Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-01-21
Suffrage Meeting i'm south wash.
inEfan.

DISCUSSION Oh TIE DISTRICT GOVERN
MINI BILLS BEFORE CONGRESS.
\ mass meeting Of the citizens of the late
ti;h, nth and 18th legislative districts was
hCld iast night AT Zion Wesley (M El col
oTed church on u. between I'd and 81 streets
southwest. Ito give an eXpreSSioD to Con
cTcss as To- the form OF government most de
sired by The people for the government of the
District The meeting was held in the base
coloTed men except seventeen. Col. Perry
Carson called the meeting to order. and
stated that ne had taken the responsibility
al calling the meeting to obtain the wishes
Of the citizens OF South Washington as to
which of the several bills now pending before
Congress they desired. This meeting was
merely preliminary to one which is soon TO
follow la large hall and more central
point Tor the same purpose.
Henry Brooks was chosen to preside, with
Thomas jefferson Commodore az secretary.
col. CaESon called for the reading of the
Wright bfl. The secretary proceeded to read
1T. This bill. IL will he recOllecteI, proposes
n municipal government of mayor and coun-
ell. To be elected ny the people.
hR. DOWNING THINKS THIS THE DARKEST
DAY SINCE THE REBELLION.
Mr.. George /. Downing. who was present.
was called for and opposed the Morrill, bill
ON account Of the franchise feature. the
terms set forth in the Wright bill met his
hearty approval. Mr.. Morrill, s would make
slaves of them again. This is what the white
people want as the ballot gives too much
power To tine cOlOTcd men who are obtaining
too large control over District affairs. He
break up the cOlOTed men: that il is the dark
ct day since the rebellion: the south are bet
ter prepared for tight than they We're in
l~Gl. The great weakness Of our government
- That 10 does not make treason O1iOuS
enough.
DIR. JOSEPH WILLIAMS IN FAVOR OF MAN
AND WOMAN SUFFRAGE.
Mr.. Joseph Williams was called for. and
-lid that tGc objects which the meeting were
called fog met his hearty sympathy. He did
rot thins any government can be run as well
Of the constitution contemplated that this
District should he run by Commissioners.
He was in favor of suffrage To the fullest eN-
tent; he would go much further than many.
and say That he would give the ballot 10
every woman in the land. [Applau>e1 His
preference was for the Sargent bin which
all things considered. was the best for us.
IabOrlng men are not now making money
enough 10 keep body aud soul together.
THE DEMOCRATIC ORGANIZATIONS HEEE
PULL OF VITALITY AND TREASON.
Mr.. Williams continuing, said that there
appears Ia be u want OF brains among the
republican leaders. He would, however. re-
main republican as long as he lived. and
when that party goes under he would go
under with il. lhpplauSe.l Now. let every
one go 10 work and save tire grand Old party
nom destruction. Look al the democratic
organizations Of this District; they are as
full of vitality and treason as ever. Look at
the old Dem. jack. association: they are "a
lively as cTicLetS. and have as much treason
among them aS they had in lS6i. At least
three-tOUTthS of the Oflice-hOldeFs throughout
the country are Old democrats and they will
All jump together when the proper time
comes This has been grave error with the
repUblicaGS-they have been too magnauI-
nous and will lose by il.
Mr.. BOSWELL FAEORS THE SARGENT BILL.
MT. r. y. BOSW ell was the next speaker
and said ne had read all the bills D.. II i'm
congress proposing government for the
District of Columbia. and he was free to say
maj the one introduced by Senator Sargent
was. IN his Judgment. the best. An effort has
been made ~ the press that the general GOV
eminent should assume the responsibility of
government and pay the expense. Now ar
gumcnt had been made that the United
states has got control Of us. they furnish Us
officers who saddle an enormous debt upon
u and leave us to pay il. The general gov
eminent Sttll calls upon us 10 pay the debt
created by their own agents. Has the gov
eminent relieved the citizens here of This
enormous debt Saddlel upon us by its own
officers Not at all. The EVENING star
had expressed itself kindly towards this Sar-
gent bill, although il tlSf;tVOr> suffrage i'm
this District. He had noticed another article
IN that paper where IL d.iVOc& tel the organ
ling the Indian country into a territorial
fOi1n OF government. and that the elective
franchise be given the Indians for SeIf-gOy-
enlightened citizens.
Sidney Herbert interrupted a: this point 10
inquire u IHE STAR is not opposed 10 ali
~eli-gOvernment aS well as to the District
Mr.. Boswell said he could not saw that IL
was lie would not do IL the injustice 20 saw
that alier reading ITS comments on the SlT-
NOI ENOUGH FRANCHISE N THE SARGENT
BILL.
motion was made that the meeting in
dOTSe the sargent bill, when the chair. Henry
Brooks in a most excited manner made a
naTTdnsue against II and in favor OF The
Wright bill, a. 10 gave more franchise H.
took Mr.. Boswell and Perry Carson 10 task
for acting on a committee Of citizens 10 adj
vOcdte the passage of the Wright bill i'm Con
sTes> and now come here to advocate the
Sargent DILL. 10 was as he stated 81 a cross
fire AMI wild goose chase 10 get a >plit
among the citizens.
On motion. the Sargent bill was read after
which Thomas Commodore. Colonel Carson.
Mr.. ManuIngS. Mr.. Wilkinson ami others
made addresses, pro and con.
lHE WRIGHT BILL APPROVED And THE
MORRILL, ELL DENOUNCED.
vote was then taken. and the Wright bill
declared adopted bya vote OF g6 TOT
Perry Carson then offered resolutions
which were adOpted;-''Tuat one OF The fcl-
tUrr~ at the Morrill, bill against which We
protest Is that which denies To- the people the
right Of suffrage. We object to this because
II j. against the spirit OF Our institutions
and IayOr~ classes and monarchical intiu-
cHcc now at work i'm tine iant. Thar the pre>i-
dent oi each legislative club be Requested To
select i've representatives to meet at The
GalIlean hall on Monday evening January
18th. az 80 O'Clock. 10 make arrangements TO
mold "a mass meeting of citizens at Lincoln
hall OF the suffrage question"
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