Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1886-09-02
THE MATTHEW'S CASE.
A Talk with the President About
the Matter-The Feeling In
Washington.

The New York Herald publishes q long
interview with President Cleveland in re-
gard to his appointment of Matthews to
succeed Frederick Douglass as Recorder
OF Deeds for the District Of Columbia
The President is stated TO have said:
Il had only one object in appointing Mr. Mat
thews, namely: to put the best man could
nnd, that Is, the best colored man, in the posi-
ton. The colored race are developing great
many very able men. They have Accomplished
wonders during the last twenty-five wears /
could not appoint them all, SO was compelled
70 use my best Judgment to do service to our
colofen iellow-citizens, and at the same time to
give the appointment to n faithful and able
man. think have done both. Mr. Matthews
Is, l believe, thoroughly competent. He has
many serious obstacles.
no nae @OSe@Rss @ m s go2a gSsiSn as and
people who know him most intimately speak
quired?"
"A colored Democrat" the reporter suggested,
is regarded as novelty. 1 have even heard
that one gentleman, we'll known In Washing
ton, remarked that colored Democrat is po-
htit1cal anomaly, or even monstrosity"
Yes" he replied, II believe there is some
such opinion in the air. But it is not an opinion
OF which man has any right to be proud.
colored Democrat an anomalyl And why,
We'll. because the southerners, who were
their masters In the old days, were nearly all
Democrats"
-True,' replied the President "but the last
thirty years have brought changes in this coun-
try. The old relations are broken up and the
old times can never return. The North and the
South are equally gratihed by this fact You
cannot apply the rules which obtained yester-
day To the things OF to-day. We a new ma
ton. The occurrences OF twenty-five years ago
belong to ancient history. Now, then we have
two great parties in this country. That is our
salvation. Every four years these parties have
wrestling-match. It's q hot fight throughout
the campaign. But when the fight Is over then
we forget the fight and settle down good
naturedly to support the administration in ev-
cry honest effort toward good government
Well, the colored people OF the South are lust
like all tho rest of us. Ine moment they D6gin
TO recognize the duty Of citizenship, that mo-
ment they will begin to form convictions and
to be governed by them.
Does any reasonable man suppose that, when
the white people of the country divide them
selves between the Republican and the Demo-
cratic parties, the colored people will all think
alike and join the Republican party? This is
an insult to the colored mans brains. 1t is the
sheerest nonsense, and, more than that. IL
would be great political calamity. Diff
ference OF opinion is not only the
charm of the republic, but it is also
its safety, and 1 have doubt that
when education does its effective work the col
ored race Of the South will partly weel into line
with the Republican party and partly in line
with the Democratic party. It cannot be other
l have great respect for the colored people,
Again and again l have told the delegations
which have visited me that they must have
convictions OF their own and act ON them that
they must choose their politics with thoughtful
care and personal independence. In that way
alone can they become worthy citizens of the
best Government in the world.
Il appointed Mr.. Matthews solely because
and feel certain that the people will come to
see that am right"