The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-03-19
The Douglass Case.

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we consider the appointment OF tue CO.
+, sored champion OF negrophosfsn to DC mar
shal o, the District Of Columbia very unfor-
tnnate.for Mr.. HAYES in many respects. ~
;s evidently unsatisfactory to even north.
,ern, people, and repalsive 10, the 'ies"l
profession OF the District. Socially it IS con-
Yessedly obnoxious to the President himsen'
II is a timc-honored usage to bestow upon
the marshal OF the District on occasions Oh
nublic reception o position near the pesso"
!. OF tho President, and to assign 20 nim 'i.e
Office OF Introducing persons TO the fsesl,
dent and his lady, making him SOFT OF i ~
chamberlain to the Executive, but upon
naming DOUGLASS for the position the fresi-
dent made it condition that he shou'o DC
eycused from the performance OF this nom
orahIe Office. Why? Everybody under
stands. DOUGLASS to introduce ttee "ca'i-
ens., TO Mr.. and Mrs. HAYES. Heavmss!
Il couldn't be thought Of! This was con-
Yessicn that because Of his color DOUGLASS
would be agreeable neither to the PRESIDENT
! nor to the msny people who would desire
an introduction to him on such occasions.
II, This, then. is the most noted and decisive
RECOGNITION OF the color-line that has ever
been made in this country. But 1t is more !:
It ia \ declaration OF the unsuitableness OF
the colored man socially that would equally
.nronounee him unfit for position that
brought him into ultimate communication
with tho members OF the highest PROBES
sional class, and involving the necessity OF
putting him above members OF the same
class. his superiors socially and profession
ally. Yet this position the President named
him for, ...: .-.. .. .>-... -. '1@@ :.
In every view the nomination was not III
n he made, ADD the President confesscs 1t
q in the very condition uponwhichit IS MADE.
It is probable that Mr. HAYES deemed it
sort OF duty-at least an act OF policy-to
elevate some coiored MAN. ton position OF
public distinction rs recognition OF his So
called equality" and OF the Republican
obligation to the negro. In doing SO he ex-
Guides him from this very equality. sa,r
Moreover, the colored people are not espe-
ciaIly propitiated by the mistake, because
they have regarded their colorcd brother as
rather .sot up" and notinclined to fellow
ship with them, rs they think, and therefore
. thew do not mean to consider any great
amount OF debt due to negroes ms settled by
the marshalship bestowed upon DOUGLASS.
In every respect the President makes
mistake in this matter. Still, as it is ma
tional disarrangement OF taste, we can stand
= it il our friends in Washington and else
where can. Mr.. HAYES is trying most
difficult task. Everybody of generous spirit
will sympathize very earnestly with him,
hoping that his undertaking will he crowned
with success. He stands like an athlete
in the ring exploiting himself. His failures
will be regarded with kindness, and the
general exclamation will be, "Try again"
This will be the feeling until there is good
reason for claiming the forfeiture OF the
programme laid down at the starting. point,
which we hope will not be afforded.
We note this case more especially to call
attention to the fact that those who have
been seeking to force social equality upon
the races at the South make but q ELAINE out
OF it" themselves. They would better be
sincere and just upon this matter.