The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1883-12-27
GOTHAM GOSSIP.
Correspondence of the Democrat. ]
NEW YORK, Dec, 22d, 1888.

NEW YORK, Dec, 22d, 1888.
In political circles here, the effort
to revive the Negro question in Con-
gress has caused considerable dis
cussion, and even in Repub lean cir
cles of standing and influence the
amendment offered 10y Wilson of
Iowa. authorizing Congress to pro-
tect citizens in the enjoyments of
their rights and privileges, and to
secure them equal rights is regarded
as an unwise step. Said a prominent
Democratic Congressman: "It looks
to me, as if the race question were
as again to be made an issue by the
Republicans for the coming Presi,
Dental election. 1t would seem as if
they were afraid IF losing a goodly
portion of the Negro vote, and hoped
by reviving the flame of s~ectionalism
to kindle anew the old fanaticism of
white Republicans in favor of the
Negro. What they hope to secure
by the passage of such an act, l can
not understand. The Negro under
the Fourteenth Amendment certain
ly is fully secured. 1t strikes me
that if Mr.. Wilson's plan were car
ried out, the colored people would
have what they call their rights con
siderably curtailed.
Politics in this City and State are
at present very dull, and even the
opening of the legislative session at
Albany, which is less than a fortnight
distant, fails to arouse the usual
amount of anticipation, discussion
and argument. The only question
that will arouse the active energies Of
both parties is the Excise question,
which has been brought, particularly
in this city, to such a muddled cou-
dition, that even the Philadelphia
lawyer of history would fail to dis
entangle the meshes into which it
has become involved. What is need
ed is the repeal Of all existing laws
on the point, and the passage of an
act which should be simple, easily
understood and applied, and fair to
both the prohibitionlsts and the anti
prohibitionists.
/ met the editor of the pager de-
voted tt. the interests of the colored
people in this city, and asked him
what had become of the scheme to
erect a monument to the late Rev.
Henry Highland Garnet, the Elk.
Minister TO Liberia. He replied that
he feared the project would come to
naught. "Our people," he said, "are
too apathetic." Now if ever there
was n mar whose memory deserves
to be revered by the people of his
race, it is Mr.. Garrett. He has done
more to elevate his people than all the
political demagogues combined. He
had plenty of opportunities to become
rich, bat he died poor, and his aged
widow is now driven to support her
self b. teaching in n colored school
The congregation over which he pre-
sided for many years before he wen,
to Liberia, was q small and poor one
He lived in a little two story house
in East Third Street, and there was
nothing of value in the establishment
except the old ~gentleman's books
He lived and died to further the in
terests ofhis race. 1t is rather n sac
spectacle that the sixty or seventy
thousand negroes in this city, many
of whom are we'll to do and some o.
whom are rich, cannot raise enough
money among themselves to erect
statue or monument to their bene
! factor.
Last Friday, the late Mr.. W. T
Clarke, chief editorial writer Of the
Star was buried. He was lot much
known outside of the profession, and
even among the ranks of the slaves
of the pen he had few acquaintances
In the obituary notes in the papers
his loss to the interests of New York
journalism was described as a severe
one. This in instances may have
! been a mere phrase, but l know oil
one man who will find the absence Of
his W. ready and pointed pen q
great loss. That is John Kelly, the
Chieftain CT TammaEy Hall. When
! DR.. Clarke came to New York, about
the time that Mr.. Kelly first became
interested in the Evening Eapress
now consolidated with the Mail, he
presented letter from the late Sam
1 Bow! les, of the Springfield Republi
can, in which the distinguished jour
nalist described him as one Of TIL,
brightest. ablest and best informed
writers for the press that had eve
e graduated from the school of the Re
publican, land" added he, 1--WE hav,
turned out many first class ones."-
The finances of the Erpress at tia
: time did not permit the paying O
large salaries, so Mr.. Kelly paid hal
of the stipend which DIR Clarke Dire,
at the end of the week. Subsequent
g ly on the consolidation, DR.. Clark
e went OF the Star. Tt ere the sam
s relations were maintained. | al
credib!y informed tat all the ad
:, dresses, resolutions and other lite re-
ry productions issued by Tamman
e Hall emanated from DR.. Clai Ike
pen. Even the lectures which 81
Kelly has been delivering for cha I
f table purposes were written by hin