Evening star., 1870-03-09
sELF-c0vEnnMEET FOR THE DISTRICT.
A Powerful and Conclusive ArSu
m1nt.

AT the mass meeting at Lincoln Hail. Marcl
| Sd, the bill reported from the Committee of On,
| Hundred TO organize a new government for N,
District of Columbia, being before the meeting
Mr.. Riddle said, in substance
Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen.-I am asked I.
remark upon the purpose and nature of th
NE asure, as well as its necessity and expedien
cy. In approaching the sub ect, wish To of.e,
twoor three preliminary yOiservations. The or
FoSltloR that this measu e encounters make.
them necessary. The people can never bay.
any object in being deceived, although other,
may have i'm deceving them, and there are som
tn!es ,h ihat VIII help us to determine whether
deal fairly and faithfully with them.
A proposed measure that will necessarily take
from the people existing rights, and deprive
them of present franchise, would not he nrred
gulsed.
A measure that would directly enlarge their
nights, powers and privileges, would be urged
only bv their friends, however denounced: and
whoever would persuade the people that such d
measure was not for their interests. would de-
nrinc,i rrmc Ih.m measure In opposition to the
be opposed by 1T, of course. While a measure
an strict accord with the principles and profes-
sons OF party will be sustained by that party.
AND II we find the leaders of party endeayor-
ing 10 array the masses against measure that
thus accords with and sustains the prjncipIes of
their party, their wisdom or honesty NAV be sus-
~. "a rta
that proposes to substitute new government
for en- old one would necessarily be opposed by
the holders Of office under the old
Apply these rules to the condition of thincs
before us. The people of this District are eS-
clusively under the government of men for
elgners 10 them, not chosen by them and who
are ae. IN no way responsible to them, and that
government has proved on seventy years ex-
Perlence to be wholly bad. We propose 10 take
TINS government from these parties and place n
arectiy & E; IN the hands OF the people themselves,
1t is measure that does not abrogate the
rights OF the people nor abridge their fran
chises, and yet men oppose 1t and declare that it
does! 1t greatly enlarges the rights, powers and
franchises Of the people, and completely places
their destinies in their own control, and still
men oppose it! Can these men mean to deal
fairly with the people?
understand that the association of working
men-who Of all men can the least afford TO b.
imposed upon--adopted a resolution last eve
ming. opposing this measure. upon the SOL
ground that ii takes from the people their
rights. How can they have been so mistaken?
Who has so deluded these men? Iimplore them
10 get copies OF this bill, and read and under
stand it for themselves, and they will see the
gross mistake they have made.
Ihere Is party dominant by 5000 majority,
IN IN this city, calling itself Republican. 1t pro-
Iesses-or did till nOw-tO labor exclusively for
an extension and enlargement of the rights
privileges, and franchises of the people. This
measure, as we have seen, extends and enlarges
the rights and privileges of the peoples i'm
every feature and provision, Republican: and
yet men who claim to be leaders of that nartv
oppose IT, as destructive of the rights of the
party against it on that ground What must ".
thnk OF the candor OF these men?
a, II Is these same men who holding offices under
II also, on the ground that the new government
may extinguish that Corporation and with IN OF
course all the places of pleasure and profit it 20
the merit of being intelligible, and sincere.
While ~" position of those who make it wher
REM mbered, renders it harmless. The ground
seems to be, not that the measure is bad for tn,
people, but may become lad for the ofir,
holders And when they denounce me As mn
hepubfcan for supporting this most Republican
me asure, can endure il with equanimity ami
reply with good temper.
=, Let me test the candor OF those who oppos,
thls measure on the ground that it places the
corporation Of Washington at the m ercy OF tht
proposed government. In the first place, the
corporation of Washington cannot be extin
guished without the consent of the corporators
themselves. In the second, the people of Wash
lngton will be large majority under the new
government, and can control il for ali pnrnoses
1hey can thus do what they will with the cor
todauon; @ III they want it they viii keep It. Ii
what they will with their own? Once and again.
say that the people can have no interest i'm be-
ing deceived about this measure. 1t is SO plain
tAat all men can understand it; and it will be
brought so distinctly to their notice that all men
Will; and II any men or set of men propose to
place themselves between the people and their
THE NECESSITY FOR A CHANGE
Is admitted on all hands. The opponents of this
bill propose as the remedy an enlargement O.
the powers of the Corporations of Washington
and Georgetown, and of the Levy Court. may
dispose Of this here. This plan only proyokes
derision. Look at it The District OF Colum
bla has been hOpelessly stalled and emheted
past the power Of being moved by these agen-
cies, for two or three generations. Three ms
erable Gonkeys so hitched to it that each pull.
against both Of tie others; while each is feebler
thali the other two together, and their drivers
now propose to add to their resisting force bya
little increase of provenderl 1t mis- hit be a good
thing for the drivers, but what of the donkeys.
and their load?
Look at the District! Seventy wears the
capital! and what can it show? Where is its
half million of prosperous and happy people?
1t Is the political metropolis of the Great Re
public, the home of its Government, the soiourn-
ing place OF all the great profound and bril-
liant men who have shaped its destinies in
spired its legislation, fashioned its greatness led
Its armies, and who have illustrated and adorned
its history. Here the head OF a mighty nation
receives and gives audience to the ambassadors
OF all the Powers of the earth-and this, too, is
who produce the best specimens Of what Amer
leans achieve in art and science and literature
and here mix and mingle i'm daily intercourse
the most accomplished men and re- fined women
the best product of American civilizations; and
save the national edifces compromised by their
mean surroundings, what meets the eye that
does not provoke derision and srorn?
There is here no rudiment of commerce. not
a tlrob OF manufacturing-scaic cely a skilled
artisan. The Potomac, after forming the
hociest unused vater-power in the occupied
parts OF the country, gathers up its tide-waters
ana rolls sadly out to the sea, unrippled save by
lonely fishing boat, or q melancholy oyster
scow. A single railroad connects it with the
North, and single track on q rotten, tottering
bridge fails often to connect it with the South
while stagnant, unused receptacle of sewage,
called canal, spews miasma and disease
through the heart of the city. Where should
flourish great seats Of learning, languish feeble
Institutions; where should be found a national
academy OF art, scarce q studio can be seen.
The people are charactcrless, subsisting preca-
Iiously upon the disbursements for the private
expenses Of the national officials and visitors to
the capital.
WHAT Is THE SECRET?
The people have a fall measure of inteIli-
gence, are as free from the vices as the popula.
tion of any American city, and have all III.
germs and elements of enterprise and eapabili-
ties for all the achievements of their country.
men. The District has been under the encluti,,
SorerTment of the Congress of the Caited Strtsf
and, with due respect to that august bod, If
this is the best of what 1t can do when il h.S IL.
own 'sexclusive' way, IL is about time that its
rC al value as governing power was estimated
Ii is fundamental condition upon which
alone the governors of the District can become
vested With the right-that they shouId not
know anything OF its wants, and shall never
have an opportunity to ACQUIRE that informa-
tion, nor time to discharge their duty TOW ard il.