The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1869-02-10
Social Equality at the Capital.

the elite of Washington society to col
tribute their portion towards the eel
bration OF such an event as the acce
sion of a new administration by giyir
a grand Inauguration ball. There
nothing about the approaching inaug,
ration which specially calls for the al
rogation of the usual custom. On IL
the contrary it has been thought tn:
the Inauguration of Grant, whose ele,
ton has caused such delight anon
thousands of the truly loyal, of a
colors, ages, sexes and condition.
should be celebrated with a splendo
and magnificence which would tliro,
into the shade all similar celebration
since the foundation of the government
A grand ball committee, therefore, ha
been engaged in getting up the inaugu
ration ball on q scale of surpassin
grandeur and elegance. Tickets Q
admission have been sent far and nea,
and invitations extended to all the 10y
al leaders Of society, male and female
from one end of the country to the 9th
er. 1t being impossible to obtain ;
hall of sufficient dimensions, Congress.
was petioned to permit the use of tn,
Rotnnda, in order that the loyal belle.
and beaux might trip the light fan.
tastic toe" under the dome of the Can.
itol, from which daily issue such co.
pious outpourings of Radical wisdom.
But it seems that all these grand
preparations are to go for nothing, and
that after all the Radical creme de la
creme are to be debarred the pleasure
OF celebrating the Inauguration after
their own peculiar fashion. Gen. Grant
has written a short and apparently
modest note to the committee REQUEST
ing that the usual ball he dispensed
with, and Congress has refused the use
OF the Rotunda for any such purpose.
Now, all this looks very we'll at dis.
lance. Gen. Grant will doubtless be
praised for his Republican simplicity of
character. and Congress for its scrupu-
ious carefulness of the public property.
But unfortunately some people, who
know that simplicity is not General
Grants forte, and that economy is not
The characteristic ofRadical legislation,
have investigated the causes which led
20 the abolition of the inauguration
ball, and have discovered them, It
originated in the open announcement
II the committee, that "no id MIA
'ers are to be admitted.n This is the
'omb which has exploded in the Radi-
al social circle at Washington, and
which has scattered to the winds all
he hopes of the Radical bellies and
'eaux. The Radical administration
annot afford to have the niger cues
ion settled by Radical society in any
UGH summary manner. Did not the
oiored troops eight nobly ~ Has
OF a niger been elected to Congress
ON Louisiana, to say nothing of his t
1preme authority in ten States of the
Mont Did they not all vote for =
rant, and did not Grant make them a '
'eech, which, according to the N. Y. b
'76"ne, was the longest and the best r
ever made7 1t is, therefore, i'm
'sslble to ignore the social claims to "
cognition of the many thousand nig- S
+ ladies and gentlemen who fiocked ';
Washington, after the advent of the :,
llennium of freedom, to catch some p
the crumbs which should fall from II
Abolition table. Such q course ~
'uld be a mortal insult to the memo ST
OF Thad. Stevens and to his saddle re
ored "housekeeper." Such a course ae
uld be an objectionable sin in the Nc ns
IS OF Charles Sumner and his "God- te
Is OF Liberty" 1t would be the aft
ght of absurdity to refuse the Radi- K1
oeiles-daughters of Presidents, sa,
1gressmen and army oficers-the as
'eted privilege of RECALLING their OIL ali
tories amid the crowd of promising VIZ VIZ
zen and BRETHREN" prospective gov us
ors, Senators and Judges from the no.
lthern States. 1t would be cruel in tne
extreme to cut off the young bach wa wa
congressman from the Northern Wi
ties from all intercourse with the ent
them Radical ladies who should pla
the capital with the expectation b ~~
aVlng gay time at the Inaugural stal
OF the great apostle of freedom day
Id niggers to be admitted indeed! ne
o ever heard of such assurance in .foI
managers 2 If they are Radical was
'e-seekers they have more effectu- y j
damned themselves than they can n n
hope the niggers to be. mes
it seems that this social and no. ner
al equality question is continually live
g, at unexpected seasons, like w pe.,
4uo's ghost, to torment those who sho,
called the monster into existence. ON b
IS kept down during the late Pres Tue % !,
A'''iieil sun 20
nothing from it. Nv an inran;ops rom,