Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-11-17

years ago, republican. He started out with
tho bold assertion that the democrats here
were fighting for the same principles the re-
publcans couteuded for at the North viz,
honest administration, equal rights, free
schools and good government that "tltcse
South Carolina radicals were not republicans
like they have at the North but the demo-
Gratis here are like the republicans there"
He told the colored people-who composed
about half the audience--that he intended
to vote for Hayes aud Wheeler, and was will
ling they should, but they ought to support
champion and reform" lie was proceeding
TO pitch into Chamberin when an old darby
near me who had been making a good deal
Of noise suddenly darted up and began -
"Mstah Speakah, Ill interup 20 a minnt'
allow do you know you will 2" said the
speaker "you'd better ask my permission. p"
~ mean, sah," said the darky, an say
| this, sab, you must explain--you must ex-
cuse that mistake. Chamberliu did not say
dat, sah,-dat is, sab, If you'll excuse the
| ignorant, sab, -"
And here the darky "stuck," while the
audience laughed loud and long.
The orator then went on to tell about the
land commission and steal Of $4,000 when
light mulatLo interposed with a question -
"They say you can tell a snake by his tail.
| De head beahs witness to dc tail, don't it !
Now den, if dis be all true, how was it dat
you all was ahuggin' up Gov. Chamberlin
jest little while ago, and was wilin' to
have him in again 2"
because" was the prompt reply, "when
we sec two thieves a.6ghting we want to help
one kill the other" loud cheers and laugh
teri But in minute the mulatto came
back with a good hit "Now you say de
democrats and reform. Amt New York
democratic tell me dat2 And didn't dat
Tweed steal more than all South C'yerlina S
with He's a-comin' home now in ship
to 90 to Jail for steain' fifteen millions"
IL told you" replied the speaker, that
up there it's very different" and Immediately
changed the subject, but in minute the
mulatto was at him again.
"Answer him, general, answer him; he's
a doin good" said the whites, aud coloquy
continued Pretty soon the speaker was
stopped in the middle of sentence and said /:
"Now, please don't interrupt me-" at which
| u
get you back among de pubIicans," a sally
that was greeted with roars Of laughter by
both races Aud here | may remark that
have never visited another region where a
little hit would sell so high.
Meanwhile u little white man by the name
Of Rivers, one Of the two intoxicated men
above mentioned, had crowded in AMI spoke
angrily to the pure black who had made the
last retort. At this lady rose aud mo-
toned with her parasol for the white man to
60 back, but the disturbance was too great
for the speaker to proceed. There was II
brief wrangIe, after which Rivers and the
black man were led away. "Ncthin' the
matter 90 on" said the marshal of the day /;
"the white mans drunk and the nigger's Il
Il fool, go on aud the speaker proceeded
with only occasional Interruptions.
1t is agreed at all these meetings that
anybody is at liberty to ask questions gu any
point, and what appeared to me like rude
ness is really part Of the programme.
After him came mulattO, John Lee Of
Columbia, but the colored people received
him with contemptuous silence, and he had
no questions to answer.
Of five or six negroes, in argument with one
white man, whose twang is even more Afri-
can than their own. The cake aud coffee
stand, kept by halt dozen old wenches, is
literally patronizei by both races, and whis.
ky begins to be more plenty since a saloon,
chiefly patroniaed by blacks, has been re-.
opened.
Take a drink, Mistah Jeffsrs, take
drink, TO tie Lords sake, aud yo' stomGchs
sake" says a coa-black humorist, extending
extending an ugly black bottle towards "A
white man. Aud Mr. letters, without any
hesitation, takes the bottle, which has already
been kissed by half dozen black lips, and not
even wipjng the mouth thereof, imbiSes about
six swallows OF ms fiery corn whisky us ever
went down mortal throat Take a drink,
Josiah, take a drink, 70 dc Lords sake an
yo' stomachs sake" is the sautation to the
next darby, aud the whisky goes without re.
gard to color or previous condition.
The bontrcs threw strange light over
the scene; the band (which did not IeavetiIl
the | O'Clock train) alternate Dixie" with
"llail Columbia and "My Country, lis OF
Thee" and between the tunes the groves are
made vocal by the black women First it
| Isl
"My sistan's got religion,
Bah dc news all dc news.
My sisah's got religion,
Bah dc news.
OO-p.l, bah dc news to Chocy,