The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1878-08-08
Communicated.
Democratic Mass Meeting and
Barbecue at Leesviile. Ver-
NON Parish. La, 22nd of
July, 1878.

ed by both sexes; estimated at
about five hundred, from the coun-
try, IN attendance. We had plenty
to eat for the multitude.
Though the meeting was strictly
a democratic occasion, Mr.. Thos.
Richardson, the Greenback stamp
speaker, was granted the privilege
If talk for'one hour. He went
ahead as best he could for forty
one Minutes, using bat very little
argument in favor of his own cause,
but dealing mostly in denuncia
tons Of the democracy-State as
as well as United States. He tried
to hold forth to the view OF his at
tent;ye audience its shortcomings,
hurled forth bitter denunciatlons
and vile vituperatious, accusing 1t
of ever, thing bad that he could
think Of, in the limo allotted bin.
which he complained Of as too
short, though he did not fill his
fine by nineteen minutes.
Then the Hon. j. b. Elan took
The stand and, in an able aud elo-
queni address, entertained the au-
dience for over M hour. His
,peech was lihewi~e listened to
with attention. II seemed that
the people were more than ordiD-
arity Interested iD the discussion.
His style was well suited TO the
occasion; mid, ciear, argumen'a
tive, p4fsasaive; well calculated TO
remove tire log and ni@ts from the
eyes of those who, unfortunately,
have got bewildered in the silly
wiles of Greenbackism. He showed
them plainly, that democracy is,
and bias ever been, striving for the
measures demanded by them; thai
the shortcomings OF the demo-
ciacy are caused only by their not
yet having been in power; and
now, just as day is dawn,ng. just
as The democrats are about to get
the reins Of government, how yeas
un~ise, suicidal, almost criminal,
TO desert. or rather disorganiza,
the great. time-honored national
democratic patty, oor only hope To
inrn back the tide OF republican
usurpation, tyranny and oppres
sion. He coninred them 10 dvsisl
from so foolish course, gotten up
by Wendell Phillips. Beast Butler
aud Brick Pomeros, Tor the pur
pose Of disrupting the democratic
party. | think his speech mu-t
have the good Effect expected and
desired.
DR.. Il. Il. Smart. late represent
alive from this parish, did not in
iend 10 speak, bat being assaied
10y Mr. Richardson, concerning hl~
Legislative course, he arose and re-
iuted those eaiumnies.
The venerable, aged, time-hon-
ored patriot and statesman, JohD
Il. Smart, who has served almost
IA lifetime ia State affairs, and
grown gray ID the support IT de-
ulocfatic principles, who had no
thought Of taking any part 10 the
public discussion, became anima-
ted, (ralher incensed, | think,l
came to the front, with energy and
patriotism beaming on his face,
and told the Greenbackers that,
though he was seyenty-one years
Of age, with bat few more years,
At best, 10 stay here, democracy
WAS sufficiently dear to him, that
when he found il assailed. espe-
cially those whom be had ever held
as its true friends, and that too by
such a faction as Greenbackism,
he would raise his voice against
its assailants, never more to be
until hnshed in death.
Hurrah! three rousing cheers for
the old gentleman.
The amiable ladies and gentle
men of the town and country, who
had organized for the occasion,
sung and played delightful, from
the extensive platform. They
with the democratic
Wagon" aGd between each speech
would give something CIV, equally
as Interesting. Both their vocal
aud IL strumental mnsic was well
tuned and delightful, aud brought
forth immense applause from the