Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-10-24

COLEMAN ON TIE STUMP.--William
Coleman, colored, ex-member OF the
chain gang and would-be Delegate
from this city and county to the Leg
islature, addressed a crowd Mt the
intersection of King and Royal streets
last night, and it is suggested he was
the cause of lessening the audience of
Bill Nye, who lectured in the Opera
House on the next square, many
having started to hear that philosoph-
er, who afterwards concluded there
was amusement enough in the
streets and that it was unnecessary to
spend half dollar. Coleman mounted
dry goods box and began to define
his position. The first plank in his
platform was material reduction in
the license tax on saloons. Instead of
SIS S25 should be charged and then
consumers would obtain the pure corn
Juice. At present dealers were COM
PEELED to make ten barrels out of one
BY tue use of water in order to get their
money back after paying the exorbi-
tant license. The accomplishment of
this desideratum would be his first en-
deavor. Then in regard to race tracks
he said he was in favor of as many
tracks as could be supported; they
were good institutions, and the more
the merrier. Policy, he believed, was
great boon, to poor people especially.
They often "struck it," he claimed.
S'For instance" said the speaker, ian
old colored woman gathers some rags.
She gets FIVE cents for them and plays
fhe gig or some other row which
comes out; isn't that help to her ?
Ny friends, the opposition to policy
comes from people who don't know
how to strike it. Never play the
snake row; that never comes out;
but watch your dreams and be sharp
and you'll beat it every time" Cole
man said the ''chaingaDg" row was
good; it invariably came out. Elect
him to the Legislature and he would
have the game legalized; he would
have the wheel examined by an OF
fetal in order that the players would
get what was due them. Passing on
the speaker took exception to some
things in connection with the judicial
proceedings of the State. Zone thing"
he said, II would revolutionize would
be the present system of issuing war
rants and the trial of cases. No
warrant should be issued until
paid for and the prisoner in the dock
should be allowed to say as much as
the Mayor or Justice who tried the
case" He was in favor of the whipping
post provided every time negro was
whipped a white man was inflicted
with the like punishment. He didn't
think Sambo should have it all. He
agreed with Ahasuerus of old that
every man should bear rule in his own
household, and that no woman should
be allowed to wear the breeches. This
was another evil he would have
remedied when he went to the legisla
ture. He was averse to the Australian
ballot and if sent to the Legislature
would have it abolished. Coleman
will make another address at the corner
of King and Washington streets to-
morrow night.
When Coleman had spent his thun.
der Thomas Morgan, the tailor, who
is also a candidate for the Legislature,
mounted the box. He advocated the
abolition of rack tracks, prohibition,
sc. The audience, however, were not
in a condition to appreciate the
speakers address aud Trimmed out. He
soon brought his remarks to a close.