West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1878-01-19
LETTER FROM WASHINGTo
WAsHQNaroN, Jan. Is. 1878.
Ana
NANCY DARTER

ISOLATION held it's annual meeting
here last week, aud it's mem bers con-
slider that they have made great ad-
vancement since their last meeting.
Every State and Territory was rem
resented by delegates, and an effort
was made to take the Capitol by
storm the first day of the continued
session after the holidays. This was
without effect but procured several
hours of debate upon the subject in
the Senate and hearing in the
COMMITTEES rooms of both Houses -
The cause was we'll represented, Mrs.
Elizabeth Cady Stanton taking the
lead as usual. One Of the celebra-
ted Smith sisters, of Connecticut, who
have 80 long, and dIsastrously to
their purses, resisted the laws of
alton, was here and also attracted
much attention. She is SO years old
On the last evening of the meeting
the members Of the Association gave
q reception at one of the leading no.
tells which was attended by MANY
prominent persons of the District.
The ladies were well and richly
dressed, black silks, velvet and laces
being Tor the most part worn.
Although the country is suffering
so extremely for lack OF legislation
on matters concerning business in
terests, silver, taxation, lapor, &c,
yet party questions and Others of
similar nature appear to he of more
lmportan ce to Congress, if Que may
Judge from what becomes known TO
public TO the public daily. 1t is on
ly to be hoped that more ia being
accomplished than apperrs, and that
these all important matters are re-
ceiving careful, if quiet, attention
from our law makers.
There is much talk about a re-or-
5anizAtion Of OF the Presid ent's Cab
met. 1t has been repeatedly said
that Secretary Evarts stands iu the
way of good feeling between Mr..
Hayes aud the Senate and that he is
intent upon stirring up war with
Mexico. Should Evarts retire from
the Cabinet it is supposed that
Schurz will 60 with him, and einoe
these are the two men whom Il the
the President has admired above all
othsrs Ia the country, he will prob
ably stand by them as far aud as
long ashe possibly can.
tlnd can scarcely write letter
without strong inclination to drag
In the colored race" 1t is because /
see them so mnch and because no
honest earnest person can live in this
city, the very metropolis OF the COL
ored race of America, without being
continually saddened at the sight OF
their degradation and poverty and
ignorance. During the holiday sea-
son it was absolutely painful to 90
along the streets and see the eager.
longing, despairing looks with which
the very poor among them thron2ed
about tho brightest, cheeriest VIM
dows. Some of them seemed desper-
te, and doubtless were so, for thiev-
ing is iearfully prevalent among
them. The logic Of events during
the war threw them upon them
selves with no preparation for lber.
ty or hardly for self preservation.
The git bestowed upon them by
lavery was their ignorance; that
which emancipation gave them was
vsgsDoRdage; and l lear the present
generation will leave them vaga-
bonds. There are many Of them
berel OF course the best and bright
est among them have risen into use
lul and comfortable positions, but
the rank and file are wretchsd al
most beyond description. Eighty
colored school teachers, 10 this city
alone, preside IN over-howing col
red schools, for want Of which thou.
sands Of hungry, hsll-clsd children
roam about our streets begging and
brawliDg. They die and are born 80
amazingly last, AID how so many Of
them live ~ do, 10 problem not ca
~ Of solution
] know quadroon dressmaker
here, who does good and stylish
work and is well pstronizsd, who is
as handsome as she can be, thin and
oyerworked as she is, She ia the
daughter Of her old master aud she
says with bitterness that every drop
Of white blood In her VEINS is = curse
to her, for IL gives her tastes and
longings that can never be grati6ed
and that her lie has been D contra
diction and a failure from The two
hostile currents struggling in her
veins. HBERILI