National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-02-20
ITEMS ON TIE WING.


Gathered and Compiled Exclusively
for the Saturday Edition of the "Na-
tional Republican"
The fact that the trades are but sparngly
represented among my fellow-citizens is
not new one. II is as old us slavery
itself. For while in some countries pretty
much all of the labor requiring skill and
patient application Is done by slaves, in
this country the policy has been to chain
the colored race to mental service. The
great effort has been to keep the coored
man in the half-light OF civilization, be-
cause in that condition he is too pro-
foundly ignorant to aspire to anything
higher, or better his condition. Il was
necessary TO hold the colored race
in ignorance in order to breed
in the sense of dependence: to instruct
him in skilled labor would have been to dis
close to him the possibilities of his nature
and thus TO arouse in him aspirations iucom-
patible with dependence. II is true that in
the south he was taught some Of the coarse
trades, In which, in fact, there was not much
competition. But in the mort the dark
shadow OF his fOfmer condition of depend-
ence seems to follow him as assiduously as
his own. 1t is true enough that to the call
Tor skilled labor in the public prints the col
ored people cannot respond to any great eN-
tent. No inducements have been offered to
the colored men to perfect themselves
in skilled labor, and not only this,
but they have been debarred the opportun-
ity. Master workmen have not sought to
impart knowledge in their several branches
to the colored man they have preferred
white apprentices, aud this preference has
been so marked that IL has amounted TO
prohibition, except in some few cases.
Many have supposed that the colored man
lacked constructive powers that he could
not, as rule, master the details Of trades
calling for higher degree Of skill; but the
fact is otherwise. The colorcd man does
not lack ingenuity; he has lacked oppOr-
tunity and inducement and encouragement;
he lacks them, and must continue TO
until broader views prevail among the
masses Of people. IL is n fact that the
higher you ascend through the strata of
societyth less prejudice against the colored
man is found. Even the master class in the
south has been more friendly to the colored
man than those OF the north. The man who
employs asks for skill and not color, and
when the trades open their doors to the col
ored man and give him the opportunity TO
become skilled workman he will not lack
employment because of the color of his skin.
lie will, when that happens, enter a field
which ought to be free to all competitors,
and a field in which each has to fight his own
battles.
Bishop Ferguson, the Episcopal bishop
who was sent TO the west coast of Africa
year ago from this country, has baptized
king of one of the most powerful tribes
en- the coast.
Metropolitan A. VI. L. Church win give
grand musical and dramatic entertain
ment on ST. Patrick's evening
1. Thomas Fortune, Of the New York
freeman, is spoken Of for the presidency of
the National Press Association.
The Washington Cadets will parade on
Monday next, Washington's birthday.
D. W. Crumell's paper at the Sunday
school convention on Sabbath last was
rather unexpected, and II II had not been
Tor the respect that the Rev. Laws had for
the occasion there would have been war
OF words that was not on the programme.
DR.. Black will read paper before the
Bethel Literary Society on tuesday next.
Subject, "The Evil influence of Secret So.
Cicties.n
Hon, John W. Smyth is in the city.
II Is striking indication of progress of
the liberaity in this city that Hon. Fred.
erick Douglass and wife were invited to
diplomatic reception at the executive man
sion.
There should be a monument erected in
one OF the city parks in memory of John
Rev. T. B. Everett and the Rev. W. II.
Lenard will lecture in the interest of St. |
Luke's Protestant Episcopal Church on the |
evening of the 23d instant and March2.
Charles Boyd and Miss Alice Cartwright |
were married on Thursday evening at |
Mount Zion, West Washington. The mar
riage was attended by numerous friends.
The Colored National Press Association |
will meet in this city on the 10Th OF April.
The Industrial Building and Saving Asso. |
citation, of the District, bids fair to be q
grand success.
John johnson, the son of the Rev. r.
Johnson, celebrated the ilth year Of his
mont avenue. They had quite a distin- |
tinguished gathering, numbering about
twenty-five boys and girls. The table was
decorated.
The Masonic celebration that Is to be
given in the city either in May or June, ac-
companied with an industrial fair, will be
q grand affair.
Charles Marshall has the sympathy of his
numerous friends in the death of his
mother
The Congregational Church, Seventeenth
and streets, will hold fair in March,
Howard Union Alumni banquet bids
fair to be one of the most important gath
erings Of the season.
Prof. James, Of Howard University, is
improving health and will be out soon.
Frederick Haron Douglass, son of Fred
erck Douglass, jr, and Virginia l.. Doug
lass, who was born in Cambridge, Mass,
June u, 1870, died at lIillsdale, ID. c., Feb.
y, 1856. He was promising youth, and
was universally admired and beloved for
his gentlemanly department and kindness,
His death was severe blow to his parents.
The ladies Of West Washington have or
ganlzed sewing circle, as follows: Mrs. s.
A. Ruflin,. president; Mrs. Elize Hewitt,
vice president; Miss II. V. Jones, secretary:
Mrs, Martha Harris assistant snorator;,
L he object is to assist in charitable work,
The Baptist Sabbath School Union held
theifs quarterly meeting on Sunday
last at the Virginia Avenue Baptist Church,
Rov X. ). Laws, pastor; W. f. Allen,
The exercise opened with
prayer by Rev. Tompkins, after which the
president Of the association addressed the
meeting. p. A. Taylor, David Henry,
Benneey Bench, Miss Mary Thornley,, and
Miss Rosa Spine assisted in the exercises.
lhe secretary, Miss NJ. 4. Prior, read the
quarterly report. The Wayland male quar-.
.ette rendered several beautiful and appro-
Driate selections.
Bishop Gibbons will preach at st. Angus
ines on Feb %, and administer confrma-
ion in the afternoon.
Bethel A. NJ. L. Church was crowded
IN Tuesday evening last by memorial
meeting held by the Bethel Historical and
Literary Association, to commemorate and
1ass resolutions of coincidence upon the
lunter Lewis II. Douglass, In very
leat and appropriate address called
he attention OF the audience to the object
i the meeting. He then introduced Hon.
frederick Douglass, who delivered an elo-
uent address. The Hon. p. IL. Lynch.
'rof. i. &. W. Cook, Gen. Robert Small,
nd Geo. NJ. Arnold delivered appropriate