The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1875-03-17
Mrs. Pinch.

case of Pinchback, who, though she
did not appear in the discussion, per-
haps had more to do with shelving
that aspirant to Senatorial honors
than all other causes combined. He
has been sensible of this embarrass-
ment for two years without being able
to relieve it.
Pinchback is not a retiring patriot
of the colored persuasion, like Re-
wells, who once figured as Senator
from Mississippi, or like Bruce, who
is to take the place of Pease after the
4th of March, much to the advantage
of the Senate and of the State. He
seeks social distinction, is not con-
tent with back seat, and demands
all the privileges that the position
which he occupies may confer
Perhaps he is not to be blamed for
pretensions that. were encouraged
when q political object was to be gain
ed by the very men who have secret
ly been doing their best to defeat
him. With his peculiar disposition
it was easy to foresee that once scat
ed in the Senate he would claim
equality with his Republican friends,
insist upon recognition for himself
and family, and expect Mrs. Pinch to
be received like the wives of other
Senators.
In the shoddy etiquette of Wash
ington under Grant, class distinc-
tions have been created that never
before were known, and the families
of Senators set up as body entitled
to exceptional consideration and
rights. By the Fourteenth Amend
ment they all stand on the same foot
ing, without regard to-race, color or
previous condition of servitude; and
while this amendment has been used
by Republican Senators as political
capital their. wives and daughters
have not been inclined to regard a
principle with much favor, which
would bring Mrs. Pinch and her
friends into their drawing rooms and
to their dinner tables. Thus far they
had crowded out the colored wives Of
members of the House, but here was
a Senator's case, and it changed the
whole situation.
So tile Senatorial fair sex and the
Cabinet ladies and other snobbish
danes to be affected by the new ele-
ment, caucused in their own quiet
but effective way, and resolved that
Pinch should not be seated IN the
Senate, as the best mode Of dispos-
ing of Mrs. Pinch. They became
more energetic of late after learning
that the dozen or more of yellow Re-
publicans, who assume to be leaders
of the race at Washington, who mo-
nopolize the best places on that &C
count, and who will not associate
with an "ordinary Niger" were only
waiting for Pinch to get in to spread
more sail and put their theories of
social equality in practice.
This Is the secret of poor Pinch's
failure. He was sacrificed by the
snobs on the altar of society. 1t was
his misfortune not to be bachelor.
Nor he is a solitary example of Off
cial neglect. When the President
entertained the Commissioners who
were sent to San Domingo to white
wash that job, he left Fred. Douglass
without a dinner to mediate on the
beauties of the amendments, while
his colleagues in swallow-tail coats
and white cravats rejoiced over the
It'd bits of the White House cuisine
and enjoyed the flavor Of the Presl-
dents wine.
So long as the amendments and
obnoxious legislation can be applied
to the Southern people to wound
their pride and irritate their man
hood by enforcing social equality be-
twee them and their former slaves,
and by raising ignorance, superstl-
ton, and vice above intelligence.
Christianity, and virtue, they are re-
garded as admirable expedients OF
; party. But when they come home
to the authors, and bring Mrs. Pinch
and the colored ladies into the White
House and Mrs. Robeson's and Mrs.
Landaulet Williams's reception and
the Senatorial saloons, the case is
very different, and such an innova-
ton is to be tolerated. Alas Alas
IN. Y. Sun.
WHILE couple of women were
discussing the other day, the merits
of q nor+oin nhvsician. one of them