The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1877-05-17
SANDERS About Washington

Fred Douglas, the colored L. 5. Mar
shal OF the District of Columbia, gets Il
bad send off in the speech making line
since assuming his new dignity. In an
address delivered last week at Baltimore,
he made It bitter attack upon the city of
Washington and the people thereof The
following is the substance Of his remarks :
Washington was not good city 1t had a good
many churches but it was some distance from the
spot to which their spires pointed. 1t had bad
beginning and had never produced any great states
man OF philanthropist The descendants OF its old
families have made no mark 1t sided with trea
son against loyalty, and its selection was great
mistake. being sunuwiched between two slave
States, and the headquarters of the slave trade
where boys We're sold as swine. Moral life was a
stIlln all was fair without but foul within. Its
boosted ChlYalrE was to challenge a Northern man
To fight and To whip negro with his hands tied
The people appauded Breckenridge in his treason,
stood between Andrew johnson and impeachment.
and III their midst Matched the devilish plot
that robbed Lincoln OF his life. During the war
jeff Davis wonld have been more welcome than
Lincoln, Lee than Grant and the Stars and Bars
more than the Star Spangled Banner. Parson
Brownlow made an apt remark on his way to
Washington He said that he felt he must be
getting near the city he began to feel as if he
wanted to steal something. Washington society
famed into Il fury the passions of men. and much
Of the old spirit left. The portraits Of lid
ttingS, Gcrrtt Smith and such men had place
on the walls Of the Corcoran Art Gallery, but the
Calhouns and McDutfics were numerous, They
knew how to make Northern men with Southern
principles, and that class We're reappeuring now.
1t again getting dark for the colored race but
the shadow would ultimately pass away The old
Maryland and Virginia families always had the
best pickings, and held the offices and slaves
But NrginiaS glory has departed Instead of the
mother Of States, she is the grandmother and oc-
casionally some of her sons appear chewing James
river tobacco, their dignity gone masters without
slaves. and lords without lands The W,ashngto
nian is indolent in all his movements. Step into
4 store and YOU will wait five minutes before YOU
are noticed. Every one of them has been
poets TO be great man They walk. slowly but
not measured, their arms hanging hstlessy by
their sides. lie cyc2ls all other Americans III SIT
ting, and can remain i'll an easy chair longer with
ont fatigue than any other man. He is fully equal
in this respect to the Turk All Washingtonians
wear their hats over their eyes in a sombre un-
happy and sinister way, fashion probably learned
from members of Congress who wear their hats i'll
this way sometimes to avoid recognition, and some
times because of intent thinking The Washing
toniau has strong negro pronunciation, learned
from the slaves There is also class of poor white
trash in Washington who III slave days drivers
of the negroes. but live now by huckstering, fish
ing and hunting and Though they make a better
living now thttn before. SUN tncy are not happV
Besides these there are office seekers of all kinds
and more people trying to get something for moth
ing than in any other city in the country. To be
honest in Washington is to be considered fool
Nobody ever says no; all say yes There is more
nsincere politeness and obsequious hat lifting
there than anywhere else.
1t is undoubtedly dirty bird that fouls
its own nest and in this particular case
the act was most indiscreet one. No
wonder that it aroused great indignation.
1t is reported that petitions are being nu-
merously signed for the removal of Doug
las from office, and that a strong effort
will be made to induce the President to
act upon it.