The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-10-04
THE GREENBACK OVATION AT
EDWARDS LAST SATURDAY

Mr. J. II. Odeneal gives lively descrip-
ton of the grand turnout of Greenbackers
last Saturday. Ample preparations had
been made for a whale of time. The
meeting had been thoroughly and industri-
ously advertised among the colored breth~
ren, and on the day appointed for the grand
rally, about one thousand of the man and
brother assembled in Edwards. What
brought him there in such numbers does
not clearly appear from the statement of the
affair which has reached us. However, it
is habi. of the darkies of that region to
assemble in Edwards on Saturday.
At all events, Oh the day of the "rally' he
was there as usual ON Saturdays to the
amount of one thousand. A Speakers
stand was erected in a grove short dis
tance from town. About eleven o'clock
the performance opened with procession
and drum. The Greenback candidates
headed the procession, and they also fur>
nished a tail to it. They marched up and
down the streets enthusiastically urging the
brethren to ''fall into line' for the speak
ing They obliqued to the right and left
through the crowd of brothers, drum beat
ing vigorously, and candidates shouting
vociferously, "fall in fall in, men for
the great speaking.' But tie brethren
made way for the line-of candidates. to
file through, and then closed up, and re-
engaged in the discussion of the question
of finance as embraced in the price of cot
ton and political pork.
The procession of Jealous reformers
however consisting of the entire county
ticket of Greenbackers-m to the
stand prepared for the speakers. At this
point of the proceedings the drum suffered.
1t was beaten until it was blue. 1t is said
that "the Chevalier Bayard of Kinds
county" exhausted his strength, and tested
to the utmost verge of his patience tho po~
teney of the drum to draw crowd of
negroes. He beat the poor suffering drum
until his wind gave out. But it was all to
no purpose The colored fraternity didn't
take the hint. They didn't disturb the
beating of the drum bit, and moved not
a step, not single son of gun moved
single step in the direction of the charmed
circle. Oh, where was the magic drawing
power of our little "yaller hammer y His
magnetism had all apparently deserted him
1t was patent that if the Greenback candl-
dates went into the business of pulverizing
the bondholders and destroying both the Old
corrupt parties, and ventilating the false
financial theories of the age, they would
have to operate on each other. Their audi
ence consisted entirely of themselves, and
promised to be very harmonious but
Greenback candidates can see point some
times. They saw plainly that nothing could
be gained by harranguing each other And
Greepback candidate has feelings as well
as other mortals-he can suher-and nc
knew that regular round OF Greennack
clatter from his colleagues would be an IN
fiction that no reformatory patriot could
endure and live. Consequently they ad~
iourned back to the street. They remem-
bered the strategic movement of Moham-
met when he went over to the mountain
and profted by the recollection II they
couldn't bring the rally to them they could
60 to the rally-and let any man try to pre>
vent them from rallying if he dared
Upon the streets they rolled out an empty
goods box, and one of the statesmen mount
ed it and opened fire;
"FeIlow-citizens Fellow-citizens And
ladies and gentlemen We are upon the
verge of a most momentous conflict IN
which the rights and liberties of American
citizens are imperilled. The eyes OF the
world are upon us to-day! We must break
the bonds which have been forged for our
slavery, or 90 down in the night of an
eternal Rlooml If you will listen to me