New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-04-23

i Ass04 ssAo4 49, every t000O0 20 I0e1 com
pdmented BY II, although the hail was moi
nlled. Tho number Of ladies present waa
larger than usually appear to hear leo
turer here, and though the back rows were
| empty, the applause received was more
than-an equivalent Tho platform Wa en-
tarely empty; no ceremony or proceedings
OF formal announcement, with long array
OF wise pFesidents and secretaries, were
designed. Hon. T. J. Semmes and Mr.
Sheridan quietly walked ON the platform
together. The audience spplauded BY
courtesy.
In few words, inaudible to half Of the
audience, Nr. Semmes introduced the leo
turer, and then eat down to hear what was
to be said. Tho audience applauded again
and then snbsided, with desire to follow
the example of Mr.. Semmes.
General Sheridan's delivery il more rapid
than almost any speaker, always excepting
Wendell Phillips and JEFF Thompson. His
uttersnce Is clear and distinct; every word
IL - perfectly cut - any elocutionist would
desire in . lecture. He doesn't intend to
be reported; he wishes to interest his
audience. But his sentences fall from his
lips - perfect - those Boswell reported of
johnson, when he had for years written
little and talked much. There IL masou-
line idea in each, but they como very close
together, and the rapid tongue seems Trying
to keep up with the brain.
In the beginning Of the lecture Sam
Houston's character was presented ~ the
general reader of history would merely
take nots Of it. It required but few words.
The demand was made on the audience to
consider him - not of ordinary mould. Be-
fore this was half considered by his hearers
the lecturer described tho birth Of Houston
in Virginia, his triumph in gaining the
greatest gift of Tennessee against distin-
guished competitors; his sudden leaving,
and turned to another part of the subject.
With an electric sympathy with his hearers,
he reused them to applause by . compsri.
son of Houston with Achilles, and pictured
the crumbling walls of Troy and the moon
light that disclosed the strat1 kem of the
Greek. But it was not merely - such
leader that Houston shone. He had lion
heart. His ancestry made him what he
was. He was truth, courage and honor.
He turned from Tennessee, and dared to 60
with the reason concealed in his heart. He
carried the secret to his grave.
From this the feature was directed to tho
condition of Mexico; the weakness of
Texas, but the courage Of the people; tho
merciless vlndiciveness of Santa Anna and
his ieutenants; tho massacre of the Alamo;
the effect it had on Houston, and the result
and 700 Texans, who had. besides their per
sonal arms, only two small cannon, the
gift of Cincinnati.
from this point, for nearly ten minutes
General Sheridan's utterance was only
broken in its extreme rapidity by the sp-
plsuse that came in ct the end of each SEN
tence. When he said it was the cry of ire
member the Alamo" that made the Texans
win in this conflict that was NO child's play,
and added that they were men of Saxon
blood that believed in God, freedom and
honor, the walls echoed approval.
Race makes its mark on the civilization
of the world. When those men charged
with fiery hearts and white lips, they were
following out the traditions of their Amer
lean ancestry; they were ornaments on the
fair young forehead of brave young peo-
pie. The Puritans of New England are not
Q century removed from those who defied
oppression in the days of the two Stuarts.
The Virginian is the loyal descendant of
his sire, who governed his conduct by honor
and courtesy. The Huguenots love God
and liberty as they remember St. Bar
tholomew. The lecturer then proceeded on
this theme for some time. He spoke after
ward of an exploit in the war Of Texan
independence, which the audience applaud
ed, but ceased on General Sheridan raising
his hand. Here it is proper to say that he
had perfect control of every auditor be had.
Then General Sheridan referred to what
he considered the grandest event in the life
of Sam Houston. When the time came he
showed that he remembered that he was Q
contemporary of Webster, Clay and Ben
ton. Houston was elected to the United
States Senate, and fought the Missouri COM
promise, believing it injurious and uncalled
for. Then came the civil war and the tur-
moil and strife. He believed in the Union
and he fought against secession. The State
that had honored him, crowned his brow
with laurels, through its people turned its
back on him.
Then the lecturer detailed the revulsion.
Now hands were stretched out in honor
of Sam Houston. Now there were voices that
praised the tongue that captured all hear
ers. Now the people propose to raise .
monument over. him. All evils that occurred
to injure him had their occurrence, their life
and their death. They are gsne-gone and
forgotten. Let q monument be raised to
Houston. Washington was the grandest
representative of the American race yet
presented, leader born with the wonder
of command that makes the brain follow
the will, but in Texas Sam Hous.
ton equsled him. Whence was Lis
SUGGEST From whence came his
power. What made him in the shape and
made the lightning flash from his eye as he
appeared before men9 1t can not be de-
ternined. He was of the lion heart, the
iron will, and the frame of the fbres of
steel. From the old Scotch Covenanters he
came-the men who defied England. Race
told here. His ancestors loved and hal
lowed their religion. Their resistance is
part of the story of races. Climatic infiu-
ence only affects race. Materialists may