Evening star., 1895-07-23
DISTRICT REPUBLICANS
The Speeches Delivered at Yesterdays Re-
union at Booker's Park.
Col. Carson Against Indorsfng Any
Presidential Candidate NOw-Aaron
Bradshaw's Letter.

The reunion of the republicans Of the
District of Columbia was continued last
night in Booker's Park, and there was
much speechmaking by the ''old boys"
The talking was begun at o'clock, and
Col. Perry Carson, who was announced as
| the orator of the day, called the vast as
| sembly to order. In doing SO Mr.. Carson
| said that he was opposed to the colored
| people of the District of Columbia as
| sembling in meetings and indorsing any,
| body as their choice for the presidency Of
the United States. He claimed that it was
| too early for such action and that the col
| ored people Were making the mistake of
| their life time in indorsing anybody. He
SAID that Mckinley, Reed, Harrison and
Ailison We're all good men, and the republi-
| can party might with credit nominate
| either one Of them as its standard bearer
but as for himself he was uncompromts-
| 1ngiy opposed to the selection of any man
VINO was not strong friend to the negro
race.
Must Stand Square on the Negro Que.-
tfOn.
He said that with the daily lynching and
| numbering of negroes in all sections of the
country the time had come when the
| negroes should be for some one for Presi-
| dent of the United States who would pro-
tect them in the enjoyment of their lives
and in the pursuit of happiness. He did
| not know where any of the candidates
stood upon this question, and before he in
| dorsed any of them he wanted an express
| sion from them as to where they stood
| upon the negro question. In referring to
| the question as to his selection as dele
| gate to the next national republican con-
| vention he said that he had no ambition
| to represent the people of the District un-
| less they were favorable to his selection.
| If In a free fight and a fair contest he
should be defeated he would take the de-
| feat in good grace, and would have no
| complaint to make. He said that since he
| had represented the people of the District
| he had tried as best he knew how to rep
resent them honestly and earnestly, and
| that his only mission in life was to attempt
| to secure to the negroes not only of the
| District, but of the entire nation the en-
| joyment of their rights. Referring 20 the
| condition of affairs in the District he said
| that 1t was a deplorable fact that thou
I sands of citizens in the District were de-
| MED the right of suffrage and that colored
| citizens were subjected to maltreatment
and outrage at the hands of the police off,
| cials of the District
He thanked God. however that a SEEM
| ingiy better era was dawning fo- the negro
in the appointment Of colored men on the
police force. Commissioner Truesdell was
| to be thanked for this
Col. Carson was followed by Richard
Laws. one of the old war horses, who
| made an eloquent speech, saying, as did
| the preceding speaker, that the indorse-
| ment of any candidate was unwise and i'm
polite. He pleaded for the restorat ton Of
| the right of suffrage in the District and
paid his respects to the police officials. He
criticised the action of the Mckinley
boomers in the mass meeting which was
held in South Washington. and said the
| meeting was held for the purpose of tick
| ling Mckinley's managers. All of the
| speakers sat down hard on the Mckinley
| ties, and. to cap the climax, S. E. Jones,
| who Is secretary of the Mckinley League,
and who. through the aid of his friends,
| was made the secretary of the meeting of
| last night, was compelled to read the fol-
| lowing letter from Mr.. Aaron Bradshaw,
| the chairman OF the central committee:
Mr.. Brnlshaw's Letter.
| Mr.. ChaiTmen and Gentlemen of the Com
nlittee:
The condition of my health will not per-
| NIT me either to be present at your meet
| ing or to address you. L feel, however, that
| 1t Will not be out of place for me to say a
word or two TO my fellow-republicans con-
cerning the reasons which seem to have
| lmpelled You to call the present meeting
| IL IA well known that for the past few
| weeks parties, acting in the interest of a
certain presidential candidate. have been in
| thts city, armed with the sinews of war
| endeavoring to forestall the republican sem
| timent of this District and force the elee-
ton of delegates to the next national re-
| publican convention, now almost year In
| the future. l take it that it is the purpose
| OF your meeting to set the seal of disap-
proval upon such action. It is neither
soou sense nor good politics. In my judg
ment to commit the republicans of this
| District to any candidate so far in advance
| Of the holding of the convention.
think, and 1 am led to believe that
| great majority Of the republican central
committee of this District concur with me
that this agitation so far in advance of the
| convention cannot be but detrimental to
the best interests Of the republicans of this
city and District, and is contrary, / think
| to the best judgment. of the leaders of our
| party throughout the country
feel constrained to say that. under the
circumstances, it would be well for the re-
| publican party of this District before enter
| Ing upon the campaign to await the ac-
| ton OF the party leaders, who WILL am
sausfled, advise at the proper time as
70 the party plans and policies. and then.
with united front. We will go forward to
| victory.
The present agitation is. in my humble
| Judgment, unwise and is started by the
same little band of patriots who have here
| tofore assumed to speak for the great body
| OF respectable republicans of this District.
and whose only motive is revenue and
| when the party speaks through its repre-
| sentatives in convention assembled the par
| ties referred to are never heard from again
| until the time approa ches for another presi-
| Dental election, when they again attempt
| to assume the reins Of the party. and make
| some innocent believe that they represent
somebody beside themselves
| Very respectfully,
AARON BRADSHAW.
chairman Republican Central Committee,
District of Columbia
Miss Jordnn's Address.
A novelty was added to the meeting by
the introduction of Miss Maria L. Jordan.
who was formerly teacher in the public
| schools of this city. Much attention was
! given to Miss Jordan, who urged that the
| colored people should insist upon their
| rights, but that they should live uprightly,
| should secure education and amass prop
| erty. We can never obtain the things we
act nNly -,
| said Miss Jordan, unless we shape our
| conduct after the proper pattern. 1 do not
| argue that we are worse than other people,
| but We must not take other people as our
standards unless those other people take
| upright living as their standards, for only
| the right will ultimately triumph We must
| set up high standard and work toward
| 1t. We must exhort our children to leave
| off habits of vice and frivolity and look to
| the more serious affairs of life. Many of
you have Stood the hardships of life-have
faced the hullet-to maintain your man.
| hood. You have contended for every right
| that is accorded to any other man and sue
| pph1a1 . hut x1-a ,,,f,