
that had been done Us. Some OF the ucnab ~ |
were also III Washington daring the long debates |
and anxious Interviews winch followed.
Every member Of the Caucus approved OF the |
action OF that committee. ana every member Of |
the Caucus. without Il siagIe exception awarded |
4 be palm Of honor and gratitude to those noble |
mo- VIII" sacrificed every selfish consideration - |
< 2 Interests II the State and laid down ali that |
they We're and had at the feet d louisiana
long, dreary sumner Of inacti0n Il,"ryeuct' |
and again. the following winter. Your Governor /
elect presented himself at WASHINGTON. el!rour-
aged ana supported by the brave voice and wise
counsels Of thar dcvstet patriot Robert II VI lrl
and through that second winter | have vet 10
learn Of a single member of tie Caucus having
raised his voice III dlsapproyal Of the continued
effort on the part Of your representatives to
Sc cure the rights to which Won were entitled and
Of which you had been derauded
All OF you know what disappointment these
efforts ended III, and at last after every species of
outrage which might insult irec-born people. the
right to bear arms was denied lis thuuoh if il a |
light expressly and forever guaranteed bv the
Constitution. It was the obvious intent Of the
1surper to drive us into some act Of resistance
which would enable him to call down upon our
he ads the wrath of the Federal Government
In brief hour the people hurled him from
his place; statesmen stood trembling at the
ssue which was presented pollici ans saw no
means OF escape from the tolls which had been
slowly winding around us. Our wisest counsel :
)rs refused to say III advance what would follow s
litter this step was taken
Prom the midst Of your own ranks an unknown |
nero, who had walked your streets III the Sarb of
| private citizen, sprang forth and severed the +
Jordan knot, and IN moment made the Governor
IF Your choice q t0cto, as well as d jalf. !
Need tell You what Il wave of COZ graduation
pread TO the remotest ends Of this great state
10 It's farthest bounds every pulse thrubbed with
he same magnetic beat that ualsat,I in the
leart OF this proud metropolis. {
ana #hen the proud stone was rolled from the
ut IN winch TIL" body Of Louisiana Iy, with her
rave clothes still about her. she stood forth
2 the Light amid the oye1whe min: congratulate /
ions of all her sons. {
10y was II every heart: II every face v,a could }
cad the glad tdlnSs OF d"hycraHce froIa a | l
ing and mighty woe. Strangers met with en-
hl7lastlc greeting as they passed IN the streets Il