The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1884-02-13
THE pIsrRror REPUBLICANS


Meet and Organize the Central Com
mittec-wr. Cfnpp Elected Chair
mnn-The Unfair Attacks of n Ger.
tain Afternoon Paper Denounced.
At Association Hall, last evening, at
O'Clock, the Hon. A. M. Clapp called to
order tho large assomblagc that had gath
cred in response to call for meeting to
organize the Central Republican Committee
of the District Of Columbia.
The audience crowded the hall TO over
flowing, and was far more orderly and quiet
than such assemblages usually arc in other
cities.
The colored mon were vastly In the ma
jority, but among tho white men Colonel
Clapp, General Whitaker, City Postmaster
Copger, Captain Grant, Captain McCathran,
George Holmes George McElfresh, John
Sargent and others were noticed, while
among the moro distinguished colored men
were Messrs. Gregory, Greener, Carson,
Cook, Chase, Freeman, Laws, &c.
Tho Contest of the Evening
between tho younger and older elements -
represented by the support of Mr.. Clapp
and the opposition to him and the support
as soon as tho gavel fell, but the contest
was for the most part good-natured and
was not very earnest except in Carson's
persistent and successful efforts in support
of Mr.. Clapp.
Mr.. Clapp, in his opening address, said
that they had come together as delegates
to perfect their organization-a simple
duty which should be tremendously and
spontaneously performed. The people
of this District had but this
One Poor Four-YearIy Privilege,
and they should show by their action at
the meeting that they could be faithful
over few things, even If they were not to
be made rulers over many things.
Professor Gregory was called to act ms
secretary, and the credentials Of delegates
were called for.
The chair appointed sergeants-at-arm TO
| preserve order among the audience in the
rear portion of the hall.
In receiving the credentials the fact de-
veloped that there were contests in the
| Fourth, Fifth and Seventh Districts, and
the chair was authorized to appoint COM
| mittee on credentials, consisting of one dele
| gate from each district in which there was
| no contest.
Mr.. Chase inaugufted the contest of the
| evening by disputing the right of the chair
to appoint the committee, and urging the
meeting to go into temporary organization.
| He claimed that the presiding officer had
no authority except to call for nomina-
tions for officers.
Mr.. Chase was greeted with Kisses from
the representatives of the opposite faction,
and was overruled by the chair and ap-
1 pealed from the decision The chair de-
clined to entertain the appeal, and Pro-
fessor Gregory suggested that the obnox-
ious delegate be removed from the hall If
he continued to interrupt
Mr.. Chase inquired who could remove
him, and Perry Carson volunteered to an
swer the question, but yielded in the in
terest of harmony.
The chair then appointed the committee
oncredentials, and they retired from the
hall.
Mr.. George Holmes introduced the fol-
lowing resolutions, but their consideration
was postponed:
Resolutions Passed.
ReSoired, That we arraign John Sherman of
Ohio, John A. Kasson OF Iowa, John J. ingalls,
OF Kansas, and David X. Cartier OF the District
| OF Columbia. at the bar OF human rights aud
human Justice, as traitors to the American
ideas OF government, which rest on the broad
Just power from the consent OF the governed,
they having each put themselves on record as
opposed to the Inhabitants OF cities being
| allowed TO govern themselves, and the last
| named having COMO out of his way, while
| rendering O legal decision, to assatl tho prin.
pch as Which
| he Is about to retire on q pension OF $4,000
per annum, wrung from the bone and sinew
Of the toiling masses he is now seeking to
Resoired, THAT we call upon the constituents
| OF the said Sherman, Kasson and Ingalls, to
take note OF their reasonable utterances and
to I'LL their places with men VINO not Will use
| the positions they are elected to I'LL by seek
Ing TO undermine republican Institutions.
| ReS0lued, That we view with sorrow the
spectacle OF Judge about to retire from the
bench after twenty Years OF continuous ser
vice, noted for great legal ability, trailing his
70 sentiments more adapted to Imperial 81
Petersburg than free, democratic America.
Remarks OF MIR. Laws.
Mr.. VIM. Laws was called for and ad
dressed the meeting, paying q glowing
tribute to the character and services of Mr.
Clapp, but without naming him. ~ will
not name this grand old man" he said, "be
cause am not delegate here"
| A voice interrupted with a remark thai
it was good thing that he was not.
Mr.. Laws warned the interrupter that h,
was trifing with political war-horse ant
interrupting gentleman in the midst O
an Grafton and continued with his address
fav0riDg suffrage in this District and say
ing that ballot in the hands of either
was more powerful than musket in thu
hands Of a soldier. If this COMMITTEES
worked wisely and we'll, by next year w
might elect our own rulers on Four-and-a
half street and have some voice in matter
of taxation, education, etc. 1t might no
be the case, then, that when black maj
went before the Civil-Service Commission
ers the color of his face was prima facie evi
dence against his fitness and bar to hi
recognition.
Captain Donald McCathran
<tte'was enthusiastically received and addressed
the convention briefly on the desirability o
suffrage and the means by which IL can b
attained.
MIR. Chase's Grievances.
Dir. w. @. Chase was called for aud ad
dressed the meeting. II have the privileg
of addressing you" he began, Sin respons
to your long-continued calls and In opposi
ton to the gag-law practiced by the chair
man." afA ~
please speak the truth, interrupted th
chairman. Nf ~ M
Il have done So"
"You have not" added the chair.
MIR. Chase continued to recite his griey
ance, but was interrupted by objections :
his arraignment of the chair, aud continues
by stating that it was claimed that Their
were two factions, q younger aud an olde
element, in the meeting, and that the0lde
y was going to try TO run the meeting an
establish ring rule. His denunciat;on Q
the boss" supposed to be Perry Carson
caused some discussion, but the speake
: changed to defense Of suffrage, and bar