The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1883-03-24

A "Cosor Line 0E AZ
"Gensral'' Robert Smase i |. Re
publican gentleman Of the cols red Per
suasion, who clnims to have donss IN
Union cause inestimable service dur n
the late unpleasantness by plotting
Government vasse,s III and around the
harbor of Charleston, s. c., for which
said Smalls asks to be placed on the
retired list Of the navy, whether ~
General or Admiral. we do not know.
A bill for the benefit Of Smalls haz
been introduced in the House and re-
rerred to the Naval Committee. where
it was promptly, and it Is said perma-
nently, pigeon-holed. The reason for
this ungenerous treatment Of colored
Republican patriot by COMMITTEES. the
majority of which are Republicans. i
thus set forth in Washington telegram
to q Republican paper:
The principal objection VS. urged
by Mr.: Robson, who was put forwa,-d
as spokesman for society, that naval Of
ficers and their families did not want .
colored man placed upon an equality
with themselves Mr.. Robson Is un-
derstood to have advanced this Is q
grave reason for opposing the meas
ure in the Committee. This would
cause . social recognition of Smalls
which would be UNPLEASANT to the elite
OF Washington, and he was hostile to
IL He did not think they should do
anything to subject their friends to such
distasteful state of affairs. It would
be legalizing social misconnection. to
which he could never give his consent"
Here we have another of those nu-
merous jewels for which Republican
consistency Is famous. Robson, Re-
publican Of whom the party il justly
proud. objects TO putting Smalls on the
retired list. not because he his done
nothing to deserve such rank and nav.
but because his skin is not white. and
because naval officers and their fami-
lies do not want c0!osed man placed
upon an equality with themselves" and
because he (Robcson) .sdoes not think
the Committee should do anything to
subject their friends to sucha distasteful
state OF affairs" Indeed! So there Is
~ color line'' after all. which Republic
ans are not inclined 10 either pass over
or wipe out. Robson. who draws it in
behalf OF naval officers and their fami-
lies" and 1.-THE elite Of Washington"
emsto have as keen nose for the negro
IS any unreconstructed Democrat in the
South; and If thearguments he employs
we're used by any Northern or Southern
Democrat every Republican journal in
the land would boil over with righteous
wrath and pious Indignation. Not long
sgo General Schofeld, as no lie gentle
nan and gallant soldier as the army can
BOAST, was practically driven from the
SUPPLEMENTARY of West Point not be-
cause he Disseminated against colored
cadet Whitaker, but because he
voul d not or could not compel the white
cadets to associate with the eolored one
IN terms Of social equality. The perse-
;ution Of Schoficld continued even after
Whitaker had been proved the chief of |
ogues and liars, and it was Endorsed |
md participated in by all the Repub-
lean organs. big and littla. The Mill
airy Academy was deprived of the in |
services of Schofield for no |
'ther reason than the one given, sup
,lenented bv an rnwillingness to be- |
ieve two or three hundred white cadets
Jars rather than believe the one negro
led. Yet now ex-s ecretary Robson,
burning and shining Republican light,
rho thought Schofield should be kicked |
ut of West Point for an alleged draw
az OF the co'or line there, turns his
ack upon Smalls because he is COL
red mani Impudent inconsistency
ould go no further; yet Robson has
o hesitation in denouncing Democrats
Or their alleged prejudice of race"
nd at the next election he and all the
est of the Republi ans will Be fishing |.
u the colored vote with the old bait Of
friendship for the negro" Fish
Arght with that bait hereafter deserve
be scaled and skinned, as they have
cen heretofore. -Erchange