National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-01-14
DR.. RanhIn,s ReIoinder.

DEAR BRETHREN: Had 1t not been for the kind
ness of a friend should have entirely missed the
graces and amenities of your card in THE REPUBLE-
CAN of Wednesday My intention at the Sunday
meeting to which you allude was to give you
both the credit which has been widely accorded
one of you all over the country of having inaug-
| urated the movement for the enforcement of the
license law in this District. 1 am sure 1 read a
paper written by Presiding Elder Brown at the
first public meeting in Lincoln Rall, where DR..
| Lanohan presided. am sure, too, that Dr. Lana
han made the first suggestion 1 ever heard in ref
erence to removal of the Commissioners; and
this at meeting Ofthe pastors in his own church.
But if have been mistaken as to your real views,
or you have since changed your minds, 1 owe you
an humble apology. l do not admit that the re-
port of THE REPUBLICAN, other than above ex-
pressed gives either the intent spirit of my re-
marks. But rs Dr. Lanahan had an opportunity
| to ask me personally if it did in his church on
| Monday morning last, after my remarks had been
reported do not think it worth while to speak of
| that now. Perhaps an inquiry at that time would
| have added the incubation in progress.
| am frank to say toyou, gentlemen, that, though
my personal feelings toward Commissioner Nor
gan are those of entire kindness-and if L have
injured him personally sincerely regret it-Ih hold
him mainly responsible for the failure to enforce
the license law The contents of the letter he sent
marked confidential had been made public by
himself before | saw 1t, and replied to him at
once that could not treat it as confidential He
was dppOluJSu 10 OlllCe Oh recommendation OF
yourselves and the ". T. L. of the District pro-
| nounced temperance man. He asked to have the
| subject of licenses assigned specially to himself
And from his thorough acquaintance with the city
and the hauntS of crime and vice here, chief of
police, no man knows SO well as he just where and
| how the license law is violated, nor, would he do
| his duty, is there better man for the place You
| will excuse me if suggest what may not occur to
! you, that some good people may possibly think
| that, having raised this storm now that you see
whose devoted head it threatens TO burst you seek
| to alay it.
Ikn0w of no personal ends thought of or sought
to be advanced at the Sunday meeting. l have no
| candidate, and know of none who call themselves
| so. did not know that you protested against the
calling of the meeting. was not present when it
was voted to call it, and if either of you were i
| have been misinformed. l believe that, having
raised this entire question yourselves the pastors
have gone forward i'll examination of it, until the
| Commissioners are convicted of neglecting to en-
force the law of violating its provisions of inter
prcting it in the interest of the liquor traffic. this
| when they have given their solemn oath that it
| shall be faithfully enforced And | know of no
reason why should not say so. If this be gross
abuse of anybody, must stand convicted oft.
With entire respect for you personally, and with
thanks forthe courteous and gentlemanly tone of
| your card, may not say in the language of dis
| tinguished Southern correspondent of the Secre-
tary of the Treasury that my residence is o. Grant
Place. Very truly yours, j. E. RANKIN.