The New Orleans Democrat., 1876-06-25
soUER sArlA INTO CRAIG.


i
Craig's Experience with stts F0fsHeF As
sOciates. ana Hts present 0pihtW8
Concerning Them.
On Thursday afternoon whilst every
body who hns home was &c dinner,
and the otherwise thtonged Vicinity ef
Hawkins Saloon was deserted by It's
frequenters, n little episode occurred
there, in which our old acquaintance.
Joseph A. Craig, was so roughly
handled, that to this day under each
of his eyes q purple circle is still appa-
rent. Craig denies that the eatise is
to be attributed to his running afoul
Of the corner OF the chimney piece
whilst cropping IN the dark. or to n cold
caught whilst sleeping out IN the yard
with the gate open, but frankly nc
cussion caused by Louis Sousr's
fists. Craig's short, yet explicit
statement made our reporter wish
unusually reticent. Unusually" is
well put In here, us all those who know
him will admit; for IL he possesses u
quality it Is that OF never being reticent
in words. How far this quality goes
in other respects is personal matter
|
generally so unreticent that he has, es-
pecially since he went into politics,
come to imagine every individual he en-
counters is an audience, and then his
oratory and eloquence take flight and
soar-until his auditor. feels sore and
takes flight himself Armed with the
conviction of this quality in old Craig.
our reporters persistency soon reaped
Its just reward. . ;,
| only this way: that five men went for
me; yes, men have had the weakness
to associate with formerly. l thought
had q right to talk to them. There
were Chas. w. Lowell, that little fellow
Souer, John Fairfax and two others
whose names [ do not know. They
were drunk, I think. They were stand
ing in Hawkins door. / was right there
at that lamp-post, leaning against it.
Charley Lowell was disserting loudly
the impotency and imbecility OF Kel-
logg. Kellogg, he beloved out, was
responsible for the massacres OF the
negroes. Now" said Craig, II don't
like that word to be applied to my peo-
pie. 1t annoyed me. Lowell, howe yer,
was going at furious rate for Pitt and
that soothed my feelings. / felt enthused
and the old fire that burned in me when.
I was in politics were kindled anew. /
felt impelled by an irresistible force to
have my put In did have my put
in. 1 may have been rash, | admit, but
/ thought OF the past and the woes that
Kellogg had heaped upon us. Yes, /
ventured, in harmony with Charley
Lowell--it is true had not been invited
to speak-yes, and such is the result OF
having Governor who has not the con-
fideDce OF his constituency. Said 1,
further, had we u Governor possessing
such confidence, there would be no such
violence as We have seen, such this and
such that; no need in being backed up
by the military. Cd d-n you, said
military p No, / answered, for was q
soldier myself In the Mexican war;"
II, re- Craig became not SO very clear,
but he gave our reporter to understand
that Souer struck him with his stick,
and while he was struggling to obtain
possession OF the stick, that little man
Souer punched him in the eyes. What
seemed to annoy Craig most was, that
the party OF progress and moral ideas
rance-shoulo be 30 intoleraht towards
those who do not agree with them.
what he struck me for? Well" re-
sumed Craig, "Souer never liked me since
[ made that speech in the Legislature
against the seven million dollar bond
steal; when broke up the ring"
mo, sir, there were no respectable
gentlemen about to take up my defense.
Had such thing taken place in former
years, when used to shave the Hon.
John Slidell and other shining lights of
the Democratic party, would have
found hundred defenders. In those
times, although !. could not vote, I was
a Democrat and Mr.. Slidell himself in
dulged me, when / discussed political
questions, and permitted me to differ
from him."
Craig was not in an eloquent mood,
however, else he might have given much
more color to his thoughts and express
sions. He was Enthusiastically in sober
earnest when he said; Yes, sir; Souer
offered to apologize to me, but told
him wanted no apology. Twas willing
that the public should sit in judgment
in this little affair until my sons, who
are absent, shall return"
The affair, in short, seemed to have
originated in q determination on the |
part of Lowell to heap abuse on Kel-
logg because he had failed to carry out
effectively the bayonet policy and hav-
ing couple Of hundred Of our citizens |
hanged; all this in the presence OF the
the abuse of his people, inferred that it |
was tho result, not only Of Kellogg's |
weakness, but OF his persistency in per-
petuating thievery and calling upon the
Federal army to back him. While he |
coincided with Lowell on one point, |
they did not agree so we'll on the other, |
and hence the purple lines spoken Of
above established another point OF CO.
incidence which was not foreseen in the |
debate. And this is the history of the !
tragedy Of Theatre alley.
THE COURTs.
U1ao nf al m