The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-10-27
COLLATION. rICrUKns.

The New York World Of October 10 pub
fishes . letter written BY Grover Cleveland
to the United States African News Conn
pany, Of which . copy was sent to the
Rovi6. Itrefsrs IN highly complimentary
terms 70 The famous speech delivered in
IL Nissisaippi constitutional convention
b. N. Nontsomsry. the ahls and highly
educated oolored member Of that body.
The sx-prssidsnt congratulatss himself and
his oountrymsn upon the illustration that
speech afords Of what any Of our citixens
can do BY proper improvement within the
reach Of III of a.. ]"
And I am surs. ssys Mr.. Cleveland.
"that every coiored citizen should be proud
a representative Of his race who can
make such speech. even II It Il regarded
simply q IN intellectual effort and ire
spectivs Of the opinion Get FORTH But
the meat Of his letter vas in the conclnd-
ins paragraph. "It seems 70 me. said he,
.'there are many indications that our col
cred peopls are fast reaching condition
whsn thsy win think and oct politically -
citissns OF country In which they have
the same interest and duty - other citi-
Gems. instead Of thinking and acting in
manner determined by traditions, preiu-
dices and color" which means that they
must cut loose from their traditional preju-
dices in favor Of the Republican party, and
give ct least moiety Of their support to
Mr.. Cleveland's pssty.
In the same issue of the World, and in
the immediately preceding co.umn. par
allel with the Cleveland letter, is q thrilling
account Of . Dire the day previous at the
corner Of Hudson and Sussex streets, New
York. The house was occupied by John
Rodgers, his wife and seven children.
The Dire occurred between and O'Clock
in the morning, when all were sound
asleep, and by the time they were aroused
had made such headway that their escape
from the upper story which they occupied
was impossible. Rodgers had the children
huddled near the front window and was
frantic. The parents we're hopeless OF
saving the lite ones.
On the sidewalk stood policeman
named Dougherty: big. brawny and
brave. Throw yer kids to me-. said
Dougher,y. And one by one, as a desper-
ate but the only resort, Rodgers dropped
them from the second story window anu
the stalwart Dougherty caught them and
placed them unharmed upon the sidewalk.
6nme OF them were Of goodly size and
Dougterty's was herculean task. no,
nf n N, I'D
true hero he stood his ground. and scath-
less all OF the Ro igerses were saved. The
account closes With an intimaiion that the
FIRE was the work OF an incendiary. II so.
II was no FAINT of his that the entire family
did not perish in tie flames.
Nov let II be supposed that the seven
little Rodgerses are ali males. and let the
Imagination make forward leap OF a
quarter century or more. The Rodgers
boys have all reached mans estate. They
have taken advantage OF their opportunities
and afford fine illustration of "what any
OF our cit'xans can do by proper improve
ment within the reach of all oil u.s. But
all through these years there has been
among them traditional respect and rev.
erence Tor brave Doughe,ty. who saved.
and somewhat OF prejudice against the
incendiary Who fred their home and would
have put them to death in the flames.
Who will say that these impulses are un-
reasonable or improperf Who viii say
that education and material advancement
should destroy or weaken thems Who
viii say that. all other things being equal.
Or nearly 50. in IN appeal for favor and
consideration from Dougherty and his
friends on the one hand. and from the in.
cendiary and bis allies on the other, there
can Be any demand Of humanity or patriot
ism torsquire that the Rodgers boys should
divide their votes or preferences;
But that IL precisely the appeal Mr..
Cleveland makes to the colored people.
Because Of the liberties which they owe 70
the Republican party. and OF which the
Democrats would have deprived them, and
bscanss Of the improvement which i ~