The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-01-05
POLITICS AS A DUTY.
A,ITAL ISSUE DISCUSSED AT THE
PONHATAN CLUB.
INTERESTING SPEECHES By THE
MAYOR AND DIR. CURRY
Letter From colonel Bei'ne.

The Powhatan Club Is one which has
Cor ia object the elevation of politics.
a. advocaiethe idea that a man can lake
an interest In politics and sum io''"'"
gentleman. e.oo and
elected about twenty-five new lnehn''9,
Reports from committees were i'"" """
received.
TnE OFFICERS
arc President. Preston Belvin; firS,
Vice President Roger Atkinson. second
Vice President T. NJ Roscher; lhra
Vice President. Thomas Byrnc Fourth
vice President Sol BlOomherg filih
Vice President. j. Taylor Evans, SKIN
Vjce.Prcsideni. William ii. Calling
worth ,.
AiQo'clock the party adjourned TO the
main room In their building The schooi-
room of St Johns German Lutheran
Church. some of the best men OF the
CITY were present
president Belvin called the meeting TO
order and introduced
MAYOR rMysoN.
The Mayor made short address He
aid not believe that politics should ne
machine for political work alone. vi
ronrsc said ne. the chief end of All right
tbinkinp people Is TO have theif politics
fnrn ont thcif way But there is - higher
olspe than that. lod must have high
eim-an aim which will lead tOthe entire
preservation of your property, your Wei
fare vour happiness bnt. above ail ihe
perpetuitv Of the Democratic party
Ne should reach ont still further All
of Won have fclt from time 90 time thai
Won were isolated When you tried 20
yet subscriptions 90 the peoples cause,
Won heard the expression, " De has gone
into politics and has lost All claim on us
in consequence.
This idea. that because "a man gives
thought 90 politics ami does his duty as
q citizen IS Ia forfeit the esteem OF his
neigbbors. is one which intelligent peo-
nile viii not allow. and which this club
win endcayorto prevent claim that IN
n government made for the people those
parties. whether native or foreign born.
Who are voters here. who fail TO do their
duty to their party forfeit the esteem OF
the people We are compelled 20 group
ourselves into parties and the inielh
gent people viii group themselves into
thar party which is the best for the
country
The mission. OF this club is 90 make
politics reputable and no man can have
4 higher spirit than 10 be- a member OF
Powhatan Club We want our people
10 feel that every white man should take
an earnest part. 20 90 meetings, and give
some of his time 10 his own party
HoS. ). L. NJ. CURRY
was next introduced He began by say.
ing that the most of YOU are young men
am clad TO be- with Won. and give an
encouraging word Dr Curry said il
was the most common mistake i'm the
world 20 say that real politician was
NOT statesman. There was nothing so
debasing as the idea thai "a politician is q
trickster 4 genuine politician is q man
who tries 10 do his duty, the duty of citi
zenshiq.
II occurs 90 me that g club like thii
might be a real education of the young
men Since the war our political dis
cussion have been on "a low plane.
say that frankly The last campaign
had the rare merit OF being fight bee
tween parties ON a higher plane wher'
economic principles were studied. Ina
campaign was an educating one i
taught the people 20 think il gave then
new ideas These ideas lodged i'm thei
minds will grow for intelligence an'
knowledge always bear fruit, and from
what hear TO .night that is the principle
of the POWhatan Club.
There are other things which an intel
ligent man has 20 think of besides yot
ING. Ii is Just as much the duty of al
American voter 20 Dee "a good. courageous
challenger at the polls as 10 vote himself
/ say that. after mature thought and de
liberation. il is absolutely necessary tina
the polls must bee watched i'm order Il
preserve the purity of elections
II the elections in this country Wer
conducted i'm purity. MI Clevelan'
would be- inaugurated President of thcs
United States ON the fourth day OF mex
March That there was not purity %
election that in some states fraud AM
omen bribery caused the popular Will q
be defeated goes without saving Judg
Thurman had said that i'm all his long OK
perience as public servant he neNe
knew a man 90 fearless or so cOnsclen
tious I'm the discharge of his duty as Nj
Cleveland no man was so careful as D
10 carry out the Spirit of the Constiu
fion on the laws of the lane
IL i'm becomes one on Southern terri
tory To say word against Mr. Clcyelan
as one of our State officers has done 10
that President was man among mei
one who stood on the ground OF commo
equality. who recognized the South, Wh
accorded 20 them their just dues VIA
made IL point to consider that ther
was no North or South, but one comma
country
This fact stasds out prominent ii
was not defeated By a popular vote G
100 900 the people endorsed him LeaN
out the ignorant negro vote, and his pol
ular majority was not only half amilliOi
hut he would have carried by an oyel
whelming vote the Electoral College
II You want 90 get
FEsT-CIAss PLATFORM
20 back 10 Jefferson first inaugura
We need as there stated. first equality q
taxation believe and assert that whe
the Government takes more than 10 need
il practices downright robbery
To any one who SAYS that any sent
ment OF mine is not true 20 our ir
situations, say openly feelingl'
unblGghingly in the face Of Go