The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-02-23
PoRT HUDSON, La, February 20, 1876


On a cold, drizzling day, a short time since.
your correspondent embarked on the train
from Clinton to Port Hudson. few miles
west OF Clinton, at point called Browns
station, the train stopped. Near the road
stands small country store into which T
penetrated without any special invitation,
with the less hesitation because Of the sound
of cracking fire and animated CONVERSE
ton within. The scene, on entering, present.
ed o number Of farmer-loOking men in rough
| attire, each with his newspaper, earnestly
and animatedly discussing Kellogg and tax
| alton, Sheridan and soldiers, the staples Just
now OF every assemblage of the unhappy peo-
pie Of this wretchedy governed State.
In the circle around the fire sat an aged
gentleman listening attentively to the fiery
comments of his neighbors upon the cheer
| less political situation, each OF whom. In
closing his remarks, appealed to the old gen.
tlemen with "What do you think Uncle
Benz Thus repeatedly called on, Uncle Ben
cleared his throat and commenced Ia a mild
and rather expostulatory tone to give his ex-
perience.
Now, perhaps, you would like to learn
something more about Uncle Ben. He is an
with a heart full Of love for his God, his
country, his family and his friends.
Uncle Ben cleared his throat and common
ced; Boys" said he, your experience Of
governments Is nothing by the side of mine
Ii you had my experience you might see
things In clearer light. | have" said he
diving deep down into the wallet of his
memory, lived under the Spanish govern
ment, under the Federal government under
the Confederate government, under a military
government, under civil government. and
under no government, and now" he CON
tinued with startling emphasis, Il am trying
to live under id usurping carpet bag
gers government"
Here Uncle Ben paused for want of breath
and for want OF words to do the subject
justice; the boys exchanged sly winks and
smiles at the ludiCrouS discOrdance between
the mild philosophy of the exordum and the
stormy emphasis OF the peroration, and
suspicion Of the same sort dawned upon
Uncle Ben. mad as he was.
Boys, said ne, resuming, II have lived
under all these governments, and | have seen
the rough places on all Of them Clipped off
ny the unerring blows OF the chisel of free
dom, and never lost hope and faith either In
the providence OF God, or in the intelligence
and patriotism OF the American people: but
somehow when ! approach this Kellogg bust
ness, weaken on both; 1t Is such an impu-
dent swindle, such shameless fraud and Inn
posture, that 1t should have been swept
away as easy as an offending cobwe5 by the
indignant breath OF free people, and so It
would have been il there was as much health
and vigor In the Republic as there was when
/ was u boyl"
Here the whistle of the locomotive recalled
the passengers to the train, which was about
20 leave, and as your correspondent ras eav-
ing Uncle Ben was still engaged in his ex-
planatory remarks still trying to tone down
the blazing fireworks of his closing In better
consonance with the milder lights of his
opening experience. Did he succeed in ex-
planning the discrepancies of his rhetoric to
the satisfaction of "the boys" his neighbors
Or did they, sympathzing more with the old
mans wrongs than with his exculpatory logic
just excuse him, considering the grievous
provocatiCn And the offending word, was
that, too, written down against the old man
0f did the recording angel, charitably weigh
ing the heavy provocation, "blot 1t out of The
tablets with q tear ~ LoCRt,