Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-01-08
Hard on the Darkey.

One dav Secretary Schurz brought an
ex-Coniederate general over to see
President Hayes. Scnurz had fought
against him or been shot by him, or in
some way had been thrown in contact
or opposition to him during the war,
and had struck up great friendship
with the SOutnerner, he had become
more or less Of convert to the Presi-
dents Southern policy of Cancellation,
and Mr.. Schurz was desirious of bolster
ing the Presidential arm. The general
Immediately alter Cabinet meeting.
Several of Mr.. Hay es' advisers remained
behind and were presented. After a
due amount of manaeuveriIg for posi-
ton, the reconstructed told his little
tale:
ITO explain to you, Mr.. President,
what am about to relate" said he, sit
is necessary that [ should GO some W hat
into detail. All Southern houses are
built with wide verandas running across
the front, and not infreluently ear
around the house. Here we gather and
meet our friends, smoke, drink, tell the
news and exchange views. At my
house, in Middle Alabama. only fort
night ago, l sat on my veranda in COM
pany with a Judge, two majors, colo
leading physician oil tne county. In q
sentence, the brains. blood and aristoc-
racy of the county were assembled on
my veranda. What is TO follow will
clearly demonstrate TO you, Mr.. Presi-
dent, the great the enormous change
which has come over the South under
the influence OF your beneGcent policy
AN old colored man cane by the
house driving Ynule hitched to cart
on which were two bales of cotton. He
paused for a minute in front of the
house to rest his mule, when one of the
party accosted him:
"'Where are you going with that cot
ton, Uncle Joep
'"I'se drivin' hit 10 the station, sah.'
"'Whose cotton is it?'
"'Mine, sab. Mine; an Use got two
mo- bales to hum, sab, ready to 60. I
ginned it all myself, sah.'
why, Uncle Joe, said the colonel,
you must be getting rich. If you have
four bales of cotton all your own, you
are capitalist. / think you ought to
treat?'
"'W'y sartin, sab, said the negro.
IF you gemmen will do me de honah to
drink with me, be mos happy to STAN
treat
$50, Mr.. President, the whole party
took their feet down off the railing,
went down this street, entered saloon
and drank with that colored man, and
at his expense"
A solemn stiffness fell over the group.
Mr.. Hayes looked somewhat at q loss to
see where his policy had been sus-
tanned, and somewhat dubious as to
whether he could approve of anything
which involve liquor drinking. Private
Secretary Rogers tried to boost the stu
alton little.
"Yes," he said, sit evidently indicates
that change has been taking place in
the social status of the freedmen.
While few years ago it would have
been impossible for a white man to
drink with colored man, and at his
expense, now both are possible, as this
gentleman has evidenced. It is very
plain, Mr.. President, that your benefit
cent policy has already borne good
fruit in ameliorating the condition of
the negro. Do you not think SO, Mr..
Evarts Pr
81 am not certain about that" re-
pied the premier. II would like to in
quire more clearly into the case. Do
understand you TO say. sir, that the old
negro ginned his cotton hinself?"
$50 he stated" replied the South
erner.
"And that on the strength Of his hav-
ing four bales of cotton you and your
friends drank with him ?"
eyes. Mr.. Secretary"
"And at his expense ?"
Eyes, SIR"
"Well. | think, sir. it was simply
damnable."
The whole party looked as if they
were drinking hot tea over a dynamite
mine.
"Simply damnable," repeated the
Secretary.
''Mr. Evarts," broke in Gen. Schurz,
81 fail to see the justice of your re-
marks. l would be pleased to have an
explanation. What is it that is damna-
BILE ?"
That this old colored man." replied
Mr.. Evarts, 'should have to gin his cot
ton twice"