Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-08-05
A SERENADE.

Laborers- Negroes.
1t was about 10 o CLOCK when the march
toward Col. Smiths residence on West
Third street was taken up.
1t was no snide procession, either.
First came Professor Ault's justly cele-
brated band of first-class musicians.
Then came the Fort Worth fire depart
ment in all the bravery glittering silver
and brass and flaming torches. Lastly
followed citizens in carriages, on horse
back ,afoot and on crutches.
1t was not well organized procession,
but the noise it made didn't leave any
doubt III anybody's mind that 1t was
capable of taking care Of itself.
Arrived at the residence the crowd
scattered through the lawn on the south
side, paying little attention to
such trivial matters as walks
or pavements, aud tramping
down plants with a reckless disregard
that showed the flowers that If they
could not exude an odor loud enough to
be heard, they didn't amount TO much
in that crowd.
Before Father Peter had time to make
shotgun demonstration the band let
into "Dixie'' with such vim that ex-
pOstulatiOn was useless. Loud
cries were made for Peter
Smith, who presented himself. He
spoke briefly but earnestly. He thanked
the Democracy and the citiZenry for
their substantial expression of conf
dence, and pledged himself to do his
utmost in behalf of the city
in whose interests he had
ever labored. He was sorry that
certain questions had been brought up in
ho haH
never interested himself, as. for instance,
the labor question. He was not of those
who thought the rights of laboring men
should be abridged. A laborer ought
to be given an open market for the dis
posaI of that physical force upon which
he depended for existence, and the right
should not DO taken away from
him to say how long he
should work or how much he
should get for It. The speaker was sorry
that the negroes had been aTrayed against
MIN ia the campaign owing TO his con-
nection with the removal of the negro
burying-grouud. he was q Southern man
raised among the negroes, and he had
never in his life done aught detrimental
TO the colorsd man. Mr.. Smith ex-
planned how the cemetery came to be
moved. He said the old ceme-
terry was located along the sloping
bank of the river just above the
city water works, so that in time of rain
the drainage from the cemetery impreg-
mated the water used by the city. The
property belonged to strangers, and the
privilege of its use had not been secured
by The colored people from the
owners. Mr.. Smith voluntarily donated
to the negroes another plat of FIVE acres
nd fn{ wi a "a
into which he had the corpses removed
from the old grounds. The
speaker could not see that he
had done wrong. He would be
the last man in the world to desecrste
the dead of any race. Mr.. Smith re-
iterated his thanks to those who had
supported him, and expressed his pride
aud qualification at the honor done him
by the visiting party.
The band played HDixie'' and the
crowd cbeered till they were hoarse. Up
went lou cries for Dick Wynne, who re-
sponded briefly but fervently. He
said it was great victory for
Democracy and the progressive spirit
of the city that had been won with the
election OF Peter Smith to the mayoralty.
Here was a man whom the tongue of the
sensationalists would never reach. But
the glory of the victory was enhanced by
the method with which it was won.
new era IN tho politics of the
city had been ushered in when the people
arose and said with one voice that they
were for progress. No Doodle was used
in that election. The good sober sense
of the people had decided the issue.
The era OF progress and prosperity was
at tand.
More yells from the enthusiastic audi
ence went up at the conclusion OF Col.
Wynne's speech.
J. Il. jackson was called for and re-
sponded. He congratulated his hearers
upon the result of the election, and en-
logized the man of their choice for the
nayoralty who, besides possessing all the |
personal qualities which go to make men |
admired and loved: was also u man of |
strong progressive instincts aud in |
huence, under whose administration |
Fort Worth would march rapidly on to
the proud destiny for which she is evil |
IDENTIFY marked.
William Capps congratulated the peo- |
pie on winning a great victory, the |
greater because of the strength of the |
opposition, for DR.. BroiIes is a man of |
intrinsic worth.
Henry Furman spoke briefly on the |
lu pOTlhuCd Vi luo NlCLOTy duu tue ETehL- |
ness of the man who had been elected to |
act in the capacity of mayor of the city. |
James Davis made a stirring talk, in |
which he expressed the exuberance of |
his feelings, dwelling particularly upon |
the advantage to Fort Worth's progress
which would result from Col. Smiths
election.
MIR. Sam Furman spoke briefly in GU
logy of Col. Smith and of the policy he
represents.
Capt. Tom West delivered one of his |
rousing off-hand orations.
j. p. Nicks made good talk until In
terrupted by dog fight, which he said
was the only thing in the world that /
would prevent him talking for Peter
Smith.
Ben n. Terrell concluded the pleasant /
and happy event with few words in /
which he said he was going straightway /
TO mark up the price OF a lot he owns |
down near ClebUrne, as the result of 1
Peter Smith g election.
The people filed away after grasping !
Peter Smith by the hand and expressing
congratulations.
SAM THURMAN
He vvuf Ranresant sba Fourth ward On 41n