The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1878-10-02
THE RADICAL COMBINATION.

convention OF our GarlSQ assem- Uleu,
on last Saturday, in the Court House,
and being the first time on record
that this party met publicly, we
made it our special business to be
present in person and witness their
doings. First and foremost, the
Convention consisted of "a delegates,
all Of them colored, only three or
four of whom could read or write,
and as tout ensemble were far below
the Intelligence of the ordinary ne
gro. The intelligent spectators who
were present, in great numbers and
from curiosity alone, will bear us out
in this assertion, and one and all are
more than glad that they were pres
ent to witness such a sight, such a
mass of ignorance, blindly led by the
shrewdest Of task masters; and they
only wish that all the white popula-
lation of Rapides could have wit
messed their doings as they did.
The Convention was called to Or
der genteely and orderly at the start,
it being observed that the. grand
leader of the Republican party was
not present, in fact no outside wire
puller was on hand except one,
leading candidate for the Legislature,
a colored one and true, consistent
Republican. Things went on smooth
ly under this dispensation, and we
acknowledge our surprise thus far.
Bill Kelso, the old Swamp Fox of The
party, was made President; he as
cended the stand slowly, with a wet
rag on the top of his bald head, and
sighed and heaved like if he had lost
something or was very unwell, but
impressed this writer at once that
he had been again showed one side
and made to walk the plank, and
that this Craftsmanship was his pay,
or, perhaps, the promise of a situa
ton in the Custom House was bland
ly made him by the Surveyor of the
Port of New Orleans. Vic. Porter,
the genial Recorder, was honored
with the Secretaryship, and from
first to last managed to run his por-
ton of the Combination excellently
we'll. The Convention, with here
and there little ignorance Of any
kind of rules, moved along very we'll,
till the nominations were announced
as in order, when the veil of surprise
thus far was removed, and we at
once saw through the whole trick
and bill of fare of the coming Com
bination. It was short, we'll done,
quickly palmed of ON the Conven-
ton, and the Combination was per-
feet from the hands and prolific
brains of the Custom House.
After the nominations were an
nounced as in order, Vic. Porter rose
and was fumbling for the roll, when
John Mayo, colored attache Of the
New Orleans Custom House, ap-
preached Grinstead, the colored De-
Lacy fugleman, with a small strip Of
paper, which he handed him, and be
in turn handed to the President. It
was read with trembling solemnity
by Vic, and read to the effect that
this Convention take q recess of ten
minutes" the writing was that of
the head Of the Custom House, and,
as a matter of obedience, the recess
was taken.
During this time, and perhaps for
more than an hour, the Convention
of the Workingmen so called, con-
sisting of about a bakers dozen of
white men, all Of them good citizens
and always we'll thought Of, were in
secret conclave, locked up in the
Sheriff's Office, and John DeLacy,
Post Master and head old Radical of
Rapides, and we strongly believe, but
are not positively sure of it, "Gov.
Wells" the Surveyor of Port of New
Orleans, were in the room with our
working friends. Certain it is, these
Workingmen so-called, were enclosed
there in secret and seemed ashamed
to let the outside world know what
were their intentions, and up to this
moment the whole thing:looked to us
like masked side-show to aid the
enemy and assist the Combination.
in their performance.
Well, the recess having expired,
the delegates resumed their seats,
and commenced business in earnest.
Right here we must state that "Gov.
Wells'' made his appearance and
walked within the sanctum of the
Convention, and took position to
the right Of the President stand.
DeLacy, Amos and Smith, all col
tored men, were placed respectively in
nomination for the Legislature, and
nominations were announced as
closed. After a slight pause, Gus
tom House No. l, the Surveyor Of
the Port, was seen to hand Custom
House No. 2, John Mayo, another
slip of paper, which was precisely like
the first one, in the same handwri.
ting, was turned over to Vic, the
Secretary, who glared at it for 8
moment, but finally read it out ner.
vously, thus: "Be it Resolved, That
this Convention endorse the nomina
ton of j. A. Calhoun for the Legis
lature." The old Swamp Fox wiltee
at this, Custom House No. 2, sneak
ingly moved its adoption, which wa:
at once opposed. Fred. Smith jump