The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1876-11-04
The Democratic Campaign.

/ demonstrations OF approval.
The Democratic Campaign.
Tile attendance at the meeting of
the Fourth Ward Tildcn aud Nichols
club last Saturday night was small,
and no business was transacted.
Sunday afternoon a Democratic
mass meeting was held at d. S. c. B.
Hall, which was addressed by j. H.
Ackleu, Esq., candidate for Congress.
Mr.. Ackleu is a fowery orator, and
his rounded periods, eloquent flights
of fancy aud rhetorical denunciation
of the Republican party delighted the
| Democrats of the audience. He spoke
about two hours, holding the atten-
ton of his hearers throughout, and if
the only requisite for Congressman
was " the gift of gab," as vulgarly
expressed, we should be compelled to
acknowledge that Mr.. Acklen pos
sessed qualification of no inferior or
| der. In the midst of rhapsodical
outburst, the good looking young gen
tleman stepped upon treacht rous
trap door in the stage from which he
was delivering his address, and but
for the fact that table stood imme-
diatel beneath the trap, he would
have suddenly disappeared from sight
instead of merely going in :" up to
his knees. This little incident ex-
cited the risibilities Of the audience
considerably, and all admired the
agility with which the Congressional
candidate regained his footing on the
stage. People who stand upon Dem
ocratic platforms must expect TO slip
up or fall through occasionally. Mr.
Ackien came up the bayou from Thib-
odaux and remained until Monday.
when he took the cars for New Or
leans.
At night the Democrats had a
torchlight procession, and paraded all
the principal streets. There were 50
torches and Il number of brooms,
borne by hopeful Democrats who hug
the pleasing delusion that they are
about to sweep Republicans from
power and the offices. Half dozen
transparencies were also carried in
the procession, bearing notices and
pictures which were doubtless deemed |
appropriate by those who suggested |
them. Some of these were in the ma
ture of burlesques, the much abused |
carpet Dagger coming in for his usual
share of hits" When the seventy
FIVE white men aud boys and the eight |
or ten colored recruits had perambu-
lated to their satisfaction, the eBthu-
siastic but not imposing cayalcade re-
turned to the club hall, where brief
addresses from Messrs. Acklen, Sims
and Jones ended the proceedings.
The Independent Band led the pro-
cession, and their music was, as usual.
the redeeming feature of the affair,
Though the meeting and procession
were both much smaller than saDguine
Democrats anticipated, yet there was
no lack of enthusiasm, and not few
of the parties in attendance marched
SO earnestly and turned so many cor
ners that they became quite fatigued
and dizzy. These sensations, in con-
nection with excessive lurrahing, pro-
duced some headaches next morning,
perhaps. But our friends of the OPP
position had their fun and we are
glad they enjoyed themselves. We
are gratifed that every thing passed
off quietly, that no breaches of the
peace occurred, aud that DO complaint
has been heard of. boys or men along
the route of march addressing disres-
pectful language towards those in the
procession or towards the candidates
of the Democracy.