The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1886-01-16
OUR NEW ORLEANS LETTER.
! "o Don'. RS a Year.


M. patton Day at the Exposition
. Ubiquitous Hooilum-How New Or
leans is slandered = The Ford Case
Amusements, etc.
New ORLEANS, Jan. ), 1886.
EDITOR CHIEF:
The largest crowd brought out since the
opening of the Exposition was present on
Jan. l, Emancipation Day. There were
over 5000 people on the grounds, and large
proportion of them came from the country
on special excursions under the auspices
of local commissioners. 1t was considered
fair showing, although more were expect
cd. Invitations had been extended to Fred
erick Douglass and John M. Langstcn, the
two great colored leaders of the country,
but neither of them accepted or gave the
weight of his name to a felicitous occasion.
1t was noted that this celebration was the
first one that has ever taken place in which
blacks and whites, in large numbers, came
together to commemorate the anniversary
of emancipation. The Louisiana colored
people felt that an effort should be made
to reciprocate the fraternal feeling man.
Tested, and were not satisfied because
Douglas and Langston remained away.
Yet there was no lack of speeches, and of
good Ones The weather was beautiful.
In the evening hundreds of country col
ored folks remained to enjoy the spectacle
of the Last Days of Pompeii," an impress
sive combination of scenery, fireworks
and destruction they will remember for
many day. The timidity of some over
the lavish profusion of fireworks was no.
ticeable and added to the mirth of the oc-
,casion.
Preparations for Creole Day are going
forward and it is hoped the attendance will
be greater than on the day just mentioned.
The Exposition has suffered from unayoid-
able delay in putting up the exhibits, the
slowless of railroads in reducing rates, and
the stringent monetary condition of most
all parts of the country.
The community still talks of and dis
cusses the genus hoodlum. The courts are
convicting and generous juries occasionally
acqultting them; and yet it would be mis-
take to suppose that the hoodlum of New
Orleans has no fear of the law. The con-
victions for crime are as numerous, the
courts as sound and the public opinion on
crime in general is as healthy in New Or
leans as in any city in the Union. Some
men, to serve various political interests
with which they are connected, write and
say things thoughuess and slanderous to
create the opposite Impression. 1t only re-
quires particular examination of any
case they may cite to prove the uncertain
stuff their growls are made of. New Orleans
can not disregard the good opinion of man
kind. She seeks to be a great commercial
city, and must have the good will of her
nelghbors. The sympathy for Ford and
Murphy is real, partly because of the opin-
ion that capital punishment is lighter than
Imprisonment for life, partly because of
manly feeling for the wife and children of
one, and the youth of the other The awful
ness of the crime committed is realized.
but the impression is so strong that the
mere tools of a chief conspirator are to re-
celve severer punishment than the chief
himself, that execution would be regarded
by many is mere mockery of Justice.
Your correspondent does not pretend to
share Ill the maudlin sentimentality, or the
concelted efforts of friends of the accused
for their deliverance, but he pictures the
matter as it stands.
Judge Alfred Roman deserves we'll of his
fellow citizens for his keen appreciation of
the needs of the hour, and his firm imposi
ton OF deserved sentences, seldom being
swerved by the leniency of juries in the
modification of sentences when a convic.
ton is had.
The amusement world is busy, with eight
places In full career, and adapted to all
grades and classes. Geo. w. Peck was
here among the editorial excursionists,a but
he went away in time to avoid hearing
the criticisms on "The Bad Boy" as it is
played at the Academy of Music. There is
something SO charming about the title Of
such play, that it attracts humanity all
along the line. Old boys go to see how
very like themselves Peck's boy is, and
small boys go to take lessons in badness
with which to increase the agonies of faith
full parents. More anon.
GENERAL OBSERVER.
"Acted Like Charm.''
Inns Is what Mrs. Mayer, of Baronne street.