National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1880-01-24
SUFFRAGE!
A Popular Demonstration
ELOQUENT ANDLOGICALPLEAS
Appealing for Self Government
DEMANDING A RIGHT
Meeting at 0dd-Fellows' Hall
ENTHUSIASM AND UhANIMlTY
Address by Col. Ingersoll
LAW STATEDBY Mr.. DURANT
Facts and Figures by Mr.. KIingle
Air. Berrett Gives Democratic Testimony
in Favor of suffrage-speeches by
Congressman De La Matyr
and Others.
LAW STATEDBY Mr.. DURANT T
Facts and Figures by Mr.. klingle
Mr. Berrett Gives Democratic Testimony
in Favor of suffrage-speeches by
Congressman De La Matyr
and Others.
The sufrrnge Mnss.NIeeiIng.

Odd. Fellows Hall was not half large enough
to accommodate tho crowd desirous of attend
ing the suffrage mass.meeting last evening.
Long before O'Clock the hall was filled 10 suf-
location, and the sidewalk and stairways IN
its vicinity were also packed. The gathering
comprised many of the very best citizens of
tho District, the majority of whom were ac
companied by their wives. No attempt at
decoration had been made, but the sea of up
turned faces viewed from tho stage made am
pie amends for any defect in this respect.
On the platform were seated Representatives
De La Matyr and Weaver, of Indiana, Hon. j.
q. Berrett, Judge Rice, Hon. r. J. Durant, s.
J. Bowen Robert Purvis, Marshal Douglass
Horatio Browning, jesse b. Wilson, A. NJ.
Clapp, Dr. ]. f. Dexter Justices Richards and
Bundy, ]. II. Crane, Amos Hunt, General
Whitaker, j. p Klinge, DIR. c. B. Purvis, Col.
onel w. II. Slater Lewis Clephane, Mrs, Belva
A. Lockwood and several other ladies. A few
minutes before o'clock the meeting was
called to order by Justice A. &. Richards who
nominated Hon. james G. Berrett for chair
man. Mr.. Berrott was unanimously elected,
and upon taking the chair, spoke as follows;
ADDRESS OF Mr.. BERRETT.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN; tender to you
my grateful acknowledgements for the well
come greeting with which my name has been
ing. The occasion which brings you together
is one which eXcites my earnest sympathy
not of to-day or yesterday, but was educated
iu that school of politics which taught me to
believe then, as do now, that every commu-
nifty like ours Is capable, under proper laws
TO govern itself. In other words, am most
decidedly in favor of what is called Home
Rule" 1t is remarkable fact that at the
Capital of this great Nation-ouc whose boast
has been that of being the only one upon tho
face of the earth which rests upon the will of
the people-that the people of this District
should be deprived for any length Of time of
all management of their affairs. 1t is an
anomaly in the history Of the country That
Congress never designed any such thing,
am thoroughly convinced; and whilst 1t is
right and proper that we should assemble to-
gether and discuss this question of Home
Rule, / trust it will be done with a consdera-
tiOn and moderation which should characterize
those who seek to have rights restored
that have been temporarily withheld
from them. Now, am ono of those who be-
leyo that the representatives IN yondcr Con-
Eress, whose conduct in regard to the District
of Columbia has been of the most generous
character, will treat us justly; and whilst they
have withheld for the time being the right to
govern themselves, they have settled an inn
poYtnnt question, ono which agitated the pub
lie mind from the very foundation Of the Gov.
ernment and they have finally recognized
that IL is the right and tho duty Of the Gov.
ernment to be fair contributor to the support
OF capital olty designed upon scale far be.
yond the capacity OF Its people to support, by
reason of the fact that 1t is IL political capital
merely, where the great enterprises which be-
long to large cities can exist only to limited
extent That question having been, l think
finally settled, there never was more apprO-
pirate time to address ourselves calmly and
considerately to the representatives of the
people to dclermne what fair share we should
have In our own government, and am sure
that they do not desire more than that
What they do want aud what desire rs s
citizen of this Capital, is that we shall have
TOice in the management OF our affairs,
know there are are those, and men too of the
highest intelligence and devotion TO the high
est interests of the country, who do not have
confidence in that form OF government whicl
depends entirely upon the popular voice. | an
not insensible also that the people have mad'
mistakes, but in my Judgment if you will trace
back the history OF the people of this country
you will find that whenever they have made
mistake, whenever they have placed il
positions of high public trust thos,
who have proved false, they hay,
them, aud thoy do il in q very quic
and very sensible way. A little piece o
paper deposited between the rising aud tht
setting Of the sun, settles that question, an(
settles il efficiently 1t will be done so here
The people Of Washington have probably mad,
mistakes-but, will say, less than almost any
other city Of the Union, 1t has been my lot
and frequently, in tho discharge of public
duties to bo brought iutO contact with th
men who have administered the local govern
ment here, aud do not believe that from tn,
time when the first charter was granted an!
public officer elected by the people has beer
found false to tho duties imposed upon him
Rarely or never has there been deiaultor
but our chief officers have almost uniformly
heen among tho best men Of tho city ant
county, and for the last fifty years have hlle'
the positions with credit to themselves anC
advantage to the community lam very mucl
obliged for your considerate attention, an'
80 auspicious are the circumstances uude