News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1885-04-30
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, D. c.,
Anil On 1QQ5


The colored people have figured
conspicuously in recent events at the
Capital. Delegations of colored pol
iticians and colored bishops and cler-
gymen have called at different times
at the White House. Each delega-
ton delivered an address to the Pres
ident. in which some notable things
were said, and each listened to re-
ply by him, which was marked by
significant assurances. The colored
people of the district celebrated the
anniversary of their emancipation
with long procession, much music,
much enthusiasm, and many specta-
tors. The pageant was a very mot
ly, social and characteristic one, pre-
senting many amusing scenes and in
cidents. President Cleveland stood
on the portico of the White House
and received the line as it passed.
The days festivities were closed by
speeches from Frederick Douglass
and other colored orators. In the
course of his remarks Mr.. Douglass
said, "The power and vitality of the
Democratic party had been greatly un-
der-estimated. 1t still lived, although
it had INDUCED in crimes and vices
enough to kill a dozen parties"
Speaking of Mr.. Cleveland, he asked
if she would keep his promise of
March the fourth? He might" con-
tinued the orator, "adopt a policy of
indifference toward the negroes of the
sou.h, or he might pursue temper
izing one-a policy of good Lord and
good Devil or he might accept the
Mississippi and South Carolina plan
and keep by fraud and blood 1853 cleo
toral votes for Democratic candi-
date in 1888 or he might pursue a
course of fidelity to the constitution,
protecting white man and black man
alike" He said as certain as the
Democratic party fell into old ruts
and forgot that slavery was an an
achronism, it would be driven from
power four years hence. And unless
lit applied corrective to the negro
outrages of the south, the Augusta
speech of James G.. Blaine would be
the key note of the next campaign.
Change is the order of the times in
the Executive Departments here.
When the Secretary of the Treasury
returned from New York the other
day, he informed the President that a
number of important places in his de-
partment should be filed with Demo-
Gratis as soon as possible, and the
President gave Mr.. Manning Carte
blanche. A number of these changes
have since been made, and others are
awaited with interest. The President
relies implicitly upon Secretary Man
ning's recommendations in regard to
them, although he is reputed to be an
Independent executive, with no part
pers in the Presidential office. These
removals we're made, not because of
any ineficiency, but because the in
cumbents were Republicans. And
since partisanism had been defined to
be Republication by the new admin
istration, all Republican Office hold
ers who were ever Presidents, Secre-
taries, or Treasurers of State organ
izations, are trembling lest they may
be selected as additional examples of
the new meaning of the word.
Secretary Manning is very reticent
in regard to the alleged frauds in the
Treasury. The report gained circu-
lation the other day that gross irregu-
larities had been unearthed in the In
ternational Revenue Bureau, and that
a severe investigation was in progress.
When questioned as to the import of
the rumor, Mr.. Manning replied, 81
know nothing of reports; we are al
ways investigating"
The employees of the Post Office
department and the Patent Office are
doing extra work in order to bring the
business of these officials up to date.
In consequence of the efforts being |
made in the Patent Office to catch up,
and the vigorous manner in which the
examiners are working day and night,
The issue of patents for the present
month will be the largest in the histo-
y of the office. 1t will embrace over
i've hundred patents per week.
The President made number OF
diplomatic appointments during the !