The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-10-31
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

To THE EDITOR OF THE NEW NORTHWEST;
Washington is no exception, in phases
Of society, from other cities, and, as a
consequence, our police records show as
singular exhibitions of human nature as
can be found elsewhere. Recently
huge, broad-shouldered negro, as black
as crow, was arrested aud fined for
whipping his wife, who is a white
woman, and claims to be of English
birth. The fellow labored under the
impression that he had perfect right to
administer such necessary correction as
a bibulous turn on her part demanded,
but he paid his s. fine without particu-
lar murmur, and walked of with the
partner Of his joys, who was also fined
s. for hitting back" at him. He
stated that a brother Of his also had
white wife. Having personal knowl-
edge Of at least two other miscegnatiOn
cases, We can but infer that our city has
her share of those who think that mar
riage, like politics, should have no dis
tinctions Of color. The future alone can
determine whether We shall ever pre-
sent census return like New York
City, which showed in 1863 one revenue
district alone with over 1000 white
women In it living as the wives of col
ored men. In Virginia such marriage
or consorting is punishable by fine and
IMPRISONMENT, but here there is no legal
bar whatever, and the Occasiaual prom
enading together of the cOlored man
and white woman induces no surprise
or comment. The query arises natu-
rally, why is this public association Of
colors confined to white women with
negroes? Were a white man to marry
a negro, it would become as much d
niue days' wonder to our people as the
marriage Of the French diplom at
few years since to the nearly white
daughter Of one of our wealthy promi-
nent cOlored citizens.
Iu the Foundry Church, the place Of
worship attended by the President, a
great revival has been in PROCESS for
several weeks, and hundreds have pro-
fessed conversion. The minister, or
evangelist, as he is called, conducting it,
is the boy preacher, Thomas Harrison;
and be has certainly preserved his rep
utation as a revivalist, for he has swayed
and attracted great crowds since he be-
gan his ministrstions. The unimpress-
ible, however, are not inclined to deal
gently with him in their structures upon
his pulpit actions aud efforts, for they
are bOyish in the extreme. In religious
matters, no one has right to criticise
Others, hence, We simply chronicle what
he is accomplishing. We cannot per-
ceive where, nor in what consists his
power, or why he should attract hund-
reds 10 the mouruers' bench, where
able and eloquent men full of faith and
dignity in the same field utterly fail.
Mrs. jerks has again appeared in our
midst and we doubt not will so work
the wires as to prevent her retiring this
winter behind the scenes. She has
been the judy Of the puppet show ex-
hibited at the Capitol, and is incarnate
enough to pull the strings herself by
which she will be kept another sea-
son before the enduring spectators who
pay their pennies to Uncle Sans news
gatherer. DR.. Mary Walker will soon
return again from her summer rustica-
tiOns, and then We shall have the two
characters who have served to give
point to more sneers and quilps than
any two women since the day Of Mes
danes Eaton and Cobb. .
Civil service reform rules have been
followed in the Treasury in the appoint
ment Of Assistant Superintendent Irish
to the superintendency Of the Bureau of
Engraving and Printing, just vacated
by Hon. +. Mcpherson. In as far as
ability aud efficiency is concerned, Mr..
Irish has no superior, and we are pleased
at his promotion, though we have no
sympathy with the so-called civil ser
vice reform rules under which ne was
appointed. FELIX.
Washington, d. c., October I, 1878.