Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-01-05
THE POWHATAN CLUB.
DEDICATION OF THEIR new HEAD
QUARTERS ON EIGHTH BrBEEr
Speeches by Hon J. l. NJ. Curry and Mayor
j. Taylor Ellyson-A Treat for tbs
Guests OF the Occasion.


Democrats OF this city set on foot the orgsni'
zStion Of a club similar 10 tne Calumet Of
Baltimore and the ITcqnois Of CHICAGO.
Nr. William Ryan, chairman OF the City
Committee, was one OF the originators Of the
scheme, and when Hon. Roger q. Mills and
william l.. Wilson spoke here on September
14th Mr.. Ryan mentioned the matter to them
anda name for the club was talked Of. Mr..
Mills, who only short time before had
spoken before the Iroqucis IN Chicago, sug-
gcsted the name OF FOcahontas. Mr.. Ryan
asked him II he was certain P0cahontas was
a Democrat. Mr. Mills replied: "Well, IL
she was not her father, POwhatau, was Demo-
crat enough"
Il was a happy hit, and when several OF
our citizens met to organize the club the
name OF Powhatan was adopted. Mr.
Wvndham K. Meredith wss elected tenn
porary president and tic members met reg
ularly in the Chancery- Court room.
About two months ago the election OF new
officers tool, pllce, aud the following were
chosen: President, Preston Beivin; Sec
re,ary, +. r. Grymes; Treasurer, Frank
". Cunningham; Vlce-Presidents, Roger
Atkinson. y. NJ. Roscher. Thomas Byrne,
sol. l.. Bloomberg, s. Taylor Evans, and
W. II. CulllngwOrth. Executive Com
mittee: Preston Belvin. F. W. Cunning
ham. James ID. Patton. William Ryan. and
william Lovenstein. The club was organ
lied for social and political purposes. Its
membership was limited TO 300, and has
already reached 800.
HEADQUARTERS.
The club has rented the school building
I'm the rear OF the German Lutheran church,
which stands at the southwest corner OF
Marshall and Eighth streets, and Il has been
elegantly fitted up under the direction oi
President Beivin.
The room 10 the right on entering viii be
used as a reading-room, while the one on the
left is the "irce.and.easy room," to be
used for smoking and such other purposes.
The large room 10 the back OF these two Is
used for the assembly-room.
DEDICATION.
The new quarters were formally opened
last night. From this time on the club
rooms will he kept open day and night, aod
the members will be privileged 10 entertain
their Democratic friends who visit the city
At these quarters.
Last night the club met at O'Clock and
had a business session. Or. G.. W. Il. Brock
and II. VI. smith. Jr, were appointed to in.
troduco Hon. J. Taylor Ellys0u, Mayor. snd
Hon. j. J.. NJ. Curry to the club.
MAYOE ELLYsOS.
After the routine business had been dis
posed OF President Bclyin. in appropriate
terms. presented Mayor Ellyson, the hrse
spe1ker.
The Mayor, when introduced, was loud
lv appmuied. lie said he congratulated the
club upon rs suspicious opening. It's mis-
sion was not merely the perpetuatlon OF The
principles OF Democracy, but the elevation
Of politics upon a plane OF greater dignity.
In repnblic like ours, where the govern
ment is Of the people. by the people, and
for the people. every American should feel
proud, not only OF tho privileges, but be
careful always 90 exercise the duties OF
citizenship. Every young man should he
encouraged 70 active participation IN party
affairs, for IN no way could he more surely
eyince his lOge OF his country.
ON these ideas the MAYOR elaborated IN 4
speech that was heartily received and
warmly applauded.
M. CURRY.
Hon. J. l.. NJ. Curry was next introduced
and was received with great applause. He
spoke Of the excellent material OF which the
club Is composed, and regarded IL as en-
couraginQ that lis membership is almost en-
tlrcly OF young men. He believed the or
QaniZ1tion could not have begTn its great
work under more favorable auspices. The
Mayor had sounded the right key.noie-
make politics 80 pure that all young men will
feelit their duty to take part In shaping the
legislation OF their country. There is nothing
in the word "politics" 10 imply that there
Is sdebascmsnt in taking part. A p0lti-
clan is one who strives to DO his duty 10 his
country asa citizen. He believed the club
would be medium for the culture Of young
men as well as eeyating them socially. The
speaker SAID that one question in regard to
the late campaign hiss absorbed all others II
is the happy effect of bringing politics to a
higher plane OF respect. There are many
things 10 be done bv the citizens besides
votiag. 10 Is the duty Of American citi-
zens TO preserve the purity OF the ballot
box. 4 good challenger is always necessary
At the polls. We fail 10 do our duty unless
Ne see that no fraudulent votes are cast II
ibis had been done all over the country
Grover Cleveland would be inaugurated on
the 4lh of March for n second term. ICheers !
Dr. Curry regretted TO hesr harsh words
used in regard 10 President Cleveland since
before the election. reStiirm what the old
Red Bandana" bad said about our Presl.
dent: "NO man ever occupied the presi-
dental chair who was more anxious
to do his duty 10 bis country
and have a good government" tApplau.e
II does not become any southerner 10 find
iault with the President. IL required coH-
rage, manhood. and seli.sacriGce for Cleye-
lana to recognize the southern man as the CO.
equll OF the northern.
Or. Curry sad there was nothing In the
late election to cause the Democratic heart 10
grow faint. Upon the popular vote Cleye-
land had 100000 majority over Harrison.
His Administration has been endorsed. Take
away the negro vote and an overwhelming
majority OF the whites sustain the Presi-
deut. and a majority OF the electoral
vote is in his favor. The Democratic party
can't die; il is impossible uniess the people
driit back to the ignorance and the bsr0aTism
OF the past. The people should qualify
themselves before casting their ballots. He
rejOiced TO think a dsy Is not far distant
when great questions will be discussed be-
fore the people. The first thing be did
when Il candidate for Congress In Alabama
was 10 challenge his opponent for a JOINT de-
bate all over the district, and none but ques-
tions OF importance to the country
were discussed. lie wanted every young
Democrat 10 get Jefers0n's inaugural
and read the principles upon which we pro-
Tess TO stand. For one, he believed when a
government takes from the PEOPLE more tax
than is necessary to support the government
it commits downright robbery. Cheers
THE STARS AND STRIPES.
Or. Curry said as a southern man and ex.
Confederate he stood unialiering, unwaver-
ing. unblushing. aud proudly under the
Stars and Stripes. [Grest appause.l Gro
YER Cleveland bad come 10 him and said:
=. You are Democrat and 4 sOutherner, but
place the Stars and Stripes in your hand,
and believe you will preserve its honor
aud not le; II trail in the dust, and had
thereby brought about a iraternal feeling be-
tween the sections. But, said the speaker.
the national Government is not the only one
which We must seek b elevate. Virginia
waS before the Union. and 10 her we must
lock for defence OF our character, the protec-
.iou OF our property, and the preservation Of
law and order IN our midst. lie hoped the
people would do sOmething-he could not
ssy what-to pull the old State out OF the
black food OF reputation into which she
nas fallen. Let something be done, so that
We will not always be sneeTed at and
.cOrDed.
In conclusion the speaker urged the club
10 20 on In their work, and work socially
md politically 10 make politics more honor
ibie, so that all citizens nav proudly take