The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1876-10-18
'RAPIDES IN LINE!

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SATURDAY 4 GALA DAY !!
THE GRAND RECEPTION
OUR GALLANT STANDARD BEARERS!
Saturday, October 18th, 1876, will
be long remembered and pointed
back to as one of the notable days in
the history Of this Parish. As the
sun arose above the tree tops it shone
upon such scene of animation and
enthusiasm as it has but seldom seen
in poor tax ridden and plundered
Louisiana. All the roads and ave-
nues leading to Alexandria were
teeming with an enthusiastic throng
of people all hurrying to testify to
their interest in our great and glori-
Gus cause and determined to do hon
or to the gallant and true men who
are so nobly battling for our redemp-
ton as people and the regeneration
of our beloved State.
THE PROCESSION.
At 10 o'clock A. M. the two Fire
Companies, the Mayor and Town
Councilman, the Nichols Guards, the
Lamourie Club and the Alexandria
Clubs, headed by carriages and Yae-
GERS Brass Band started from the
Town Hall and marched to the resi-
dence of Judge Manning where were
General Nichols and Judge Spot
ford. The Nichols Guards were
formed in line and their President,
DR.. R. L. Luckett, rendered their sa-
lutte to the noble gentleman for whom
they are named. The procession
then marched down to the grounds,
taking up the Hon. L. A. Wilt, Hon.
H. N. Ogden, Gov. McEnery and
Judge Elan on the way. There were
fully five hundred voters in the pro-
cession, and their tramp! tramp! as
they kept time to the martial music
betokened our coming victory in
November.
ON THE GROUNDS.
The grounds selected by the Com
mittee of Arrangements were tn e
beautiful grove Of live oaks in the
lower suburbs of Town, and no more
appropriate place could have been
chosen. Seats had been provided for
the ladies and they were out en- n'asse
to lend their presence to do honor to
the occasion. Their bright smiles
and the futtering of their gay rib.
bons in the morning breeze made an
animated scene. 1t was to their fair
hands that the credit is due for the
tasteful ornamentation of the speak,
ers' stand, which was garlanded with
flowers and gracefully flowing with
flags and decorated with festoons
of hanging moss and blended airy
fabrics.
THE CROWD.
i What shall we say Of the immense
crowd? 1t has been so customary
lately to exaggerate the crowds al
the public meetings that we prefer tc
be on the safe side, and put down the
numbers at the lowest estimate We
have heard made. We are within
limits which calr not be questioned
or denied when we say that there
were fully fifteen hundred people
Ipresent.
There was beyond a question the
largest crowd present that has assem-
bled for any purpose in Rapides since
the war, and many ofour old citizens
say, that it was larger than eve1
came together before or since thu
war. There were fully five hundred
: colored people present, the large ma
jority of whom were voters. Their
were many more colored voters pre-
sent than were at either of the Re
publican meetings. We desire her
: to testify to the perfect good order o
this immense crowd. There was nj
loud word spoken, no interruption o
= any kind, and the most complet
, peace and quiet was maintaine'
E throughout. They listened witt
: wrapped attention and seemed t.
r drink in every word that was spokel
: with ayidity.
THE SPEAKING.
= At eleven o'clock the Pacific Fir
t Company and the Stonewall Hoo
and Ladder Company were formed i
front of the stand and their orator
: Mr. Roht p Hunter in their nam