The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1876-09-16
THE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN.
Reception of Hon. s. B. Packard and
Party at DonaldsonYille.

ming by some three or four hundred
citizens, assembled to listen to ad
dresses from the Republican candi
date for Governor and the eminen
speakers who are accompanying hin
on his canvassing tour. The party
consisting of Mr.. Packard, Hons
James Lewis, Hugh J. Cambell, j
Henri Burch, Gen. Jack Wharton
Col. VIM. Wright, Mr.. Chas. Hill and
two others, arrived from Assumption
early in the day, and were entertained
until evening by Judge Marks, Senator
Landry and other resident Republic
ans.
A heavy rain during the afternoon
prevented the holding of the meeting
out doors, as was first intended, but
Notwithstanding the inclement wealth
er, large crowd gathered, as above
stated, including many Democrats.
The meeting was called to order
by Hon. Morris Marks, who proposed
Senator P. Landry for chairman. The
selection was approved and Mr.. l.. f..
Bentley elected secretary.
Gen. Jack Wharton WIS the first
speaker and his happy address of
twenty minutes duration put the au-
| dience in the best of humor. Gen.
! Wharton is IL. most effective orator
His transitions from sober argument
To humorous sally and ludicrous anec-
dote are frequent aud inilnitable. He
eulogized the Republican party for its
great deeds aud just principles, and
depicted the high character of its ma.
tionai and State nominees. He hu-
morously described the chameleon
like changes of the Democratic plat
form in Louisiana, contrasting them
with the consistency and steadfaSt-
ness of Republican principles.
Hon. S. B. Packard being intro
duced, was received with enthusiastic
applause. In his terse, arguments
tive style, he referred briefly to the
issues of the canvass, demonstrating
why Republicans could not he ex-
pected to support Tilden and Hen
bricks and v ny the material interests
of Louisiana would he best suhserved
by the triumph of the Republican
party. Like his opponent for guber-
material llenors, Mr.. Packard makes
no pretension of oratorial display; his
manner of speech is calm but convinc-
ing and always produces Il profound
impression.
Cox james Lewis followed Mr..
Packard IN what might. be justly
termed the hest speech of the evening.
After briefly reviewing the candidates,
records aud attitudes of the opposing
parties, he proceeded to illustrate the
injustice of the charge of ingratitude
which is made by the white people of
the South against the blacks because
the latter refuse political utilization
with them. Addressing himself more
particularly to the white people, the
speaker said, in effect:
No people have ever displayed the fealty
and devotion, the Kindness and truthfuiness
which the black men of America have done
towards their former masters. When Won
went away TO fight the battles of the Com
fetleracy did you not leave your homes and
plantations in their charged And when You |
returned was it not tu find every thing as YOU
left it2 And what did you do? You refused |
TO cultivate your plantations for two years, |
and turned your faithful servants adrift. in |
poverty and rags, to obtain a livelihood as |
best they might. They Tucked to the cities, |
there to suffer in restitution and distress, |
with only such meagre assistance as was I
given them by the government from time |
to time. saw with my own eyes over 1000 |
of them huddled together in the Bellevue
iron works at Algiers, dying like sheep from
smallpox and other loathsome dis
eases, superinduced by squalor and starva-
ton. And vet you talk to these people of
ngratituie! Contrast their course with
your own, and it will be seen that yours was
the base, black ingratitude. But the e0lored
people harbpr no animosity. They still love
md esteem their former owners, and desire
70 live with them in peace and good fellow
'hip. asking only 10 be allowed to exercise
The privileges of their manhood with the
lalne freedom which the white man demands
or himself.
The speaker then referred to the
BID bngbear of g social equality"
saying:
Eight years of the political experiment of
'aisiug the black man to the position of a
'1tlzen. possessing equal rights befpYe the
aw with his white Heighbor, have brought
Is no nearer 6 social equality" than we
tarted out. There il $40 such thing as sociaI
quaIity-it does not exist among the white
PEOPLE themselves. We have had something
ike it III this country. but even that is d wing
nut. Look ut me why is it that my skin is
lighter than that of most of the men of NY
ace Social equality, or the nearest ap
'roaclf to it we have experieaeed-aud We
want no more of it, Do any of you colored
people want to go into the white mans house
md sit down ut his table or beside his wife
+ daughter teres of :. No, Not OF course
'6n d0u't. Now let the white man keep ont
# our cabins at night and there need he no
ear of ;. social equality" fGreat laughter \
md applausn]. - sss+E-1 E'sS
Col. Lewis continued his address to
how Why his people belonged to the
party, aud swhy they
would continue to do so. Me said the
White people should join them, in
tead of persisting in the vain effort
o win them oyer To their natural en-
my, the Democratic party. His