Evening star., 1880-02-03
Suffrage Boom in the Eighth Dis
trict.
TRUE GOODNESS AT THE FRONT.

Suffrage Prayer by the Rep. BIilo5-The Dot1a-
Troddea and f'ef Cttsted-Out to be LIFTED Up bg
Ote BGAot-Coi. William A. Cook speaks etO-
qHnuP Upon the True, the Good, ana the
BedtttifuI in Ward PoliticS-Had the Htrth
EfTGe5PrS Ben Good They WOuld Not be In
JaR-HOf A. N. CtGpp Compares Col. COOKS
Eighth District C9ub to q Sunday school as q
Moral AQent-He Gipes Some GOOD Adrtca-
COL. COOK Defends S,lGrage IN the District
Murder Bay and Helrs Bottom No Worse
Than Fire POints-ReSOtttiORS Adopted.
The Young Mems Republican Club Of the sth
district met last night at Rev. H. Bailors church.
corner of 10th and streets northwest. Colonel
w. A. Cook presided, with w. II. Jordan secre-
tary. There were about sixty persons present,
including eX-Alderman j. H. Crossman, ex-
Ward Commissioner R. J. BeaIl, ex-District
Treasurer John L. johnson, #. E. Green, ST.,
Elijah Dudley, DR.. Washington Towles, Harry
Makins. Richard Laws. Colonel Cook, on taking
the chair, called on Rev. Henry Bailor to lead in
prayer, and he complied, asking that the affairs
OF the future might not be tainted with the af-
fairs OF the past; that the times may grow bright
er; that the city which had been SO trodden down
and caSted out might be raised and the time
speedily come when they may choose their leader.
Col. Cook returned mis- thanks for The honor
conferred by eiecting him the president unasked
aud unsolicited and he believed that this COM
piiment had been paid him because of his SER
vice in the past, when he had sincerely per-
formed his duty under the banner OF ''Free men
free soil " &c: He congratulated them that they
had met quietly, and admonlshed them uhat
nothing pays better than to be good and do good,
and remarked that those who to-day are charged
had they determined to dc good.
Eon. A. NJ. Clapp, editor OF the N1ttOnU Re-
pubticd1a, was introduced and addressed the
meeting, sketching the organization of the re-
publican party In Pittsburg, February 22d 1876
He claimed that the war was not republican
measure but a democratic measure, and charged
that the democrats had been, and always viii
be slave-lov1ng party. He regarded such a
club as this in the same light as the Sunday
school to the church. and urged that they Or
ganZe and educate themselves on the side OF
right, and when suffrage is given us, you will
take your places and be entitled to the respect
which will be shown you. There were
in this city a class who characterize poor men,
make themselves good citizens and give the lie
direct TO those making the charge. Take care
OF yourselves, be good citizens educate your
children and yourselves and you will be appfe-
appreciate the boon of suffrage and they should
obtain respectabiity. They know now that
their places were In the republican party, and
they should make themselves conversant with
the rules OF government and the issues Of the
day.
Col. W. A. Cook said the all important ques-
ton was "Ought there to be suffrage in the
Dstrict?" and asked what does suffrage mean?
Why simply voting by ballot or voice as to
rulers. Why ought there to be suffrage? Be
cause it is a principle bedded in the constitu-
tion of the tinted States, and there is not
state or territory save this territory in the
country to which it is not granted even far out
war whoopS. IT is said that because Congress
''shall exercise exclusive legislation &C.. in the
District of Columbia that Suffrage should not be
exercised here. But that does not exclude the
ballot nor prevent suffrage. The chief obec-
ton Is that there is Murder Bay and Hell's
Bottom in the District, but does it follow
that there are no good people in the District?
Even in Murder Bay and Heils Bottom, in some
poor mans bosom, there may be as much viz
tue as those who were raised in the laps of
luxury. Why, it was poor Lazarus, who laid
by the rich mans gate, and whose sores were
licked by the dogs, who possessed the virture
over Dives, the rich man, and who was permit
ted TO enter the gates OF life. If this argument
is to prevail, what will become of the Five
Points IN New York the SWampS in Baltimore?
Although we have HelFs Bottom and Murder
Bay, there are as good men there as In Penn
ssylyania; MARYLAND, Virginia. Or any of
better. one fact remains that when an attempt
was made to grasp the stars from the grand old
flag no colored mans hand was used for that
purpose and this of itself should merit treat
ment as American citizens. The ballot lifts
people up and educate them, andit has educated
many OF you and made you familiar with the
Declaration OF Independence and the Constitu-
ton. 1t tends not to debase but to lift up.
Who can be injured by suffrage? 1t is said that
incompetent men were elected in the past and
may be voted for again. Who did the citizens
elect here: Mayors Berrett, Wallach, Bowen,
and Emery? Were they not as enlightened as
wise, as competent, as the present Commissioners
even though the voters come from Murder Bay
erS, but they were not worse than the salary
grabbers and credit mobilliers, who pocketed
money, while the feather-duSters made off with
few old broomS and stands There are to-day
more bad men. drunkards, debauchers, in Con-
gresS than were In the legislature, and Helrs
Bottom people could not do worse. He noticed
that in Pennsylvania to-day members OF the
legislature were under Indictment for bribery
anu members OF the legiSlature-feather-du
though they Were-Were not so charged.
RESOLUTIONS were adopted. concluding as fol-
lows: THAT While we desire that in the politics
OF our country the time will come when lines OF
race and color will be forgotten, and men be
elevated to position solely because OF character
and capacity; and this District both officers or
delegates to conventions should be composed of
a fair and just representation Of both races
That we will appear at The meeting to be held
Thursday evening, the 5th inst. and calmly en-
deavor to carry out the views expressed in these
resolutions, and dc what we can to send the
republican national convention delegates and
alternateS who will wisely and faithfully assist
In selecting as candidates for the Presidency
and Vice Presidency men tried, true, of high
character and general popularity, so that The
banner of the republican party may be carried
to certain and glorious victory"
Other addresses were made by ThoS. E. Green
and Rev. II. Bailor. the former asserting that
the principal objection made to suffrage was
the colored vote