The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1895-03-28
AN APOLOGY{D


The apologists for Mr.. Cleveland
say that douglas and his wife were
invited to the official receptions be
cause of his cfictat positton." But there
were many white men holding higher
official positions in Washington who
were not ineited, and it was an out
rage that this negro miscegenmtion-
list. with the white woman who
had degraded her race by marrying
Kim and his black daughter, 10y his
tirst wife, should have been in .ited :,
because of "official position, TO
4 mingle on terms of perfect eqHalhy
with Southern Senotors and members Of
Congress and their families.
The apology is no good. He was
position The custom has been
for the President to invite
to those receptions whnmso-
ever he pleases. Douglass held
the same official position both under
Hayes and Arthur, and it is proven
by Douglass own statement, given
above, that neither Of tie Republica"
Presidents had invited him to similar
receptions. Cleveland was the first,
elected as a Democrat, to coun-
tenance social equality and mise egen-
alton by having Douglass, his
white wife and black daughter as
guests, by invitation, at the White
House. to meet Southern ladies and
gantlem IN.
PROOF CONCLUSIVE.
: That the miscegenating couple
were not invited because of the
"official position" held by Douglas:
was proven by Mr.. Cleveland him
self In the month Of June, 1856
Mr.. Cleveland was married. He ano
| his wife left Washington the day O
, the wedding, and returned to Wash
: ington during the latter part O.
June. Invitations We're at once is
sued for bridal reception.
=, There was hardly a man, woman
! or child who would not have made
D great sacrifices to receive one o
u those invitations, and which would
open the portals of the White HOus,
e to them and secure an introduction
to the bride of the President. Con
gress was in session at the time. l
would soon adjourn and the capita
J. city was full of people, as it Away
is at such time. EXtraOrdinar,
S efforts were made by leaders OF SO
J: ciety to obtain Invitations. Ere
n DOUGLASS was no longer IN office, no
e acas he IN Washington city; yet, he ar
q his wife aeere melted guests at the create,
e social ecent that had occurred i
J Washington since the marriage 9
1t Nellie Grant, the daughter of RI
Is publican President, an "event"
4 which Douglass was not invited
y The Washington Post In giving a
IS account of the reception said: 18th
r guests included all who are connec
at ed with the social, political ar
10 official life Of the capital" 1t VIZ
s distinctly 'social Junction. Dous
lass and his wife were there, mins
ling on terms of perfect social equa
itv with the other guests.
hit Among the guests as shown by Il
h. local papers were: Senators Pug
as Cockrell, Call and kenna, of We
lis | OcuotlCSS WILL luSli La IL
ey lies. Among the ladies' present we
he Mesdames Carlisle, Voorhees, al
be Mcmillan.
an All the guests were presented
he Mrs. Cleveland by Lieutenant Duva
as. Imagine Senator Pugh and his wi
on presented to the first lady in t
IS land, followed by Fred. Dougla
he and his wife, then Benton McMill;
and wife, the daughter of ex-Go
- ernor Brown, Of Tennessee.
~, The names of Lone of the Nor
W Carolina members were given in
~ list, because it is supposed they We
~ not considered of sufficient impo
- ance; but doubtless they were
present.
VI That it was social or person
"a reasons that impelled this Den
~ cratic President to invite Doug;
~ and his wife to the White House
~ showt, rot only by the refusal of
~, predecessors who might have done
a" . FOR political reasons, to extend So
L