The Washington bee., 1888-11-17
REPRESENTATION.

missions, is a fact which many OF
the subscribers of the BEE have
often remarked. That hitherto,
within the past four years, it has
been impossible to secure the
desired representation goes with
out saying. That we are not
likely to have representative
with n the next three months or
SO, may be safely predicted. And
we doubt the capacity of Mr..
Cleveland to find among his ad-
mirers a suitable person to repre-
sent our interests. This posi- bly,
grows out of the fact that His
Excellency cannot boast of a sin
gle competent admirer. But if
we are 10 judge the President
elect fairly and in the light of the
growing tendency to recognize
such a representative, we have
reason 10 hope for the appoint
ment of a cJlored man as one of
the District Commissioners. Now
of course our friends O. will say
that this is drawing the color
line; that the necessity of having
a colored man is not necessarily in
order, inasmuch as there are white
men who are capable of represent
ing them.
We are inclined to the belief that
they are capable enough, but their
inclination to do absolute justice
to the colored people we plousiy
doubt, In what particular man
ner are the colored people misrep-
resented? Which member of the
trinity is particularly obu oxious?
What particularly interest is not
properly husbanded? We say that
We are not misrepresented, except
to the extent of being unrepresent--
ed and that implies that either we
form no recognized part OF the
people or have no interest to be
protected and developed. Take
the three equal factors of The trim
ity of the Big-head. Each has a
particular function assigned him.
One looks after the management
of The scientific part oflhe admin
lstration; another the police affairs
&c. while among other things a
third looks after the educational
interests of the people. The col
ored people need no particular
representation as regards the first
of these functions. But how
about the other two-the police
and educational and property
interests. The police adminlstra-
ton may be competently conduct
ed but it occurs to US that if
colored man were at the head of
it, remedy for the much mooted
''incresse of petty" larceny among
colored people and many other
unfortunate" things which are
charged to colored people might
be studiously sought anu applied
The property item may not justify
claim to a place in the triumyl-
rate, Notwithstanding the colored
people own millions of property
and are increasing in wealth under
unfavorable conditions, as no
other race has done. But how
about the educational item? Have
we no educational Interests to be
looked after? And how is that
interest now being managed?
Might we not claim representa-
ton in that regard? Those who
are intrusted with our interest ia
that regard are now striving to in
jure the school system and at the
same time endeavoring to take
from the colored people the man
agement of such schools. They
wish to abolish the office of sup
erlntendent as an opening wedge
and thereafter supply the places
of our celored teachers with
whites. Is this misrepresentation
or misrepresentation, or what? For
our port the necessity for a Com.
missioner who is a colored man is
is at once apparent. We would
have young, progressive, intelIi-
gent colored property holder, who
has bravery enough to speak and
act when our interests are at
stake. And we know Of no man
more qualified to fill the place
with honor to himself and to his
race than Milton Nj. Holland, ESQ
His claims were acknowledged by
President Garfield who would
have appointed him had God been
pleased to have saved his life
few months longer.