The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-09-28
CLEMENTS OPPOSED.
Washington Blacks Say He Would Not
Set at Table With a Back Man.

Set at Table With Back Man.
Some of the colored politicians OF Wash
ton, says Washington special to the New
YORK Herald, accomplishing the appointment
Of Mr.. Clefnehts IF Georgia as one of the
interstate commerce commissioners. Their
complaint IS that Mr. Clements on one CO
casion declined to sit at table d'hote with
a colored man. 1t was not Mr.. Clements,
but Mr.. Grimes, another Georgian, who
thus protested against the Negroes pres
ence.
The incident is interesting, however, as
showing the temper of the colored people.
They are gradually awakening to the fact
that they are an important factor in the
destinies of the Republican party. They
have been looking into the matter for
themselves, and they find that without
their assistance the Republican party would
be hopelessly beaten i'll New York, Ohio,
lGdlana, Michigan, Illinois and California
They have been the plant tools of the re-
publican bosses for quarter of a century,
but in the future they purpose asserting
their independence
They bulldozed the President into ap-
pointing one of their number as Frederick
Doug ass successor at Hayti after it had
been declared that no more negroes were to
be sent abroad in diplomatic capacity.
Ia at gave them taste of their power. The
Clements incident shows how generally
they intend to employ it.
1t Is possible that with them and the Re-
publican party there is to be a repetition of
the fable Of Acteon and his dogs. Are they
likely some day, and that not far distant
to turn upon their former masters and rend
them in pieces Who shall say that they
may not?
The success of the colored people politi-
callY is stimulating them to social ambition
as well. Washington is negroes paradise,
aud here he is seen at his best. There arc
probably more colored people of education
and refinement here than in score Of other
cities OF equal size.
There are many bright, intelligent colored
men and women employed as clerks in the
executive departments. Several chiefs of
bureaus and division chiefs have been
selected from the colored race. and they dis
charge their duties in a highly creditsble
manner. They receive salaries ranging
from 81 200 to "a 900 year, and are en4~
bled to live in excellent style, dress well and
enjoy comforts and luxuries equal to those
OF the whites in the same position. There
| are several colored lawyers and physicians
here whose clientsqe is the envy of strug-
Cling white professionals
In the educational field there are many
who have attained distinction. The How
ard University has a faculty Of colored pro-
| AcoSOTa, hflu uIlOUR luGtAl dT6 several WOMEN
| who have had the advantage of university
training In Europe.
| This class of negroes is very exclusive.
They have established high social stand
ard, and admission TO their set is almost as
| difficult to obtain as an Introduction into
New York's Four Hundred. While they
maintain an original equality with the
whites they recognize the barrier between
| the races with regard to personal and social
| asgOcintiOpa ThaU q a axNIneiva N that
way as are their Caucasian cousins. Many
wealthy and highly educated negroes be-
| long to this class who would scorn to force
themselves ON white society.
But when it comes to public privileges
this class, with others of lower order, are
| sometimes over particular. They iusist on
sharing comforts and convenieuces with the
whites. They are able to pay the price and
are stlcklers for the provisions Of the civil
rights bill.
| REFUSED TO PATRoNIzE A NEGRO.
This has been noticed, particularly with
regard to hotel accommodations Some
months ago social club of the very swell
est negroes desired to give a banquet. They
| applied to the proprietor Of one OF the lead
ing Washington hotels for rates The pro-
prietor informed them that he could not
afford at any price to furnish them a bnn-
quet. He advised them to go to another
hostelry conducted by a colored man and Of
as high class as his own. The negroes
were very angry. AID although the accom-
modations at the hotel owned by one of
their own color were, In fact, superior to
those of the white proprletor's house, they
indignantly refused to "patronize negro,n
as they expressed it. and they did not.
Not long ago proposition was made to
build first-class hotel in this city for tie
exclusive use of negroes. Several of the
leading colored brethren were consulted
with regard to the scheme. Much to the
surprise of the promoters Of the enterprise
the colored people rejected it W. til ndigna-
| ton.
''No," they said, ''if palace were built
where we could live like princes at rates not
exceeding those at first-class white hotel
we would not consent to iudorse the
| scheme"
They would not consent to segregation.
no matter how soft the bands Of separation.
They claimed that they had the right to be
accommodated under the same roof with
white people, and if they were not accorded
that privilege they did not propose to be
shut of by themselves in place marked
distinctively Negro" The enterprise,
which at first was considered a good thing
was Immediately dropped.