The Louisiana Democrat., 1891-09-30
MIR, GABRIEL MoNTEGUT

MIR. GABRIEL M0NIEGUI
followed Mr.. Synder, and said: / am
happy, l am proud to be with you at this
enthusiastic gathering of the good people
of the Parish of Rapides, assembled at
these Democratic hnstings with patriotic
purpose and high resolve. Fascinated
by this elegant assemb]age, and in the
presence of the beauty, the intelligence,
the chivalry, the patriotism Of Rapides,
it is with peculiar pride that I proclaim
myself Democrat, and with rapturous
impulse I salute the Democracy of Rap
ides. Breathing the Democratic oxygen
of Rapides, and standing upon the glo
rious platform emblazoned with the flag
of Louisiana on one side and our national
standard on the other, my very soul
thrills with exhiliration. In the name of
Louisiana let us all exultingly salute the
star spangled banner. i do so with dou-
BILE pride, because / was Confederate
soldier. Educated in the school of States
rights. With true American grit and
courage the South sacrificed her all upon
the altar of conviction; and our national
differences having been left to the arbi-
trament of war, the South, with charac-
teristic chivalry, furled the Bonnie Blue
flag at Appomattox in the spring time Of
1865, and accepted the result in good
faith. Strike up now "Hail Columbia y
"Yankee Doodle" "Dixie" and the 'Bon-
ME Blue Flag;;" mix them, blend them
all together; they ace all American airs.
Let the color bearer OF the bloody shirt
wave their emblem of dlscord; we will
proudly wave our flag, our glorious ma
tional flag, and with one grand and uni
ted hurrah that peals throughout the
broad limit of the American Union, Lou.
isiana salutes the star spangled banner,
the emblem Of popular sovereignty, under
whose sacred folds; thank God, we are
proud to be again a united and contented
people, and may God speed our American
brotherhood. MIR. Montegut warned the
Democrats present agninst side issues,
third party questions. and to stand firm
on the platform of the grand old Demo.
cratic platform erected by Jefferson, and
repe] at all hazards the onslaught of po.
litical highwaymen who deceive the peo.
pie and conceal their own selfish motives
Referring to the amendment the speaker
said that whilst he did not propose to
measure any mans Democracy by his
views on the lottery, still it was as Il
Democrat that he was irrevocably in ia.
vor of its adoption. He favored the
amendment and would continue to sup.
port il with all the zeal at his command
because he found it consistent with true
Democratic principles to do so. The
plain, frugal, wise and business-like ad
minstration of public affairs; the expen.
ses of which must be met by the people.
Therefore it is fundamental principle OF
the Democratic party to secure the reve-
nue. necessary to defray the expenses Of
government in such a manner as to make
the burden as light as possible on the
people. The revenue amendment, with.
out burdening the people, provides rev.
enue of $l,250,00O per annum during
twenty-five years for levees, for schools,
for hospitals, for charities, for the health
and drainage of New Orleans, for the re.
lief of destitute Confederate soldiers, and
places besides the sum of $3.50, 900 yearly
to the credit of the general fund, to be
appropriated by the Legislature in such
a manner as they may deem wise and
proper. In the depressed condition OF
the State of Louisiana, the adoption Of
| this amendment is the true Democratic
remedy, and the speaker said he failed to
see how any thoughtful Democrat could
refuse to vote for it.
COL. R. n. OGDEN,
of New Orleans, was introduced, and in
opening he said it was difficult matter