Grand Rapids morning telegram., 1885-04-15
CURTISS DENOUNCED.
Iaesss Hail Packed @ifh Cifixeas ,sho
Exprass rhssr Disscprosai OF
r4is Conoscf

xifh iaFse ero&d ~ people, bat ssysr be-
fore N rs hist1ry has a larger n1mbes of
ban1Aa beings been paeked yith1n AZ walls
than lssf sssenin< Hsladzea- eouid not gain
adsnlttznes. ~ every asat and every asaai-
abis foos ~ standing room was oeeaaispa
n = ssrimated that esr@ssn twelve ard nj
teen aanfred eltizens were present sho
seemed eonfent 10 De crowdsd and io~tlsd
eouid they bat leni a veics in aid Of the
grand pnFposs for which the msstizg sIas
sailed The assembizgs vss = reprssenta
ssss one. people Of every class. party and
creed beiiag present, aad they seemed intent
upon bat one paFpose-to resent and de-
nounee the stigma and insult east upsn thls
far ats her nams and fame b. one Of her
most hlghly hon0red citizens
q. c. Rood. chairman of the Citizens
COMMITTEES. appointed the presioa evening,
called the meeting 81 order. He said ae uas
heartily in sympathy With the parpesss of
the meeting. aud did not wish 10 ac.age or
shirk any daty. bat that be was III sad not
able 10 preside. he asked whom the people
wished for their chairman. ami loud calls
we're made for Col A. L. AcReynolds, who
was elected chairman.
Mr. AeRsyaolds, IN assuming the chair.
said it was unnecessary TO state The
object Of the meeting, so generally
known that any further explanation was
Unnecessary. more than that the people were
assem- bled, not 10 eriticise the words and acts
OF Mr.. John L. Curtiss, az citizen of Grand
Rapids, but TO eritieizs and denounee his
words and acts a. State Senator Cnrtiss and
Mayor-elecf Curtiss. The people have met
10 determine what action shall be taken in
references to bis words and actions regarding
resolutions of sympathy for the great soldier
and statesman, Gen Grant, prolonged
cheers eho for the past three or four weeks
IA. lam upon a bed of sickness prostrated
with terrible malady. While he was in this
sad condition resolutions of sympathy were
presented to the State Legislature to be
acted upon; there was bat one Senator, John
this point a small bat we'll organized
mob set mp Kissing, made
all sorts of cat calls and asked
loudly for Sam Clay. Mr.. Clay, in one of
those unfortunate conditions which call for
pity and charity, stood upon his seat, a. he
did several times. and made ridiculous ex-
hibition which became all the more lament
able az few of his followers, not friends,
melted him to speak.
The chairman was forced 10 call him 10
order, aud said if he read correctly from the
lips of Senator Curtiss, a. reported in the
Daily Democrat, he did not deny the charge
of sitting still when asked to vote upon the
resolution in question; does not deny bis
/ ieaviul: the Senate chamber because the
Chaplain invoked the Divine blessing for
Gen. Grant, in a eulogistic manner. Ii
is against these actions his constituents
and fellow citizens have reason
for taking sction. The chairman then
asked the pleasure Of the meeting. CyruI
E. Perkins was chosen Secretary, and on
motion of L. v. Housel twelve ex-soldiers
were chosen a. Vice Presidents, as follows:
Capt. Shriver. X. g. Sessions, Z. X. Hunt
ley, Dr. Failing. Geo. Schermerhorn, Geo.
T. Judd, Gen b. r. Pierce, Don j. Leath-
ers, Capt. B. G. Tracy, DIR. Griswold, Col.
Robert Sinclair. l.. V. Housed, DIR. Stephen
son and L. j. Everhart.
The Committee on Resolutions, through
Fred Worden, Chairman, reported the fol-
7 loving:
WHEREAS. } ohm l.. Curtiss. representing
I this district as Senator IN the Legislature of
/ the State Of Michigan and also occupying the
position of Mayor-elsct of this city, has by
( certain expressions publicly made IT Ian
I sing outraged the well-k known sentiments of
our citizenship of all shades of political
opinions and party affiliations. and, where
a. thus public meeting Is convened by n call
I issued from a mass meeting of citizens spon-
taneo usly gathered for the consideration of
our responsibilities as community in a
matter affecting our fair fame and pride be-
fore the nation.
Therefore. we arraign Senator Curtiss be-
fore the bar of his constituency for the fol-
lowing outrageous conduct and languages:
First-For having on the occasion of a
rising vote being taken IN the Legislature
upon the adoption OF a resolution rendering z
the sympathy and kind feeling of the people
of the State of Michigan toward our eminent
fellow citizen. Gen. Grant, and his family in
their affection. ostentatiOusly retained his
seat and thus made himself conspicuous as
the only member Of the body voting in the
I negative.
Secoud-For having left his seat in the
7 Senate chamber during the prayer of the
chaplain. because in few loving and beauti-
{ Jul WOTt@. ne rtfcfrtu 20 Oeu. Jrant ana
expressed the heartfelt sympathy of the
whole nation aud the civilized world for him
IN his suffering and dying condition. and for
subsequently declaring that he would not
remain in the State House il the flag was
placed at hsif-mast upon his death. We.
citizens Of Grand Rapids, irrespective of
of parties and creeds. have met together 10
express our adherence Of such sentiments.
Therefore.
Rssotred. While We concede the right of
Mr.. Curtiss as a citizen TO have and to hold
what views he pleases about General Grant,
living OF dying. he has no right IN bis public
station "a Senator and a. the Mayor-eiect of
this city, % express sentiments that are alb
horrent 70 the whole civilized world. and
which VIII II not repudisted bring disgrace
upon this city. Silence would be a crime.
K'eso}red. AZ an expression of orr indig-
nation. We demand his resignation OF the
Office to which he was elected; that he may
no lOngpr be IN position ~ Iurther disgrace
n by similar expressions and conduct.
Flssoges.s. That a. citizens OF 6vsnd Rapids
I We feel fasuited. disgraced and dishonored
By this threat Of Mr.. Curtise. and can do
no less than demand that he resign his sat
T in the Senate. that he may not further dis
xrsce the State by carrying his threat into