New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1871-05-11
district matters.
serenade.

prnbIican party with success In the recent
.I.o,iop II was a highly enthusiastic affair
- q we'll deserved compliment. Mr.. Ordway
!. one Of those Republicans who do not look
unou the negro as a mere voting machine, to
he IGNORED in the consideration of his party
when places of honor, profit and trust are to be
dispensed.
The following speeches were made on the
occasion
SPEECH OF GOVERNOR COOKE.
Ma. CHAIRMAN OF THE REPUBLICAN CENTRAL
COMMITTEE GENTLEMEN OF THE COMMITTEE, AND
FELLOW CITIZENS ! was glad to accept the in
yitation of the chairman of your committee to
a social and congratulatory reunion of political
friends at his residence but did not antic-
pate so large and enthusiastic demonstration
as that before me. You have, however a right
to rejoice over political victory, not only
brilliant in itself, but vastly important In its
national as well as its local significance. 1t
assures to the new Territory a strong and har-
monious government, and it proclaims abroad
that the capital is thoroughly and unequivo-
cally in sympathy with and true to the legal
principles of the great party which saved the
nation in its hour of peril.
And now having performed our political duty
in the recent contest, ii remains for US, still
adheripg to our political faith. so to administer
the government intrusted 10 us as to protect
with impartial zeal the rights oil all, TO pro
mote in every way the general interests oil the
District, to encourage industry, to educate the
youth, and to develop all our local resources
In seeking the attainment OF these worthy
objects shall rely upon my associates in the
executive branches Of the government and
upon you gentlemen of the Legislature, for
that aid and cooperation, only reminding you
of the lessonso eloquently taught by the po-
ltical success we have recently achieved, that
in the future as in the past 4" In Union there
is strength
PROF. A. NJ. GREEN
was then introduced. As member OF the
Republican Central Committee, and IN its be-
half. he would say what he believed to be in
the hearts of those who had deputed him to
speak, and of the thousands who stood before
him not because it was necessary to express
their feelings in reference to the arduous SER
vices Mr. Ordway had rendered, but because it
was proper that their gratitude should in some
way be formally expressed. This was an ind-
cation of the glorious success of the expert
ment inaugurated by our fathers, implanted in
the Declaration of Independence, and engrafted
upon the Constitution. They had INDICATED
before the world the principles of liberty and
progress, by government resting in the hands
of the people. He repeated that for their vic
tory they were indebted to the gentleman
whom he had the honor to introduce.
SPEECH OF HON. N. G. oRDwAY.
Mr. CHAIRMAN AND RN.bow CITIZENS: This
manifestation of friendship and appreciation
of my poor efforts as chairman of the Repub
lican General Committee during the late can
vass overwhelms Inc with gratitude and leaves
me poor in words to make proper response to
the thousands of loyal men, with stout hearts
and strong arms, who have come together to-
night to rejoice over the proud victory which
has been won by the united Republican forces
in the District of Columbia. But now that
the smoke has cleared away | will attempt a
partial survey over the route over wbich'we
have travelled to victory.
When the Congress of the United States, in
yonder marble pile, decreed a new form of gov
eminent for the District it became evident that
desperate struggle would be made by those
who mourn the lost cause to obtain control OF
the Territorial government, and then proclaim
1t as a great victory over President Grant and
his administration.
That these old citizens, as they style them
selves, had reasonable grounds for their hopes
and expectations IL is useless 10 deny
The Republican party in this city had been
divided and torn by discussions. White men,
claiming to be Republicans, had absorbed so
much of the old Copperhead prejudice against
the colored men that they were unwilling TO
affiliate with this new and numerous class Of
Republican voters while the colored men had
not fully learned that great truth, that a house
divided against itself could not stand, under
took to see how far they could fall by useless
divisions.
Encouraged by thu want of harmony in the
Republican ranks, our representatives. Demo
cratic Conservatives-went into the canvass
with the same triumphant shout that used to
greet the ears Of our soldiers when Stonewall
Jackson came down the valley.
The Republican party, nothing daunted, how
ever, sounded again the Union bugle and
"called the battle roll over" White Repub-
licans who had long enjoyed the privileges of
citizenship remembered that their colored
neighbors who had enjoyed the rights of citizen
ship but few years, and might well be called
new citizens, had spent the strength and vigor
of their manhood IN unpaid toll to help to make
ashington what 1t now is and their sense of
justice compelled them TO pledge themselves
anew to make Republicanism living principle,
and to aid in starting of the Territorial Gov
ernment the basis of liberty, justice, and
equality.
Not upon the basis that poor degraded
wretch, whether white or black, should be the
equal OF an honest, upright Christian citizen,
but upon the basis that every man should be
entitled To have and en- Oy the fruits Of his labor
whether il be manual labor or political influence
This guarantee treasured and reunited the
cOlored men, and fully ten thousand strong they
again rallied TO uphold the Republican banner
Old feuds were forgotten, and white and black
men created in the image of a common Father
fraternized together, agreeing to recognize the
rights of all men without distinction nativity.
race, or previous condition
During the war it was my good fortune TO
hold a position under the Government that re.
CURED of me frequent reports in person to
President Lincoln and | well remember the
spring of 1863 when disaster had followed our
armies on the Potomac when mourning was
IN almost every house when the people had
began TO murmur against the President; when
Copperheadism had spread over the West and
engulfed the great State of New York, and
when New Hampshire-whose flag am sorry
TO say, now trails In the dust-was the next
State to speak through a popular election at
that time President Lincoln said to me- We
must not lose another election; better loose
two battles than give the rebels a fOothold OH
the Canada border"
Then 1T was that felt that could be of
some service al home, and, as the chairman of
the Central Committee, took charge of the cam
paign which followed in that State. The fight
was q terrific one; fully two thousand Republi-
cans, more than cur maj ority, had gone to the
neld, and conld not vote. Yet we wrung vic
tory out Of defeat, and beat back the waves of
oisioyaity. Alter the recent Democratic victory
In New Hampshire, when it seemed 10 me a
state OF things somewhat approaching that
which l have described was upon US. | accent
ed the craftsmanship of the Republican General
Committee of this District hoping as | was a
m and ut hos toto