New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-04-09

Although the Capital newspaper Of this
city is not considered sound authority on
matters involving yeracity, it is tolerably
trustworthy as representative Of stupid
preJudices and negotiating 1sms.
In the two last issues of this guerilla of
the Washington press, the sprightliness of
dialogue, and the itchings of gossip arc made
to do service in recording the silly sugges-
tons Of social malice against Governor
flnchback's family, and in revealing the
ecstacy of satisfaction with which the blue
viens OF shoddyites tingled at the supposed
escape Of their families from all contact
with negro blood by the failure, so far, of
Governor Pinchback to gain his seat in the
Senate.
The care with which these two dialogues
OF the Capital are gotten up, the smack of
diaooiical relish which moves the lips of
Browns young man" as he devours the
vulgar sentiments of class in American
society, alas, as yet too numerous, throw
the difficulties which surround Governor
Pinchback's claim to his seat in the Senate
in an entirely new light. It was bad enough
Tor him to encounter the prejudices inspired
by faction of his. own party in front, to
suffer under the effects of personul treachery
in the rear, and to realize that his brains,
his courage and even his personal appear
ance and ample means had produced an
effect in utter reverse of that usually pro-
duced by such qualities, because the negro
Senator would not by contrast furnish
sufficient foil to the superiority of his white
colleague. 1t was bad enough for him to
know that in some sense his race has been
Stricken down by his unmerited defeat in
obtaining his seat, and that the future of
the party in the state he loves is threatened
by the factional jealousies and the the negro
hating conservatism which so far has denied
the negro race all representation in the
Senate-all this was bad enough. But to
find his family made through social preju-
dices a barrier to the enjoyment of the
honors and emoluments Of the high position
TO which he has been elected is worse still.
We have heard of a marksman aiming
at an eagle and missing his bird because of
the Fostering attentions of swarm of knats,
and here We find a political counterpart of
the experience, in seeing man aiming at the
high places of the earth stung unto defeat
by the gad-flies of "society."
Can it be true that it is the social aspect of
Governor Pinchback's case which has fur
nished the ground for all the hesitation and
delay which have attended it? And is it not
rather late for these blue-blooded people to
take the blues over the entrance of a colored
lady into white society? Gen. Tate, late
Ambassador Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentiarp from the Court of ,,Hayti,
had wife many shades darker than Mrs.
Pinchback who moved in Society here as an
acceptable, graceful and accomplished lady.
We remember that Gen. Tate and lady were
honored guests at the ball given to Prince
Arthur in 1870, and that Mrs. Fish and
other wives of Cabinet officers paid her such
attention as good breeding required. What
is the matter now? Was this dose of the
negro too much or is foreign colored lady
less Objectionable than our home breed ?
How shall we cure these blue-booded people
OF the blues snperinduced by the prospect of
mingling with colored women? If the fear of
contact with colored senator's wives on the
part of the wives of white senators are to
control the votes of the Senate, there is
nothing left to the colored aspirants to seat
in that exalted body but to remain single or
get a divorce.
But seriously, is it not the widest ofnisht-
mares which rides these social dyspeptics
Why Senator Pinchback's wife is lady, and
society to which she would not be accepta-
BILE would be quite as unacceptable to her.
No mere official courtesy in the extension of
an invitation could ever to her a subttitute
for the cerdiality with which lady meets
her equal. Should she meet in Society those
who revolted against her presence, her good
breeding would teach her that the best
resentment against the vulgarity would be
the avoidance of its source.
Is it not shameful that the rights of a
whole race and the just dues of their repre-
are withheld from them under the
flimsy pretext that society will not tolerate,
upon terms Of equality, the wife of colorod
Senator. Let the race take notice of this
new feature, or an old one newly developed.
in Governor Pinchback's contest for a seat
in the Senata.