The Washington bee., 1896-11-21
A NEGRO IN THE CABINET.
From the Daily Post Nov. II, 1896.

!
| Inanother column of this edition of
| The Post we reprint from the New
| Orleans States an article commenting
| upon our proposition that Mr McKin-
| lev should recognize the services rem
| dered by the colored voter in the late
election by offering one of them a
place in his cabinet. We refer to this
| proposition again, not because we
| think it needs any further argument or
ILLUSTRATION, but simply for the purpose
of repudiating the suggestion that 1t
was originally made in spirit OF irony
and that the author thereof "must
| have laughed convulsively in his sleeve
while penning the article under re-
view"
1t is quite true that we do not regard
every colored man in the country, or
| even the average Colored man, as quail
| flied for a cabinet position. But 1t is
! equally true that we do not have that
| opinion of every white voter. We did
not propose the whole Negro race for
| the office any more than we should
think of proposing the whole Caucas-
ian race for it. 1t is our deliberate
| opinion 1, however, that there are many
colored men of brains, courage, cult
ure, and high personal character cap
able OF discharging the duties OF the
office in question with credit to them
selves and to the incoming adnln'Stra-
ton. MIR. Mckinley could provide
himself in that respect without any
great difficulty, and there can be no
/ doubt that in doing so he would dis
charge an honorable and conspicuous
political obligation.
1t is necessary at times to make
an affidavit t. convince some people
that you are really in earnest. The
only people who have any doubt as
to the sincerity of the z SITS article
are.those who don't want to see
colo; ed man in the cabinet, for fear
It nay curtail their social or political
j functions. The only obj tions or
argument that can be advanced
against the appointment of a COL
ored man in the cabinet is, that the
social fastidious taste of other cabi-
net ministers would not harmonize
with our colored cabinet mini3ter
Let us see how true this is: When
Hon. B. K. Bruce was senator,
there was some talk that Mrs.
Bruce Was socially Objectionable to
white senators wives. This talk
did not emanate from the white
people, but, among the colored.
Indeed, Mrs. Bruce was invited t."
all the big receptions given hy the
senators, and it was she who re-
ceived with Miss Clara Barton and
Mrs. John A. Logan at one OF the
biggest receptions that was ever
given in this country,
This is piece of published his
tory and not new TO the social func-
tionaries at that time. Major Nc
Kinley, while recognizing the meri
of The god democrats can not over
look with impunity the colored
vote of this country which will b.
an organized factor in the next
presidential election. The republi-
can party can not afford 70 ignore
the GAINS of these faithful allies.
The Posts article is nothing new,
The BEE has been demanding a
!, colored man for the cabinet or fol
vice president of the United States
. for over sixteen years. The only
difference between the Post ant
BEE is, it is the characteristic D
the 'lored people to listen with pa
tience when "Mars Charles
speaks. although "Oid Ephraim
may have said better things in year
back. In the Evening Star of No
vember 5th, the editor of this pape
among other interviews suggested
the pr"lriety of Major McKinle
;. appointing a colored man in th
" cabinet and on Saturday Novembe
7th the Post very kindly, which
y compliment to The BEE, indorsr
, what the editor of this paper &C
vanced.
We are entitled to cabinet por
folio, if not why not?
q | Aldo EDHGhMS hROlCE FL