National Republican., 1880-09-29
TOWPITH BOrS.
New Crew Organized In Georgetown
Lively Meeting Last Night


street, south Of Bridge street. Major A. c.
Richards coming on deck was invited to take
hold of the forward mules reins and guide the
craft through the tortuous perls Of the nights
voyage. With one hand Oh the capslan and
the other on the main truck kccson he briefly
exhortcd the crew TO stand firm to their bow.
spirits and their principles, and their venture
would certainly reach port in fair weather
Dcck-hand A. Grimes hailed the captain
through the speaking trumpet, and suggested
The propriety Of opening n recruiting Office for
all present to sign the shipping articles. This
was accordingly done. The captain then gave
orders to throw overheard everybody
not connected with tho crew, which
was done, aud all hands were then
piped to refreshments Dech-haud Thomas
then addressed the crew briefly but energetic.
ally in the most approved nautical terms
and invited the attention of the crew to tho
presence among them of distinguished canal.
boat mariner, Hon. A. NJ. Clapp. Mr. Clapp,
in obedience TO repeated calls then addressed
the crew in an eloquent speech which was
considered by all present as having but one
defect that il was too short IIc had but one
regret about the towpath clubs--that tue idea
bad not been conceived in July instead Of
September. These organizations had u peou-
liar fitness in bringing to view tho great
qualities Of their staudSrd.bcuicr. lie urged
the M to hang out their bow-lghts and keep
up steady radiance. See to it, said he, that
you keep on the towpath and you'll never get
wrecked on the hcelpath. Aud see that tho
bow of your craft is not turned toward Salt
river. Shipping good crew, taking
on board u good cargo of principles,
they would be surprised to see by the
1st Of November the success that would attend
them. We IRE entering upon the most nroscrip-
tive and bitter campaign known to American
politics. Never in his experience had hc known
70 Lao ea1 Ia Vt,sa so
ruthless in their efforts to steal this govern.
ment from the hands of its friends aud lodge
10 in the hands of its foes. Parties are about
the same now as they were Fifty years ago,
| save that some of the issues had been committed
TO tile arbitranent of the sword, and their
solution admitted into tho constitution. He
had entered political lifein 1892 and for forty
eight years had labored earnestly and faithfully
for the success of the principles which his party
supported, aud in all that time he had never
| been able to discover why Providence had per-
| mitted the democratic party to exist. There
arc certain insects and reptiles for whose use
| or advantage TO the economy of nature he
could not account. They did exist however,
aud he supposed Providence permitted them
| to do SO Tor some wise but certainly iuscrut-
able reason. He then arragned tho demo.
| cratic party during the whole OF its career In
scathiug aud eloquent manner, eiciting
| continuous applause. The democratic party
| is responsible for the war, and hence was TO-.
! day in as hungry a condition as was Tanner
after his forty days fast The battles of the
union were fought by republicans, with a
| small percentage OF democrats, until, through
| carnage aud woe, the issue was terminated
at Appomattox, where tho bloody hand Of
| rebellion was made 10 surrender. For
| While then the copperheads of the
| north and the rebels Of the south
kept quiet in their holes, but after the recon.
| structiou they organized their ku klux, their
| rifle clubs and their nuiacturts of tissue
ballots to crush out rcpublcanism in the
| south. They now claim 13S electoral votes
| from the solid SOUTH There was Us much
ueed to-day for the republican heart to throb
earnestly and vigiantly rs iu those stormy
days when the guns of Fort Sumter woke an
echo through the land aud the drum beat the
long roll to summon soldiers all through the
country. The democrats weapons to achieve
success were those OF fraud, aud if they sue.
ceeded il would be sad and sombre day for
the nation. In conclusion he earnestly nd.
vised the club to keep yigiant lookout upon
the CANVASS in the sixth district of MARYLAND
aud prevent fraudulent votes going
out Of the district TO take part az INST
the republican candidate for congress
As to the outlook he assured tho club that
from the most reliable indications Indiana
would go republican by large majority in
October, and Il still larger ono in November
NJ aine would assuredly go fOr Garaeld. Ohio
was safe for the republican ticket. In New
| York he went into careful analysis Of the
| vote, aud showed that the republicans would
reach Harlem bridge with 10000 majority.
New York city and Brooklyn could not possi-
bly, give more than $4,000 democratic major.
ity, leaving clear republican majority OF ut
least 10000 to 25,000. New England was solid
for Garfield. The democrats might carry the
cranberry marshes Of New Jersey, but the
atate would cast its vote foI Garfield. On mo-
tion OF Deck-hand johnson vote of thanks
WIS given Tow'boy Clapp for his able
address, and he was elected nm
honorary member Of the crew, A
vote of thanks was voted Major Richards.
and he WAS elected an honorary member.
The crew then uuslung hammocks for the
night, aud the muo was carefully stalled and
strawed until the commencement of the next
| cruise.
This Towpath club has its quarters In a
cOmmodious building OH the banks of the
canal, suggesting harmony and fitness in
accord with its objects. The club organized
last Monday night with II membership of forty,
and last night received large accession to lis
numbers The officers elected Monday night
are: Captain, John G. Larmun; fist mate, X.
I. Arrow; second mate, j. Ii. Parkhur,t;
steersmHn, John p. Taylor; toll taker, f.
Quackenbush lookout, William Kensenger:
captains clerk, D. Johnson.