Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1883-03-01
A G('OIOr Line0 After All.

"General'' Robert Sn,alls is a Re-
publican gentleman of the colored per-
suasion, who claims to have done the
Union cause inestimable servic e during
the late unpleasantness by plotting
Government vesses i'll and around the
harbor of Charleston, S. G.. for which
said Smalls asks to be placed on the
retired list of the navy, whether as
General or Admiral. we do not know.
A bill for the benefit of Smalls has
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 Tor
this ungenerous treatment of colored
Re publican patriot by a Committee. the
majority of which are Republicans. is
thus set forth in Washington telegram
TO Republican paper
The principal objection was urged
by Mr.: Robson, who was put forward
as spokesman for society, that naval Of
ticers and their families did not want q
colored man placed upon an equality
with themselves. Mr.. Robson is I'M
derstood to have advanced this as a
grave reason for opposing the meas
ure in the Committee. This would
cause a social recognition of Smalls
which would be unpleasant to the elite
OF Washington, and he was hostile to
it. He did not think they should do
anything to subject their friends to such
distaste;ul state OF affairs 1t would
be ,egalizing social msconnection. to
which he could never give his consent"
Here we have another of those nu-
merous jewels for which Republican
consistency is famous. Robson. q Re-
publican of whom the parry is justly
proud, objects to putting Smalls on the
retired list, not because he his done
nothing to deserve such rank and pay,
but because his skin is not white. and
because naval officers and their fami-
lies do not want a colo ed man placed
upon an equality with themselves" and
because he (Robesonl ''doeS not think
the Committee should do anything to
subject their friends to such a distasteful
state of Affairs Indeed, So there is
"a 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"
seems to have as keen nose for the negro
as any unreconstructed Democrat in the
South; and if the arguments he employs
were used by any Northern or Southern
Democrat every Republican journal in
the land would boil over with righteous
wrath and pious Indignation. Not long
ago General Schotield, as no lie gentle
man and gallant soldier as the army can
boast, was practically driven from the
Superintendencv of West Point. not be-
cause he Disseminated against colored
Cadet W hittaker, but because he
woul d not or could not compel The white
cadets to associate with the colored one
on terms of social equality. The perse-
cution of SchOficld continued even after
Whitaker had been proved the chief of
rogues and liars, and it was Endorsed
and participated in by all the Repub-
lican organs, big and little. The Mill
tary Academy was deprived of the in
valuable services of Schofield for no
other reason than the one given, sup
plemented by an rnwillinoness to be-
lieve two or three hundred white cadets
liars rather than believe the one negro
lied. Yet now en- ecretary Robson,
a burning and shining Republican light,
who thought chofield should be kicked
out OF West Point for an alleged draw
ing of the CO or line there, turns his
back upon Smalls because he is col
ored man! Impudent Inconsistency
could go no further; yet Robson has
no hesitation in denouncinr Democrats
for their alleged prejudice of race
and at the next election he and all the
rest of the Republ ans will be fishing
for the colored vote with the old bait of
Friendship for the negro" Fish
carght with that bait hereafter deserve
to be scaled and skinned, as they have
been hereto ore.-EacAange. g..