The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-12-09
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
The Weeks DOingS at the Ma
tiOnal Capital.
"THE NEGRO PRoRLFM.n

ann Nt-Nhb AA'A-E-As
One evening last week Col. George ". Will
iams-the only colored man who reached that
rank during the late war-deliyered in this
city an able lecture on 1.-The Negro Problem"
Col. Williams was appointed by Prcsidet Arthur
Minister 10 Hayti. He has also won distinction
in the literary field, his History Of the Negro
Race OF America" having attracted no little
attention. as did also his =" History Of the Negro
Troops of the Rebellion" Among his other
works is review of the military services of
the negro in ancient and modern times.
In his lecture Col. Williams handled the Diff
cult subject in skillful manner. In the course
of his remarks he said:
Notwithstanding the many signs OF the breaking
down of the almost impreGnable lines of race anti
pAthy, many Of our coun,rymen are still stubbornly
intrenched behind absolute prejudices hates and
resentments These views must be routed; and
until they are dslodged the negro problem cannot
be solved IL was an economic question that intro
duced the African upon this continent and 1t lie an
economic question that we must address ourselves
10 the negro problem to-day.
Col. Williams passed quickly over the various
attempts and consequent failures TO solve the
negro problem that followed the war. and said ::
The negro then became esteemed. simply on ao-
count OF his numerical value. Therefore in any
judicial or historical consideration OF the progress
oi the negro during the last decades his political
preierment must be regarded as the most unsatis-
factory evidence Of his ascension In the scale OF in
telligcnce.
But one more hope remains for those who still
adhere 10 the idea that the negro problem can be
| solved by political methods. The present Demo-
cratic Administration may be expected 10 do some
thing 10 settle this question. Aud assume the re-
sponsibility Of advising and urging the negro To 20
out OF the Republican party into any other party
that lac may lind that viii secure 10 him the full and
free exercise Of his rights labOrer. For party
that does not cannot 10 its members their
primal rights life, liberty and the pursuit Of hap
pness,' does not deserve support or success.
TRADE DOLLARS.
Holdars NJ trada dollars have tbn oerp ranoa oe
several prominent Congressman that an effort
will be made this Winter TO pass bill provid-
| ing for the redemption of this much abused
coin. Similar efforts have been made in pre-
viOus Congresses, but they have failed because
IL was alleged that the bulk OF this coin is held by
Spectators. tits said that four five years ago
a concerted movement among New York specu-
lators deprecated the value Of the trade dollar,
and forced it down to a current value of from
| as 10 So cents. Thiswas owing TO two causes
| the discovery that the Government must re-
| deem this class Of coin because il was obsolete
and worth less than its face value, and also be-
cause certain capitalists determined 10 buy it
up for speculative purposes. They were pur-
chased al an average of 80 cents and withdrawn
from circulation. If they should be redeemed
now the spectators would only make about 10
| per cent. on their investment, which has stood
| for four years. Under the circumstances the
objection TO the passage Of such bill on the
ground that it is in the interest of Spectators
alone no longer holds good, aud there seems to
be no reason why Congress should further with
hold legislation on the subject.
KATE FIELD WILL LECTURE.
Kit Carson Post, No. 2, GAR, has unani-
mousIy requested Miss Kate Field TO lecture on
Mormonism and Miss Field has consented to
speak in the Congregational Church on the
| evening Of the 18th inst. The request was sup
ported by the following:
wAsHrSGros Dec. /, 1856.
We, the undersigned residents OF Washington,
DESTROYS Of hearing the views on Mormonsm OF one
| having made no thorough "A study of the subject,
very heartily unite in requesting the acceptance by
Miss Field OF the foregoing invitation:
VIM. +. Villas. w. G. Whitney, l.. q. O. Lamar d.
X. Cartier, d. w. Voorhees,. John Sherman w H.
Allison, John q. Black, u. b. Vance. o. ii. Plat,
/ Rush X. Slippen, w. :. Odell John A Logan MN
g. Icndicott, i. III. Sheridan, Arthur Macarthur, O.
Q. Matson, Philetus Sawyer. B Sunderland Joseph
r. Kelley, l. stern, VIM. Malone, g. Herbert
| aus Steele, J. Ill. McGowan, George II. Edmunds
The following was Miss Fields reply:
WAsHISGToS, ID. c.. Dec 2, 1885,
To he Commander Rh Cursor Post, No 2, q. A.R,
GEYrIEMEN: Accident has acquainted me with a
national evil that under the cloak Of so-caled re.
lgon, Is eating into the heart of the Rocky Mount
aims ! shall be glad 10 tell you what know about
| MOrmonlsm on "Wednesday evening Dec l5 AZ Tie
| Congregational Church. Very truly,
KATE FIELD.
| DlfFEhENcE IN POINT OF VIEW.
The people in the northwest suburbs OF
Washington are not altogether unanimou.
about the advantages TO be gained by having
the President establish his country residence
in that quarter. John Schumann, a saloon
keeper on the Tenleytown road, has been re
fused q license on the ground that his plac,
was too near the Presidents house. Johr
grumbles ierccly at this discrimination against
him, and has appealed TO the Commissioners
He asserts that the people of his neghborhood
care great deal more about having their beef
than they do about having the President liy,
among them, and they would rather buy tho
President out than forego the privilege of buy
ing their drinks where they want TO- John i
probably correct as 10 the class of citizens whC
frequent his saloon, but when IL comes TO buy
ing out the President they probably could mo-
all together buy the front porch Of Red Ton Il
the whole place was offered for 81 900.
SENATOR MASDERsoN's NEW QUARTERS.
Senator Henderson has been occupying very
comfortable quarters In the Portland Flats, the
handsome apartment house on Thomas Circle
The splendid equestrian statue Of the Senator.
old aud well-beloyed Commander, Gen. George
il. Thomas confronted his windows, and was
the object upon which his eyes would most
likely rest whenever lac looked out The Sen
ator has, however decided 10 change his loca.
tion, having had offered him the use of the