Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1915-11-09

Last month the following colored
gentlemen and politicians met at Para
disc hall in response to a circular let
ter from Brother Gardner:
Judge Persimmon Longbody of Ten
nessee, who held the office Of constable
once for thirty days and knows how
good it is.
Colonel Cabiff Rocky of Kentucky
who sweeps out the postoffice in Louis
vile. but had far rather be postmas
ter
Brassbound Johnson of Maryland,
who has led his cohorts against many
a melon patch and will again, by thun.
der
Major Bloker Of Ohio, who says that
taking a chicken off the roost without
a squawk is an art.
Several other delegates were to be
on hand, but the constable rallied In
force and drove them back.
Brother Gardner stated that the
meeting was for the purpose of put.
ting a presidential ticket in the field al
an early date and the party would be
called the Postum party" The mat.
ter was thoroughly discussed and set
tied, and there was an adjournment TO
a later date.
There was mighty gathering at
Paradise hall Saturday evening, and,
acting on the suggestion of Brother
Gardner, about fifty members had
brought their wives with them. 1t had
been announced on the bulletin board
that the Hon. Crabtree Jones of Ala
bama would deliver a political speech,
and the audience was ready to give
him an enthusiastic greeting. He ap.
peared promptly at the hour named
and was introduced by the president
amid vociferous applause.
Respectable fellow citizens" began
the orator as he got his feet planted on
the proper spot, two weeks ago dar
was a-bornin' in dis famous hall which
has made talk fur 100000 people.
. 1t was de bornin' of a new political
party.
MY fr'ens, l had bin waitin' thirty
vars fur de dawn of freedom. l hev
bin waitin' thirty vars fur de birth Of
de Postum party.
"Freemen Of free land, patriots who
ar takin' yo'r fust breath of liberty.
I'm lookin' at dat stuff possum which
we have adopted as our sacred emblem
an arter which we hev taken our
, name. GTyphoonic yells.l Oar has
eber bin Il bond of sympathy between
de cull'l man an de possum. Dey
haven't had a show wild de big game.
Dey has had to keep stil till folks look
ed upon 'em as dead. [Signs of grOans
and repressed agitation.l However,
it's gwine to astonish a hull continent
de way dat possum will let go an
drap down into de row an demand an
fight fur his sheer of de spiles. LWhirl-
winds of applause, during which the
stove fell over unheeded.l
''Yo' jest git out yo'r pencils an
fgger a mint Deres ober 100000
black men in dis kentry who am enti-
tied to walk to de polls on 'leckshun
day an cast vote. If dey but hang to
gether yo' can't count EN- out nor keep
em back Dem 100000 votes am
gwine to be cast for principle, but
doan' make no mistake bout principle.
We used to think dat it meant yotin'
ON sartin' lines an dat George Wash
ington, Abraham Lincoln, de constiti-
shun of de United States an seberal
odder things was mixed up wild it, an
we walked up an put in our votes as
if each an cherry one was gwine to
save de kentry. But we Earned j.
from &c white man. Cries of 'Yo' bet
we heyrl We hev Earned dat he sots
out on a political campaign wild n cart
load of principles to glib away free
gratis an punctuate his speeches, but
when de ballots am counted up he Iays
down his principles to pick up his of
| fee.
I'VE am gwine to take a fyleaf from
de white mans book Wen stick tc
| principles. but Wen look out fur do
| spiles as we'll
My fr'en's, daylight has cum at las
fur US. Yves got our bundles packed
an hev started on de road. Yves got
headed right, an we's only to keep OF
| to find de bee tree an be on hand
when de honey am divided up. [YeIli
for honey.l Keep yo'r eye on de pos
sum an yo'r brains in yo'r heads an
yo'll win a victory dat Bunker Hill
| couldn't hold candle to. GENERA
hoarseness, but prodigious applause.
! | want a word mo- befo' / close. Dis
am to be plain, airnest campaign or
our part We amt gwine to say much
but what we do say wifi hit de barr
doah like a load of buckshot. Doan
| git de idea dat biz words am gwine Il
help 20 win what belongs to yo. Be
TO- dis meetin' opened tonight | heart
Waydown Bebee obsarve dat de malg
nant innuendo of de torrid affilashur
would enhance de generality OF de pom
posity He probably meant well, an
mehbe his observation has helped VI
to cit started. but | hope he won't d.
it ag'in. Doan' nobody do 1t. Dis an
no dictionary campaign. No, noi]
will be plain puddin' an milk at bom'
an plain English when yo' am walkin
up and down wild a possum badge OF
yo'r breast an flag of liberty in yo'
hand. Muffin counts quicker nor hard
er dan 70 call a man liar. an d
languidge am so simple dat child xii
understand it. | win now return yo
my thanks an bow my gratitude fu
de welcome handed out to me"
The orator sat dowR amid applaus
that broke windows and put out lights
and it was Continued until the polio
came up the alley stairs and droppe
three women and four men down upo
the sand pile below. The Postum pa
ty may be said to have got hold of II