Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-10-04

Tuesday in favor of republican candidates and
republican principles which shall be emphatic
and overwhelming lApplause.l
Speech Of Mr.. n. q. middle
The Hon. A. G. Riddle was next introduced,
and made an eloquent speech on pationa, and
contest in this District he said: 1 would like to
know where the colored republican can be found
who proposes to abandon his republican friends
Of the South. (Cries of "Hear," ssHear.rl 1
would like to see the man. 1 would like to ace
the colored republican OF this District that pro.
poses not to vote for Gen. Chapman. IApplause.]
for 30 doing. 1 should like to know what BUSH
ness man calling himself radical repu blican,
or ahyth,ng else, has to run against Gen. Chip
man in this contest. (Applause.1 1 want to
know where the man comes from who and what
he Is, who daree to stand up in the face of this
issue, and the sole issue, and seek to invegle
national candidate to his wretched and miser-
able faction. IApplause.J But can UNDER
stand perfectly well IL republicans have made
understand perfectly well that IL q candidate is
to run open and above board here in the interest
of Mr.. Greeley; can understand a republican
who, upon that issue, votes for him, for he has
then ceased to be a republican. AS claim to
be honest myself, cOncede that these men NAV
be also, but SO terribly mistaken that it requires
q good deal of charity TO admit that they are
honest. Laughter and applause.l
The republicans oil the District here are more
under the eye OF the nation than any other equal
huUDer OF any polltlcal party In the world. All
eyes are directed 20 the capital. And can YOU
get up any real or pretended quarrel among
yourselves; can you get up any question OF
financial policy among yourselves that is OF so
great lmportance-so much above and over
shadOwing and overbalancing these national
consideratioDs-that you caR consent to vote
with your enemies? That is the question. Ap-
plause.1 So tar as 1 AN concerned, L do not
propose to offer to you any other; ana have no
other motive in the wild world in following the
desire and almost command for me to appear
here tonight but to say to you, lmperfectly rs I
have said il, but clearly as 1 have been able to
point 1t, that you are identified with this great
nation al issue, and declare that I believe the
man is willfully blind who does not see the exact
issue. Applause 1t is whether republican
measures at the South shall be carried for ward
to their fruitful Consummation, or whether the
tide shall be rolled back.
Mr. Alex ander X. Shepherd was next intro
duced, and on coming forward was greeted with
long, continued applause. He spoke as follows:
Speech Of Mr.. A. =. Shepherd.
Fcllofo- cittzens:-I appear before you this eve
ming as the representative OF the most abused
branch OF the District government-nOt, how
ever, to defend the board of public works, (for,
in my opinion, no defence Is necessary but to
submit to your consideration few statements
as to our operations since we entered upon the
discharge of orr onerOus duties. Let US, for a
moment, take glance at the condition Of af-
fairs upon the advent Of the new government.
4 RETROsPECT.
The city. at that recent date, was only mag
nhcent as to distances, and to strangers its sole
attraction was that it was the capital Of the
nation, where the President had his home the
legislators OF the country periodically bled,
and the supreme court met and adiudicated
upon cases of the highest legal Importance Our
streets, wide and capable OF adjournment. were in
winter often really impossible, and in other
seasons generally so cloudy with dust as to
make them too disagreeable tor use except as
occasion absolutely required. stygian slough
dividing the city compelled him who crossed it
to pay the tribute Of offended nostrls to the
mephitic doors OF the Shiny ditch. [Applause.J
Sewerage, except here and there, was scarcely
to be found, while the city was absolutely
without any welI-detned system OF grades.
The official grade book, utterly Inaccurate, was
OF little use, ii any, and 1t was soon ascertained
that the system which prevailed had in spirit
of compromise, been accommodated to the
peculiar whIms and views Of each property
holder, with but little regard to any general
design. During the last four or fye years of the
existence of the old corporation a debt of nearly
three millions OF dollars had been incurred
without authority OF law, for which there was
nothing to show in the shape OF permanent
Improvements, while profcssedy it had bee n
created for special Improvement purposes.
Two millions and half Of dollars besides had
been collected and spent during the same Pc
riOd, in the shape Of ward funds for ward inn
provements; and in addition to these large sums
property holders lad borne special taxes for
special Improvements, amounting in the aggre-
gate to at least two and a half millions more,
making q grand aggregate OF eight millions
within period of little over i've years and
With scarcely nothing to show for the vast ex-
psndture, except a iorbesrance and endurance
on the part of the people almost without q par
allel il the American republic. (Applause.l
THE PRESENT.
At this juncture, when our city was by-wOrd
of their capital, and shrunk from exhibiting il
to foreigners who visited our shore; when the
demand for its removal was increasing in
strength, Congress, in its wisdom, with a view
to the improvement of the District of Columbia,
conferred upon us new government, dissimiiar
in some respects to any which it had ever before
created. The new machinery was soon put in
operation, and with 1t the board OF public works.
composed Of citizens closely identified with the
interests OF the District. Upon the assembling
of the legislature the board submitted report,
IN WHICH they laid down a comprehensive sys-
tenn of improvements, and requested the neces-
sary means to carry it into effect. They at the
same time cieariy demonstrated that without
49,. increase OF general taxation Washington
could be so improved as to render 1t a desirable
place Of residence and an attractive spot for the
people Of our country. The plan recommended
by the board was, with certain modit cations
adopted by the legislature, an appropriation was
made, and work at once commenced, when,
10! injunctiOns began TO issue thick and fast
The programme OF the board, it seems had APP
palled the hearts OF the fossils in ur midst. Rip
Van Wrinkle like, they had soundly siumbered
these many years, while Chicago, st. Louis,
Cincinnati, and other places had grown from
mere hamlets into magnificent cities, complete
in all the sdornments and comforts Of this
progressive age. Among our opponents were
spectacle. Among others of them might be
found those whom the Psalmst excludes when
he speaks of the man "that putteth not out his
money to usury, nor taketh reward against the
innocent" [laughter;l those who live upon the
necessities Of their fellows, and who know that
their profits will be diminished by q proper
administration OF affairs. In their ranks were
also to be found few young old men, VINO glory
in clingiDg to the past as closely as the ivy to
the Wondering ruins-men whose minds are too
small to be burdened with the demands Of the
present, or to anticipate the requirements OF the
future. There elements, by some unaccounta-
BILE process, were joined with q few verminous
vagabOnds, who for long years had chung to the
old corporation; and forming sO-called Citi-
Zens' Association, originated and carried to an
unsuccessful issue, both before the courts and
the people, q three months campaign against
the Improvements which the board had SO
promptly undertaken. Defeated before the
courts and ignoniniOusly routed, "hOrse, foot
and Dragons" before the people, they ap-
peaed to Congress for an investigation. through
a memorial which, they alleged, bore the sigma
lures OF thousand taxpayers. Examination,
however, exposed the fact that only two hun
dred and twelve of the petitioners contributed
to the revenues OF the local government, and
that the proportion OF the property which they
owned was only four per cent. of the whole val
uaton. Well, the desired investigation was
granted, and after an examination which for
fhorou phuees and latftude surpa sse6 kpoup