, 1877-05-27
THE COLORED RACE.
Forty Thousand OF Them at the
National Capital.
An, Interesting Letter from the
ReV. William W. Patton.


WASHINGTON, .. c., May 2t.-The colored peo-
pie Of this city are no inconsidernble element OF
its population, numbering, as they do, about Il.
900, or nearly onethird of the inhabitants Acas-
ualobservcr on the streets might even suppose the
proportion OF blacks whites to be still greater,
seeing how they abound on the sidewalks, In
the passing wagons, at the depots, around the
markets, upon the public squares, and In all de-
partnents of labor. P1ainly, they are
QUITE TOO NUMEROUS TO BE IGNORED
by the census takcr, the statesman, the pht1an
throplst, or the Christian. One might as we'll
think to ignore the Irish or the Germans in
Chicago Furthermore, it is evident that they
are not to be regarded as an indistln9uishablo
mass Of colored humanity, somewhat as one
might look upon flock OF black sheep. They
have their individual distinctions Of body and
mind, Us marked as any among the whites. In
complexion they range from the perfect tlark-
Whte OF the octoroon; while the features vary
from the flat nose and thick lips typical OF the
African race, to the aquiline nose and
thin lips which tell OF the presenre Of Caucasian
blood. And it is to be noted that, the lat
ter case, there often accompanies the light com
plexion and the modified features more than
ordinary beauty. In the mixed blood one often
secs, ALSO dignife1 bearing and au easy polite
ness which plainly arc hereditary qualities. and
show that the aristocratfc families Of Virginia
and Maryland are largely represented In this
| despiscd and oppressed people. 1t is said that
| CASTE FEELING
| is sometimes exhibited bv the co1Ored people,
| based on these differing shades Some are proud
OF theinfusion OF the blood OF the superior race,
and of their own near approximation to the
whites; but the genuine blacks take different
test of respectabiiity, talking in derogatory
manner of the ''yaler boys - and "gnls-" The
presence of not few OF the lighter shades In
| negro audience, the other day, rendered anus
| fngly inappropriate the fcrveut address OF 4
white minister, who was descanting eloquently
| upen the effect Of the immigration to Africa
| which would hereafter occur. He pictured the
| fatal malaria OF Africa as m angel With drawn
| sword, keeping out the white rncc, but admit
ting tie colored. Those who saw the large pro-
! portion OF 1uadroor and octoroon tint6 in the
upturned faces feared that the guardian angel
of Africa would not recognize their clam to be
It's returning children.
But there is among the colored people of
Washington IN
AR15ToCRACY OF WEALTH AND or EDUCATION
Not few have had excellent lfterare priv
icges,-sone having enjoyed European TRIM
Ing and Others having been to Oberiin or to the
Howard University. They hold very reputable
positions Us clcrCymcn, physicians, teacLers,
lawyers, and editors. One OF the iawyers-a
young man, with wife md two or three chill
dreu-ponteu out his neat residence, in the out
skirts OF the city, which be had paid for, and
told mc that he made comfortable living by
his profession, and had tull as maAv white
clients as eolored.
About o'clock this evening went to hear
the famous Marine Band play IN the beautiful
grounds back OF the White House. President
Hayes and his family sat with a few
friends in the balcony. The music Was c1-
quisitely rendered, but SO softly, and At such
distance from the house, that the Presidential
party could have heard but little Of 1t, md must
have found their chief entertainment in watch
Ing the crowd. And the crowd was sight
worth seeing rs an
made up as IL was, OF all classes, In every rarfe
ty OF American costume, and gathered to while
away the Saturday sunset hours in hearing the
music, promenadng through the grounds,
dent and one another. Our colorcd friends
composed ut ~least third OF the ns$emhlarc,
and were as well-bchayed as any. Some were
there in their working-clotEes. on their way
nurses with children; and some were dressed in
their best apparel, with the demeanor Of gen
t1enen aud ladies'.
Just now their pride is gratiaed by the fact
that
MR.. FREDERICK DOUGLASS
holds the office OF Marshal OF the DISTRICTS
post both OF honor aud Of profit. It gave me
great satisfaction to call on Mr.. Douglass, At
his office in the City-Hall, bearing in mind tho
DAYS when used to hear his eloquent addresses
just after his escape from bondage, mud when,
had he visited the Natiou's Capital, the man he
would most have feared would have been the
h1reHAE. IlNlG surely 0FIuES lis SuEpT!SES AU4
its revcngesl Iheard Mr.. Douglass nearly forty
years ago, when was in college, and have al
ways remembered distinctly an anecttote which
he told Vi baptsmal scene which he witnessed
IN MARYLAND during his days OF slavery; re,
ferreQ to it, and be took it up instantly: !" Yes"
said he, ''it was In a Methodist church, and
black child was presented to the minister to be
baptized Name the child, said the minister.
John Wesley, SIR sJohn Wesleys Tut, tut!
the name OF the Father, and of the Son, and Of
the Holy Ghost. Ameu.'" And so the Christian
parents, who had thought to bcsrow upon their
CHILD the yenerateu name Of modern Apostle,
carried him away from the house Of God with
the name Of IN old heather General!
It occurred to me that it would be another OF
Times curious reversal OF former ideas and
methods should ask colorcd Fired Dougiass''
to conduct me to the White House and
INTRODUCE ME TO THE PRESIDENT.
He at once assentcd, and, on reaching the Prest-
Dental mansion, we sent in olr cartis, and were
Immediately admitted. Alr. Hayes Was very
courteous. "Frcd'' told him that was par
shal Douglass and the President, learning that
should probably make Washington my home,
kindly said that he should be happy to see me
at any time that might call desperate
ducc the President to dismiss Mr.. Douglass
from office, because Of q lecture which
he lately gave at Baltimore, on '.0ld and New
Washington" ;" In which he causttcally treated
LQe fUClELY anu EItiEcut3 VI tuE AHC1Eit SlL*c@
holding regime. It may have been unwse thus
to stir up fceling just after his accession to
Office; but, in fact, 1t was the same lecture he
delivered two years ago, IN Washington itself,
and which was then published in the city-paprrs,
without calling out any bitter criticism. It is
now seized upon as halltlie by those who hate
him, and on Tuesday next an immense petition
is to be presented to tue President for his re-
moval. Curious1y enough, the petitioners, the
better to compass their end, recommend another
cotored man for the Office, q Mr.. Cooke, who is
declared to be q person Of ability and inteli-
gcncc. Thus, In the forccful ''locic of eyents,''
prejudice against color is being abandoned by
It's chief advocates.
The colored people Of the city and surround
ing region have now good comnon-school priyi-
leges, while
HOWARD UNIVERSITY ...
affords them opportunity to pursue normal
school and collegiate studies, and also to obtain
a theological, medical, or legal education. This
institution IS not at all confined to this race,
was 1t intended for them alone It's charter has
no restriction (and forbide anY) rs to race color
or se1, and it always has had more or less white
students, especially in the higher departments,
while In the Medical Department the majority are
white. This latter fact Is owing to the peculiar
advantages found In the Howard University
Medical School. It has for use a large three