New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-08-23
A Model Democratic Meeting.

A Model Democratic Meeting.
HAHNv1LLE, Ls., August p, 1876.
EDITOR REPUBLICAN,:
The New Orleans Democrat of to-day
just received, has this paragraph:
The Hon. Louis A. Wilt addressed q
Saturday lasr, the attendance of large
numbers of colored people being noticeable
there, ss at the meetings held some days
since at Thibodaux, Napoleonville and
D0naldsonville.
As 1t may prove of interest to some OF
your city readers to know something about
this 'large mass meeting" We drop you a
few lines giving you brief account of the
affair.
The Democrats of this parish dld have
their ''grand rally" on last Saturday. 1t
was held under shady pecan tree, adjoin-
ing q grog-shop, near tho Luling planta-
ton. The weather was splendid, and as
the meeting had been well advertised and
postponed from one date to another, and as
such shining lights as "Wiltz, Ogden.
Michel and other distinguished speakers, -
were announced as forthcoming, there was
a large turnout of the "honest men" and
"reformers" of St. Charles, as they style
themselves. The number of Democrats
present was sixteen, and the number of
Republicans, white and colored, was TWEEN
tv-nine; and, Us far as we could learn, none
of the latter we're sufficiently overcome by
the speeches to assume the character Of
converts. There was Republican band of
music in attendanoe-paid for, We sup
pose-made up of three cOlored men and
their instruments.
Colonel S. N. Burbank, formerly q men,
Der of the Metropolitan Police Board of
New Orleans under Governor Warmoth,
and now of the Dick Taylor plantation,
presided over the "vast assemblage." and
made an earnest but unsuccessful Effort 20
explain matters. Young Ransom then read
some resolutions about Tilden, ETC., which
were unanimously adopted, the Repub
icsns, Of course, not voting.
Wiltz, the wouldbe Lieutenant Governor.
then made a speech. He occupied twenty
minutes in its delivery. Probably the vast
ness and enthusiasm of the audience dis
gusted him, and made it difficult for him to
say more than he did about ''honest gov
ernment," negroes" my native Ssate,'
etc. But what Wilt lacked in spirit, wind
and endurance was made up bOthe next
speaker.
Julien Michel, who occasionally practices
at our bar, and who, in the Baton Rouge
convention, was q defeated candidate for
the successorship to Mr.. Deslondes Office
then amused the crowd by a random talk
of about an hour. He spoke of wind, the
next centennial year, infamous military
order, the brave Witt, done brown Brown,
pension agents, Jackson's statue. papa and
mamma, the lamentable Dunn, the St.
Charles Herald, and q number of other in
teresting subjects ''too numerous to men
tion," and wound Up by declaring That no
person present would dare to vote the
Radical ticket.
An effort was then made to get up some
cheers for some persons or thing, we could
not exactly understand which, but the re-
suit was feeble indeed. ogden and other
distinguished speakers" not being present,
the meeting dispersed, the band playing
John Browns Body" etc.
Among the prominent Republicans pres
ent We noticed Governor Hahn, District
Attorney Marks, Judge Earhsrt and Justice
Thornton, who mingled in the most friendly
and social manner with the Democratic
leaders, but could not refrain from smiling
and being highly amused at the utter lack
of logic, common sense, enthusiasm or num-.
bers of persons at this tremendous effort
and stupendous failure of the Democratic
party in st. Charles parish. The whole
affair adjourned to the neighboring grog
shop, where some of Nasby's choicest
whisky was handed around.
When will we have some more Demo.
cratic fun! is the question now constantly
propounded by our people. When next
these shining lights go abroad to tell the
people how to vote, may we all be there to
see and hear, for it is seldom that Dan Rice
passes this way, and there is generally
great lack of amusements in this parish.
NJ V,