The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1889-07-13
independence Dav.

bears the significance, commands the =
veneration, or evokes the patriotic out =
bursts OF feeling called out by our Ma .
tlonal Anniyersary-the 4th of July. 1t :
matters not whether there is any public ,
celebration of the event or not, upon :
the recurrence of this natal day, when
our fOfefathers proclaimed liberty and ,
independence to the Thirteen Colonies,
there wells up in tho heart of every ,
true lover of his country benediction
upon this consecrated epoch Of Time,
prisons of praise that he enjoys it's ben
efits, and sincere prayer that this glo-
rious date will ever stand to note the
coming centuries of destiny unshack-
led by tyranny or prostituted by cor
rupt.on.
The immense gathering of our peo-
pie on Thursday of last week bore elo-
Quent testimony to their patriotism and
the pride that animated them in doing
honor to our national anniversary.
From every nook and corner of our par
ish came the people until the multitude
numbered several thousands.
| An excellent programme had been !
arranged and the details were carried |
out successfully. At II O'clock a. M !
/ the procession formed in the following /
order: lst, An open buggy, drawn by !
q beautiful horse, in which two tiremen +
representing the committee of twenty
FIVE bore our national banner. I'd, The
Opelousas Jovial Brass Band, that rem
dered soul-inspiring music on the line
of march Sd, Fire Company No. /, in
uniform, with their daisy steam engine
| . 4 t,l A., Il IL
by four magnifieently caparisoned
: steeds. 4th, Hope Hook and Ladder
Co. in uniform with truck elaborately
festooned with flowers and evergreens,
drawn by four splendid gray horses.
5th, Colored Fire Company No. in
uniform, with engine tastefully hung
with flowers and wreaths and drawn
by two spanking bays. Messrs. {. NJ.
Thompson and E. Latreyte were grand
, Marshals of the Day and bore their ba-
tons with dignity and military precision
The glorious "reminiscences that cius-
tered around our Republic since its
: birth on the 4th of July, l776, seemed
= to animate the breast of every one the
band played with unusual inspiration
and harmony, and the procession NOV
led with a cadencespf step and enthusl-
: asm of spirit that could only spring
= from loyal and gladstone feelings OF
2 homage and alteration. The streets
] were thronged with an equally joyous
= neople to witness the parade that NOV
y al through the main thoronghfares OF
4 ohT town.
y When the procession closed its march
! at the Courthouse Square, the Opeaon-
= sas Guards fired national salute o.
81 100 guns. 1t is safe to say thai .5oot
persons or more were present on liie
I'd grounds, and large proportion Of then
e, were ladies'. Although a great many
le benches haa been constructed nnae
,d the numerous oak trees on the square
Nv. Ease> not half could be seated there ant
p II The co,nmodious Courthouse combln
ne "a, At IL o'clock, the tap OF the oei
le announce d hhat speaking would begin
s. Only small part of the immense efoW'
at conid get into the Courthouse, AM
re therefoIe large number missed tn
e orations.
IT, Laurent Duprc, ESD, master OF cere
ar ,onies, called the assembly to ordel
as announced the program, and IN Q spl,
az tied speech explained the grand oolee' :
ed TO be celebrated. Associate justice
no D. McEnery of the Supreme Court wa
i 9 ess Chen introduced, amid tremendous II
oe nlause, aud made one OF -lils happle,
ie and most eloquent efforts. Inc ii'''l'
10 of this article will not permit us TO a
wo tempt. to follow ex-G Gov. MeEheFy !,
no thrii,..g and patriotic address. q
TO smoke Of tIRlsestruggles of the Colonie
~ the oppression of the mother count
and Of the grand character OF 6eors
AZ Washipoton. +" who seemed to be DO,
ao- 20 no the Father of his Country Z
es, rav;ewea the heroic achievements
no. anr forefathefs ih their determinati'
he 20 throw off the yoke of tyranny al
the ssal "a with their blood Tie heritage 81
ina fsaa government to be transmitted
ing I their osterity.s He noted the rap
en- orowth of our country, which itoih
and q, all area theI east of and circnfnscfi
leir ad hy the Allegheny mountains, iep'
ert, sont;no only thirteen, small colonies
tie ahont Z OOO. 600 Inhabitants, had gfo'
the and extended from ocean to ocean WI =
shs s in a century's time, n.,moeflnS ny n' bei
COG M OOO, 900 of people, anu - pl o.
IN the strongest and most piogtaes5s'Nt9 .as5 -
arnment on earth. He aitnded 70 ;,
late war. for which, neither section '
.ay- - blame for upholding their eonceptl'
the Of Of right, which went to prove tne IN In
ocF rent love of country that anlnia'eo =, .np ao
for and showed, when united ene5 g"
and Withstand the combined armies o. u
rass world wlSd' He pointed out the return
wing fraternal feeling todhe two seetiohs.
york miohty progress anGdevelopmens ens u o.
get a' my gns rsspnrees, and the unlimited po'
the f,,;t;as IL fhat awaited the American Z
ence p,a p,n n the future. He paid beaat Y
Il be tr;bnte b to the ladies, calling attention s
vet saJr she;r infisinfe as witnessed in all g gr'
and .nonements .no,a III the past, of.their prov
that No, @ natriotism and heroism nnue. !,
york most mos trying disasters, aud Una. uaast - =
lsy ;nfinence belonged the granuafss nf !,
most chivalrous achievements y. u :, !,
.nat;on .nJie g on eartE Eiwhere woman was
'orn nerly honored and respeetsa. !. 10 he
d his nat RS as firemen were bound to De dr, ne
light, sllaI =! .i,a;r u defense of life and prop
0 and =, na;nst inst deyonring flames amid apl !
nnrs IN ;as danger, it was quite proper ,ea :
ne OF - .n Celebrate the national annivelsas' sa
Tered q Grand parade of their sue, s.aehs. asahd -
+ by = ans : a maapons with which they saou -
her VIC .ho IdestToying fire. Courage ana p
had otism went together.
pre- Gov McEnery's peeell was Q no' no
'cted, eos snd Ills outbufsts of elo9uene,ee
conf OuO, ssA1~s -.loaoa frnm the auult