The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1882-05-20
A BnFEZzE AT THE CAPITAL

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A BREEZE AT THE CAPITAL
"A sensution was caused ut Baton Rouge
d te u days ago by the refusal Of the pro-
prletor OF, Week saloon TO permit Hon.
T. T. Al!ain of Iberyjlie to take drink
at the bar Of that establishment. Mr..
Allan, who is al able, intelligent and
gentlemanly colored mana qnadroon,
in faet-was invited to drink by Mr..
John Hill, prominent and wealthy
sugar planter from West Baton Rouge.
Anticipating just such . coatete1lps as
subsequently, occurred, Mr.. Allan sought
to decline the invitation, but was fairly
forced to enter the saloon, Mr.. Hill de-
elaring that no one would dare to refuse
to serve him while in his company, and
threatening never to speak to Attain
again if the latter did not accede to his
request. Under the circumstances tue
colorel legislator yielded to the importu-
mites OF his white friend and approached
the bar, where he was subjected to the
indignity he had apprehended. 1t does
not appear how MI. Hill received this
rebuff, which was as much an insult to
him as to his companions, and we confess
that we are somewhat surprised that
none Of the tumblers, pitchers or mirrors
of Mr.. Weeks elegant bar-room had
their equilibrium disturbed or their
comeliness married by compound frac
lures.
Next day Mr.. Allain published the
following open letter in the CapitoliaR
ddrocatc:
BATON ROUGE, HAY II, 1882
To William Garig, Esq, Baton Rouge, La:
Si,'-" Out Of tho mouth the heart speak
eth" Last night Mr.. John Hill Of West
Baton Rouge invited me TO take some re-
freshments at the Sumter House, kept by
Mr.. Chas. Week, and | regret to say the
promise 10y the Eas. Baton Rouge delega-
ton to the members Of the Constitutional
Convention, whose votes brought the Capt.
tol here, was violated. The Baton Rouge
delegation, composed of yourself and Messrs.
H. bl1i-G, ". hduiOIpu SHtS-
Week, promised that if the coloreu MEM
bers Of the Convention voted for Baton
Rouge. public rights before the law would
be accorded then. l regret to say that the
civil public privileges are denied the colored
members Of the General Assembly Sir, l
have done much for Baton Rouge and the
people Of Louisiana, and | had hoped for
better treatment. Yours respectfully,
THEOPHILE L. ALLAN.
In response to this publication the
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES charged the author
with attempting to enforce "social
equality" and to revive an issue and
arouse prejudices which every good citi
zen desired to SET buried i'll oblivion. 1t
was said that the gentlemen to whom
the complaint was addressed would no
doubt give it Il fitting response, but up
no effort in that direction. Unless they
are prepared to deny that they gave the
assurance to the co!ored members Of The
Constitutional Convention which Mr.
Allan says they did, we are at Il loss to
see what z fitting response they can
Ii; Ike in the premises.
On Thursday Mr. Allain rose to IL
privileged question iii the House, and
reviewed the affair in a temperate speech
that elected general applause and dem
onstrations of approval. We have not
the space ta give even a synopsis OF his
remarks at present, but VIC can not for
bear mentioning one Of his good points,
and this was that there seemed to be a
in the fight ITO blame Aiiain for the
occurrence and accuse him of trying to
excite race prejudices, while 10 word of
condemnation OF criticism was a,lar essed
to Mr.. Hill, who was responsible in a far
greater degree. The justice of this point
must be admitted even by those who
defend the action Of the saloon keeper in
refusing to furnish refreshments to Mr..
Hill and lis gcs,tcel colored companion.
Before this affair occurred we had
heard that the co!orcd members of the
General Assembly were much lisappoin
ted and c!,agrincd by the reception and
treatment they have met with in the new
Capitol, ana that they suspect it to be
| the intention of the dominant party to
make their position us unpleasant as
possible in order to discourage them
| from aspiring to seats i'll the legislative
| balls Of the State.
The citizens of Baton Rouge ought not
| to permit such an inputation to rest
upon them. They are largely indebted
| to the colored voters Of the State for the
little city, and common gratitude and
| Justice should lead them to treat the
representatives Of these people with
lihcrslity and courtesy, and to see that
they are not subjected to such wanton
and sensc!css indignities as that imposed
upon Mr.. Allain.
| The convention Of levee commission
ers aud Presidents of Police Juries which
met at Baton Rouge this week in re-
spouse to Gov. McEnery's call, was we'll
attended, aud it is believed the result 81
its deliberations will have beneficial
effect upon our levee interests. Appro-
pirate legislation by the National and
State governments III behalf Of the con.