Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-03-20
Free Discussion Meetiux.

~ L'eerty PaTty u 9s-kre ssmsai ste IL
ab,n Herriek-GaIrisss Tairfy -6pe r: Irs tn
The Common councffRaai cao LIT CiJIr ia
keeting, AID H.s Name IS John L. P51s-TY WA
Coz &c, Ma" a.. a'd e ne csntra. Rep sn "a A.
Docter on ID. ~ Kersey-T1t Bocsor Gtoss not car
d. w. x Lar, bat 'osat he says is LED
H. A. h,'d L., Y III s"asJ ID y K p gw
hr6oz Turns Up-Hs is q Sc. ioio1ist-Hs is In
disna.f as Soeioloeist-Why he Is haiiJaant as
CO. 20 sd skg .ae, Wal.ams Tsrs Vp-G.as
1hing- wiif close the Grog- sAops-W Wat wiH
Become cJ tie Democrats 9h>n the Grsq-sh ps
ere Closed--kr. Wafsea Walks in 10 Nepotisns-
NeFot-General Howard a Nepot-Nepoti<ss mas,
be Skppe6-Gtre Somsbo,'y Else Caaase AZ
TIE feois-kr MerriWs Potatoes-Generdl How-
crd's HoEscs-kr. Merrill has a Screc Lo0ss.
Lat evening q meeting was held al Wood
wards Hall in pursuance to the following
notice:
sFREE DIaCrssroN.-Au adjourned meeting
Will be held at Woodward's Hall This Thurs
day. Evening, at O'Clock. Ladies and gem
tlemen in favor Of free discussion ar. in vted to
be present. and take part in the proceedings;
while those who cannot tolerate that right are
politely requested to stay away"
Among the number were Mr.. J. w. Crane, DIR.
VIM. Boyd, DIR. Record, +. H. Crossmin, Chas
King, Joseph Williams, ]. H. Merrill, Profess
sor Wilcox, of Prof Delmar's Statistical STAFF:
Miss l.. b. :. Hall, MR.. Josephine Griffing,
Mrs. Or. Sarah X. Hathaway, and a fourth
lady whose name we were unable to learn. In
view of the slow gathering of the friends of free
discussion, DIR. Boyd remarked that it did not
m 10 take, and IL was also suggested that
only those who could tolerate free discussion
At eight O'Clock Mr.. Crane took the chair,
stating that the meeting was called for free dis
cussion, open to all, whether they agre d with
those who called the meeting or not. He believed
that truth could be trusted to combat with
error, ard would come ont victorious. He
would invite all to participate; those who
opposed TO free discussion, b. they of what po-
litical creed they may, were enemies to human
liberty. He spoke of his early attachment to
the Liberty party, which died in "a, and his
and in 1856 to the Republican party, which was
still In existence; but il il Is to BE- successful
and live, they should not oppose free discns-
sion.
The previous meeting was disturbed by some
men VINO, if they did not like free discussion
need not to have come, and there was need
of the disturbance. Although this disturbance
came from Republicans 1t was the same spirit
which stalked abroad in the rebellion, and
which was adverse to liberty. If men cannot
tolerate firm discussion they had better leave
the party. 1t had been animated to him that he
was about TO be excommunIcated from the Re.
publican party, with others who had taken
part in this movement. He held that the party
had travelled away from their principles, and
we might, with propriety, excommunicate the
party as was once done by a few members O.
church North. He had understood that there
was an effort on foot to destroy the uen ce of
any man who does not join in a certain s.ring"
1t had been circulated too that he did not be-
neye IN the existence OF God, or future ex-
istence, which he denied. 1t was charged that
they were going over to the Democrats. and he
stood alone, but If they were right they could
afford to stand alone. He spoke of the emanci-
patton movement being first started years ago
by Elizabeth Herrick and the efforts of Garri-
son, who started 35 years ago his anti-slavery
paper.
