The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-01-15
THE PRESIDENT INSULTED.
Colonel De Ahna's Singing Words at the
White House Reception.

New Years Day at the White House
did not pass without its unpleasant Incl
dent. Col. De Alma was among those
who passed into the Blue Room when the
doors were thrown open to the public.
The Colonel was deposed as custom col
lector at Sitka. For year and a half
Col. De Alma has been in Washington,
with his family, seeking redress for fam
cied or real wrongs growing out of his
Office.
The members of the Senate finance
committee signed an application to Sec
retary Sherman to restore him to Office.
Mr.. Sherman referred the petition to
Mr.. Hawley, who speedily consigned it to
the waste-basket. De Alma became flu
rious, and then Scurz offered him place
worth sixty dollars, which he rejected
as an insult. Three or four days ago
his landlord seized his personal property
for rent, and turned Mrs. De Alma, with
her five children, the eldest fourteen
years old and the youngest babe of FIVE
months, into the street. A telegram to
the New York World says that when the
President began to receive the public Col.
De Alma placed himself in line, and
when he reached the President ignored
the proffered hand, and, stepping back,
threw open his heavy overcoat and bra
cling his arms against his hips, craned
his neck forward, and looking straight
into the Presidents eyes, began in the
tone of voice characteristic of Mr.. Voor-
hees when spreading himself before the
Senate:
"For eighteen months you have denied
me justice"
The President turned his head aside and
Col. De Ahna's eyes began to glisten.
The people in front of him passed on in
to the East Room and those behind in
the line gathered around him. He made
forward movement as if to switch the
President around, but the latter saw it
and turned slowly back of his own ac-
cord, evidently much annoyed.
"Oh, you needn't turn away" Col.
De Alma went on in louder voice. 81
have come on this New Year Day to tell
you what you have brought me to by de-
nying me justice for eighteen months,
and shall say what I have to say"
Col. De Alma was now talking loud
enough to be heard through all the rooms.
"What I have to say u.s." he continued,
his body swaying as though at the slight
est provocation he would be ready to start
first-class riot, "that if your wife and
children had to suffer for month what
my American wife and five little ones
have had to suffer for nearly two years;
if yours were subjected to the outrageous
treatment and priYation that mine have
had to put up with, and simply because
Justice was denied to you as it has been
to me, you would not only be in utter de-
spair, as I am, but you would never have
another happy day.
Loud voices had been coming from the
yestibule during the last of this outburst,
and as it ended four pairs ofhands dropped
on Col. De Ahna's shoulders.
"Come, we've had enough of this; 60
out peaceably or we'll put you out" said
the brass.buttoned police sergeant to Col.
De Alma.
You needn't trouble yourselves about
me-" was the response, as Col. De Alma
shook himself freely. 81 have said all /
want, and now am going. but that man"
pointing at the President as the brown
hands fell on his shoulders, and fifth
policeman from behind began pushing
him toward the East Room, "is despot
who doesn't know
The rest of the sentence was lost in the
din, and, as FIVE blue:coats pushed. the
ex- Collectors unwilling body in the East
Room, Mr.. Hayes turned smilingly with
extended hand to the next guest in line.