The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-11-25
Speeches of Hons. Il. John Ellis and
Randall i. Gibson at Monroe.
The National Outlook Wiltz and
the Colored People--The Death of
the Greenback Party.
"A Handsome Tribute to the Tenth Legion
of the Louisiana Democracy Ouachita
Tho Part that Congress Played in
the Recognition Of the Mich
oils Government.
SPEECH OF HON. T.. JOHN ELLIS.

SPEECH OF HON. T.. JOHN ELLIS.
| M. President. Lddies md Eeltp,r. citizens Of
the Parish Of O,tacllitd-I hardly need an intro
ductlnn To you, for 1t la OF memory. and n
pleasant one. one that will ever be fresh and
green la my Eeart that on two or three former
occasions / have met you face to face around
tho council fires Of the eountry's council. But
| must confess to you, although l have had
somo experience ~ q public speaker, that
speak with some embarrassment. | have to fol-
low your great Senator (Hon. b. = Jonas) one
/ whose elouuenes In the halls of Congress has
already revived those splendid memories of
Louisianas Rrandsst representatives. her Ben
jamln and her Soule: and am to be followed
by my colleague and friend, to whom
Louisiana owes much: / moan the great
soldier and accomplished gentleman and
statesman. the Hon Randall l.. Glib
son. to whose diplomacy aud wisdom.
counsel md foI Ibearanoe In tho dark days when
we were eontending for the recognition OF the
Nichols government. we owe tho fact that
/ President Grant did not crush 1t ont ruthlessly
| with bayonot and main strength thus preparing
the way for your redem pion. Yet. fellow. citl-
zsns. La vleW OF the issues upon US, will ven
ture. Notwithstanding those ctreums stances to
minge my counsel with theirs; for | am glad to
stand here to-day tnoe 70 face with the beautiful
women. the yeomanry and the hard handed
workingmen OF tho parish OF Ouaehita. And
when | stand hero and ref aet what are tho OBJ
jecta Of politics what arc tho objects of govern
mont anh how hll your interests be now con-
velting 10 the solution OF the iasUNs now upon
you, nm in doqb. whether to dsyote my brief
time 10 state politics or t. 20 into national poll
tics. The field on either baud Ia broad. but with
your rarn,isslon I will briefly devoto some at
teni ion to both
If YOU contrast the government you had be-
fore-the goyernments Of Warmoth and of Kel
logg With the government here Of tho last
three years, i thiuk 1t will bs the opinion OF
evory Intelligent being within the sound of my
voice that the pnbo condition has been bet
boon better conserved. and the State Is more
prosper9nss s and n peaceful ~ under tue admins-
pence abounds: rhere has been more prosporl.
ty: there has been more security to life and
property: there has been more happiness with
In the three years of the Nichols government
than In all the days Of Warmoh and Kellogg
together Your taxes have been reduced: tho
expendi'nrss 9f the hsys DE-
ing: peace and prosperity have ahounded.
There is no longer any stirring up OF asperi-
there Was confusion and too often viol ut col
li.ions, Gov Nichols has done all In
ns gs the to sssns reform tho He sSs
But under that cnmbrous instrument, lhe
constitution Of 1868; further reform was impos
sible. SO the good people OF Louisiana wisely
got together In council aud framed an instru-
ment 10 give you a cheaper and better govern.
ment and one thnt ts commended by white and
black. Your leaders turning to n large group
OF eolored men]. whom you used to follow
your Plnchbnek. your Aain. your Gla, and the
era have toll you that 1t is better constitution
for you than tho constitution OF 1863. To
the white people y commends Itself by reason
nt it, economy and cheapuess OF government
Now, who IL to admtntAter the government
me u emnoratio party mot In council and nom
rDinrpI naOnIa don't now Yer
hHps. some of the gentlemen upon that ticket
i know them all, And In speaking Of l.. A.
Wiltz, tell you frankly. / opposed hi nomina-
ton. iflvorel the nomination OF +. N Ogden;
and worked for II with all my enersy md
of Wilt. II }, Tint thought him dishonest. |
knew that in the case of duty he WAS always
ttue-there WIS no shadow on bis name. Not
that ha was not capnhle. because knew that In
the many positions where d. had bcen placei by
the people he had allied them with marked
ability, Not TINT he did not love the State. be,
cHl,a ! know hat every sympathy of his heart
wont out u his native State But doomed
he nomination of Con. Ogden more polite
The convention. however, In its wi DOM nomt
nateh Wilt Iknow him-hAve known him for
years. almost from tnftn y--ani u more p
right honest aud sincere Rsntl"m N don't
Breathe un er tho canopy at heaven. in our
LIT me tel you how he has aetoa In some Of
tho public positions In which no was pncbd,
especially Ia regard to you, my colored friends.
| remember iH 1866. before there was any
construction before. there was dream Of re-
construction. Just ntter You We're made free: /:
| remember hH WAS the very first man to adv0
cat the educati n of the colored people. He
was then In the Common Council OF ths city of
Now Utleana. and was one Of the originators Of
tho proposition for the governm ut to, Rtablish
schools for the eo'ored mon. they appointed
a great man a good man; one of the most ac
complfehed scholars In the United STATES. I
refer n, Prof. Alexander DImiry. They an,
those eolored schn ,ls long b fore you heard
any Radical speeches.: long before tho move
ment hat made you citizens long before those
l t,tp silf yIn n h}rh
platform OF American cit ms. Louis Alfred
Wilt was endeavoriug to eueate You and your
forIt. Again, lot me show you, litle act Of
sympa,hy % his part: III 1879 he was elected
May II Of the city of New Orleans. Kellogg was
tn,"n appo,n,ed @ yernor by Grants bavoneta.
When Witt took his chair MS Mayor of the city
Of NsW OfleAns. what WAS one of the hrst acts
Of bis ndministratI,n2 You had gre4t
a Wlse m m Lieut.. G ". Oscar J. Damn. name
thaE kn"w ,on apeak q BY J, .ur cabiu fires at
Il colorad woman. Mayor Wilt had two posi-
tions TO give away to ladies' the place OF ko per
o he city lib ary I'd T. Keeper t 15 the be city = sr
Confederate soldier, and the other he gave to
the widow o. oscar J. Dunn. She afterwards
married J. H nri Burch. who Is coming up
here With Taylor Bratiie 0 try to persuade you
!" vote the Ktitoal ticket. When he does come.
want one OF you colored Democrats to be
present, and when burch describes tho beau
tla9 Of kadcali. m interrupt him, and as k him
IN. Bnroh b1ievn :, you {, married Mr. Oscar
dar4s not dsny 1t. Then ask him: Did not
your wife, In the DAYS of her idowhood. receive
bread ard meat In the shape of au office pay
ing her 500 month from Mr.. Witt. the man
, whom you are trying to defeH2" HIS IL bound
tv acknowledge that she did. and that hat Office
, fed aud clothed her and the children OF Oscar j.
! Dunn. These little incidents will show that he
has the respect Of botn the coiored and white
his nd dninistra ion as Mayor of New Orleans.
the mad waves of the Mississippi burst the
: ilkes. and oyerfl ,wed your country. Hundreds
and hundreds Of mile OF your fields were laid
,, waste. and many weary days and nights you
were huddled together In your cabins listen, ne
to the angry waves OF the Mississippi, The
sleepless woe. You saw. and the plaAters saw