National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-07-16
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.

Yesterday hand-bills were protuseIy scattered
throughout the city, announcing mass-meet-
ing of citizens Of the District OF Columbia, II
respective of party affiliations, under the aus
pices of 1.-THE Republican Central Executive
Committee" for the purpose Of giving express
sion to their sentiments and opinions in reIa-
tiOn to District affairs.
) In response to the call and the music of a
band about two hundred persons, large pro-
TOrtion of whom were colored, gathered last
night in Legislative hall. There was some
Helay in calling the meeting to order, the gas
metre having been removed by order Of the gas
bompanv about O'Clock in the afternoon, and
consequently the hall was enyelOped in dark
ness. A large number Of candles were soon
procured, however, and placed on the ehande-
Fiers, tables and wainscOting around the room.
: In the meantime, and while the crowd was
@aiting outside, the National band" per-
formed several popular airs, and at $50 o'clock
entered the hall TO the tune of Hail Columbia.
The hall was decorated with miniature flags,
and a banner, emblazOned with the coat OF
arms Of the District, was suspended above the
Platform. In the rear of the speakers stand,
stretching across the four pillars, was piece
OF white cotton, upon which was inscribed, IN
conspicuous letters, which could be easily read
by the light of the ''dip," the following sen
fences: f'Dennison will look to the interests Of
the outraged District DelizelS." "The way to
catch all Togues is to raise BlOD." "When
once blown out there is one to heteh-u'n."
At S45 Mr.. J. H. B. SmallwOod called the
meeting to order, and announced that although
the gas had been turned of, there would be
two or three speeches.
Mr.. Alfred Jones was then elected chairman,
and remarked that he knew not the particular
object of the meeting, but il was called without
regard to religion or politics, and to bring into
use he believed, a new broom, which always
swept clean. Mr.. J. II. B. Smallwood was
chosen secretary.
After an air by the band, A. NJ. Green was
called fer, and commenced by saying that the
scene presented tonight, by the effort to de-
range their proceedings, was nothing new to
those who had for some time been trying to
ride them down. But, notwithstanding these
attempts to prevent the meeting, they had as
sembIed, and would continue to meet until
Justice triumphed. He had inquired as to the
cause of the removal OF the gas meter, and had
ascertained that it was done by the gas com,
many, TO whom the late District government
owed some $50, 900, and $40 or $50 for gas con
sumed by the late Legislature.
The speaker then referred to the action taEeI
bv the (defunct) Republican Central EXecu
tive Committee, with a view to the propriety o
expressing the opinion of the citizens upon tn
affairs Of the District in presence of the Distric
Commissioners. In seeking the use Of this hal
for the purpose, they found that everything
had been legally attached-the desks, tn
chairs, the tables, the pens, the paper, tn
brOoms and everything else. But the commit
tee had unloOsened that string, and they ha
come here to expose corruption and sWlndnng
and to welcome the Commissioners as the SUE
cessors of the tyrants that had recently rule
them and gourmandized themselves wit
wealth. 1t was proper that the masses OF th
people (Green & Coz should invite the Com
missioners to look them square in the face an
hear what was said.
In regard TO appointments, the Republics
committee have not asked the Commissioner
to appoint a single man; but men had bee
recommended by others and were retained tina
were not worthy to hold any place exceI
among the Hindoos. The Commissioners ha
been informed late this evening that there woul
be 10 meeting tonight, because Of the want
gas: that it had been determined TO postpon
the meeting until tomorrow night; yet theI
was a meeting tonight, although they hs
only the prOfuse light of tRllOw candles. II
speaker then complimented THE NATIoNA
REPUBLICAN by allusion to an editorial of ye
terday in relation to the sO-called Republics
executive committee. But the meeting mig
rest assured that Morrison building would
cleaned out in the course Of week. The pre-
should not wall or mourn because honest MI
were seen going into the doors of the Comm
siOners. There would be another meeting
morrow night, when all the speakers would
here. The press might misrepresent, but {
Commissioners knew they were lying, and
they continued to lie the Commissioners Won
not believe themeyen when they told the trut
They would meet again to morrow night, VIII
thew would have more light upon the subjet
and talk more fully of the grievances und
which they labored.
The band then struck up "Star Spangl
Banner"
Mr.. Albert Coffin was next called out, a