The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-09-09
THE OKOLONA ASS.

Iilton family, Bessie Turner became SO noto-
rious and an object Of such public curiosity
that she took to the lecture field, or wrote q
book, or something of that sort, and prob
ably made good thing Of 1T. The age Is
sensational, Its vicious appetite must be graft
iiled, and numberless people, males and fe-
males, OF the Bessie Turner stripe, with no
| other claim to popular notice than their con-
nection with q murder, or a social scandal,
or political idiocy, have drawn vast
crowds wherever they went to hear them
gabble and see them exhibit themselves.
The 0kOlona statesman, fraud or ass, Is
the latest recruit of this type to the army Of
lecturers, and will probably create quite a
sensation, unless Gov. Sprague or Prof
Link should accept an invitation from some
| Snowman, and through their relation to q
sensation more indicate, and hence more
captivating to the Northern intellectual taste.
bear away from him the audience and the
applause .s-=
| In normal condition Of public sentiment
| this Okolona fraud would excite no attention
abroad, or only contempt and derision. Even
| II his utterances were sincere, no intelligent
portion Of any community would attach i'm
portance to, or pause nom ut to consider
| such vaporing. But we live In extraordinary
times. The Issue OF parties Is not on great
! principles OF State which underlie our gov
eminent as it exists, nor upon questions OF
policy affecting the commercial, Industrial
and moral interests OF the people. The first
object or the Republican party Is to retain
control Of the government, and its second
~ {rnY ~ t,,N&
centralized oligarchy.
It is plainly q revolutionary party, and Its
arguments are appeals to the sentiments,
passions and prejudices OF that portion OF the
Union to which 1t looks for Its chief sup
port; arms, intimidation, political dsfran-
chisement. for those States which represent.
solidly, the conservative sentiment Of the
country, and which constitute the chief OBJ
stacle to the overthrow Of the constitution
Hence the war cry of the Republican chiefs and
press -"Secessionw "Bulldozlngw "Yazoo"
Confederate Brigadiersv
Convince the ignorant masses of the North,
land all that is necessary to convince the ig-
norant masses are constant charges and as
sertions by hundreds Of speakers and thou
sands OF presses) that these fierce war cries
really interpret the political views, methods
and object Of the Southern Democrats and
they rally from the hills and valleys, from
city and plain, to vote for the Republican
party and the Union and against secession
and the Confederate brigadiers.
10 the Republican managers, therefore, a
paper like the Okolona States Ia treasure,
and an ass or knave like Its editor Is more
potent ally than the ablest statesman or de-
batter they could possibly enlist In their
cause. The Republican managers were not
slow to perceive the value Of this biather-
skite, and II he was not their emtssary at the
start, no sensible man can doubt that he is
now In their interest and In their pay. In
Congress and on the hustings the Republi-
cans have used the apparently furious vapor-
ings Of the Okolona sheet, and with much
effect. It has been quoted by them as an in
fuential journal, correctly representing the
Southern Democracy. The speeches, with
editorials Of Republican papers containing
these quotations and this statement have
been distributed in every nook and
corner Of the Northern States, and
thousands Of uniformed men, who would
stand against the revolutionary purpose
Of the Republican party, are gathered
under its banner through fear and hate OF the
very people who constitute the strongest eIe-
ment Of the party which maintains the true
principles Of vast majority Of the American
people. Thus thousands and thousands Of
voters have been deceived into the Conviction
that the spirit OF secession inspires every
Southern State, and they hold that 1t Is bet
ter that the Republican party should central
lie the government than that the South
should overthrow 1t and plunge us into an
other civil war
We do not intend to say that the Okolona
States has furnished all or even great deal
Of the material on which this work mas been
done. But 1t has furnished the Republicans
with statements and utterances to sustain
their charges against the Southern Demo-
Gratis, and in that way, insignificant and con-
temptible as it is it has done and is still doing
a great deal Of injury.
1t is not surprising, therefore, that the Chi
cago papers devote columns to '.Col Harper's"
lecturing visit North; and weexpeot to see his
advent into that region written up In all sorts
OF sensational styles in the Western press:
his lectures in bad English reported every
where in full, and editorials written to show
and convince the loyal North that "Col. Har-
per" the editor Of the Oklahoma States, truly
and fearlessly represents the principles of the
Democratic party South. He has already
been nceintervieWed, and will no doubt be in
terviewed In every city he honors with his dis |
tinguished presence. The views expressed
oy the leading newspapers of the South and
oy our ablest and most distinguished men
both in and out Of Congress, will pass for
nothing. But when this Okolona ink-sl;nger
,roaks, listening thousands will hang
upon his words and exclaim: AT last we
have heard the truth from representative
Southern MANI When the Okolona bassoon |
.oots, the roar Of the thunder will pass I'M
leard or UNDECIDED
But the Republican managers have worked |