He had duty to perform in reference 10 the
last meeting-to notice some of those who dis
turhed II. One of them was mem Der of the
Common Council, who in the midst of that
meeting put on his hat, walked up the centre of
the room and lighted a cigar-his name is John
l.. Pau. Another holding the floor 10 minutes
TO the exclusion OF others made motion
TO adjourn, and put 1t to the meeting. He did
not care to characterize their conduct for il
would require too many adjectives, but there
could be but one opinion of it among gentle
men. At the Central Association meeting a
few nights ago, he was present and he had
hoped that free discussion would be allowed
them; but gentleman-a member of the Com
mon Council-monopolized the time, and Of
fered a series of resolutions which would reach
from the Capitol to the Presidents which
were adopted. and the meeting was adjourned
notwiths landing dozen gentlemen wished to
speak. II seemed strange to him that Repub-
licans would act so when there We're so many
thlngs OF Importance pending-the charter
annOunc ed that the meeting was omen for re-
marks from gentlemen or ladies.
DR.. Boyd, for the purpose of making a few
sdlu mat he would move To recon-
slider the vote by which the second resolution
OF the series offered at the previous meeting in
relation TO The action of the leagues adopted,
although, before he got through. he would
likely withdraw the motion. II had been
charged that he had attempted to disrupt the
party and the Union Leagues He had no par
tlcuiar eensure for the party or the leaguers,
except when the latter attempt to usurp the
power of the Republican party. He proceeded
10 speak of his efforts in the cause of liberty
stating that he had to leave England in 1913 be-
q tny rha- fro-x
principles were advocated, and notwith stand
ing he had been other wise advised after he
reached this country, he made his way to Wash
1ngton Tor the purpose of spreading free prin.
ciples (Applause.l He was sorry that at a
previous meeting he had disturbed the pro-
eeedings by a remark he made, and that remark
mad been incorrectly reported. He did not say
that Mr.. Kelsey was a liar, but that what Mr.
X. said was lie. He had been ad v is.sd To buv
hide, but did not, and thought he would
buy pair OF gloves, so as to handle such
men as d. NJ. Kelsey without soiling his hands
Mr.. *. had said that Mr.. Lincoln had made a
mistake by relea sing him DIR. b. from prison
publicanism. The only wrong Mr.. Lincoln
committed, in his opinion, was in appointing
such man as ID. M. Kelsey to Office, who holds
office under Andrew johnson, and who. if An
drew johnson is impeached, will be one of the
first to throw up his hat If ever there was
rotten Republican party it was the party in the
District OF Columbia, which year ago laid in
peae hment resolutions on the table, and which
VIII not permit free speech on the very subjects
which concern their organization. He with.
drew his n Otion 10 reconsider.
The Chan introduced Prof Wilcox, of Hon
alexander Delmar's Statisti cal Staff. PROT
Wilcox is the fidgetty chap who sat on our re-
porters new silk hat at the Honorable Alexan-
der's lecture. He vas bobbing around last nigh,
as n seeking more hats to conquer, but our re.
porter had his eyes peeled. Professor Wilcox
said that he came not to the meeting as a poll.
ucian, but as a sociologist, and a friend to uni
versal suffrage in the widest terms. Holding
such views fancy his indignation when be heard
and read of propositions TO place the District in
the hands o. Commissioners. II amazed him
when he saw among the friends OF this project
the names Of bus mess men who oug ht to know
that CBe OF the first results of the movement
would be TO crush trade out. These practical
business men were like those IN New York who
urged compromise with rebels. He would
ike 10 sTe suffrage extended TO all without re.
gard 10 color or sex, and n reform was needed
in the system of representation, for as il is now
IN Mary land the districts so ARRANGED that
the dominant party can elect all their caudi
datfs
Mr. Watson.-You advocate representation
according TO number, AMI such thiay would
have defeated us in 1862
MIR. Wilcox continur diff the measure was
good IL would stand fire, and he belle we'd it 10
be just MEASURE. As an illustrations: Their
are ten districts in the city-Ihrea strong Ior
one Sarty, three for the other, and in the re-
naming four nearly a tie, and a few votes couI
carry majority. He thought such a reform
necessary, and offered the following:
ResOired, That while the district system of