New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-04-16

tropolis of the Nation. The ''bone of con
tention, - occasioning heated and passionate
discussions. personal abuse, villificatiOns ant
unparalleled wranglings, has been christened
the
SUMNER NATIONAL MONUMENT AssocIA.
TION.
1t appears from what have been enabled
to gather, by actual presence and observation,
and from published reports, that the dispute
(which has terminated with a bitterness OF
feeling, incapable Of being expressed arose
out OF the question of Organization and leader
ship, which has been characterized by the
opponants afthis Association as "star cham
Der arrangement" from the fact that few
gentlemen met at private house and organ
lzed themselves into national association, -
by electing the following officers Geo. Il.
Downing, President Carter A. Stewart, Vice
President Jno, A. Gray, Treasurer; d. A.
Straker, Secretary, and VIM Matthews, FL
nancial Secretary together with an executive
committee or board Of directors offive Mr..
Sella Martin, Prof. Storum, and three others
whose names cannot recall. This assoca-
tiou proposed to be Incorporated forthwith by
Congress, with power to purchase real estate,
and to solicit funds to have a capital $780,
900: to appoint agencies snb-agencies
throughout the country, and to have money
received by and through their agents, for
warded to the national committee at Wash
ington. After having matured all plans
necessary to ensure success of this scheme,
so Tar as its appearance on paper was con-
cerfed. a public meeting was called at the
Fifteenth strecr Presbyterian church, for the
purpose OF having this action ratified by the
people. and just at this point,
THE DIsGRACEFUL SCENE DEVELOPED
ITSELF,
by the clashing of the elements, "star cham
Der club" and "anti-star chamber men,
The latter crowded the church in large num-
beers, and the result of that meeting cannot be
depicted. The ::''press" of the District,
without regard topolitical affiliations, severe
~ critlcise and condemn its proceedings.
THE ERA OF THIS WEEK,
devotes nearly one side to the meeting, and
after giving lengthy account of it, prints
several explanatory letters of those who
opposed it, among them, trustee Archey
Lewis, Prof. Sampson, Sidney Mcfarland,
John Lewis Webster, NJ. nj. Holland, DR..
Bowen, and Charles n. Thomas, and
others, the same letters having pearcd
previously in the Washington dailies. The
plan OF this association, as given by the Era,
was substantially as follows -
"That the people should have nothing to
say in the choice of officers, which had
already be9n chosen. Second. That the
tional scop. Third. That no state associ-
alton should act without charter from this
so-called national association. Fourth.
That the so-called national association
should be incorporated by act Of Congress,
and handle all the funds raisedn
MIR. Sclla Martin, it appears, Withdrew
from the first meeting, when this association
was organized. lie refused to act and keep
secret the proceedingscOf the private meet
ings, as had been understood by those who
met, by virtue Ofwritten invitations. Among
very plausible reason that Mr.. Martin gave for
his secession, was one with regard to an un
dertaking similar to the present, } for the pur-
pose of erecting Lincoln Monument, which
had failed; and, that too, after large
amount OF money had been collected for the
purpose throughout the country, and forward
| ed to Washington. He opposed the adoption
| of the minutes in lengthy speech, and here
confusion worse confounded" predomi-
mated.
MIR. Martin, in the course of his remarks,
| stated his plan, that had been unceremo-
| niOusly rejected by the national associa-
ton, viz: That all benevolent societies, in
Guiding churches and schools, should be al
| lowed to collect, retain, and cOutrol their
own separate funds and after having raised
one thousand dollars, to have the power to
| appoint trustee, who should represent
them and th9ir interests at Washington, in
this matter. In referring to the Lincoln
Monument matter, he said, ''agents were
appointed, they went through the country beg
ging moneny, and either because inefficient
agents were selected, who could not get
money, or dishonest ones were appointed
who kept what they got for their own use
the monument turned out a miserable fail
ure. One such is sufficient for whole
country, and two such are enough to damn
the sense of gratitude of any race. "-Wash-
ingtOn Correspondent National Progress.