The times., 1897-05-23
NEW COLOR LINE.
Original Discoveries in Washington
by n Western Correspondent.

by Western Correspondents.
There is curious var going on IN Wash
ington between the blacks and mulattoes
for official positions A new color line
has been drawn The blacks claim that
the mulattoes are nonopolizing the offices
allotted to their race and that seven-tenths
Of the persons holding positions under the
Government in the executive departments
and III the Printing Office, in the office of
OF the District Commissioners and as
teachers in the colored schools, are half or
quarter breeds. The blacks call them
yellow jacks and hold them iii CON
tempt, while the niulattoes consider them
selves several grades higher socially and
intellectually than the fuIi-blooded por-
ton of their race. The blacks are hold
ing public meetings, passing resolutions
and addressing petitions TO the President
and to Congress-, asking that honors be
equaIized, and that there be no distinction
in the shade of color when appointments
are made to office.
A man with the appropriate name Of
Oliver c. Black is leading the crusade, and
says: LAS the voting power OF the blacks
is so greatly in excess Of the voting power
OF the lnUlattoes, we consider the dis
elimination not only unjust. but we propose
to make ourselves felt hereafter at :.iec-
tons During the last Administration we
complained TO President Cleveland, and
at an audience given TO representatives Of
the blacks. he assured us that he had made
an investigation and would allow no fur
tber appointments of mUlattoes
Liberia the nation whose fleet, con-
sisting of one gunboat, recently made itself
conspicuous beyond all proportion to its
SIZE is represented here, but the consulate
appears to have absolutely 10 business on
hand L;belian affairs are dull ard easily
managed, vet a consulate there must be,
for the names sake.
The cousuls OF Hayti, San Domingo and
some OF the other West Indian and Central
and South American countries have little
to do n protecting their few citizens who
are resident here, but the large amount Of
commerce carried on between the United
States and those places affords plenty
of work OF a different sort, and thus gives
the cousulates ample excuse for being.
Nearly all Of the consulates are situated
in the extreme lower paIuof the city, in tue
neighboI hood Of Whitehall street and Bowl
ing Green. The one building which con-
tains more than any other is No "a State
street This is an old-fashioned brick
structure, which doubtless represented
when il was put up a high type OF office
building, but which is now sadly behind
the times The consuls, however, seem
entirely satisfied with their old home, and
evince NO desire TO change its groove worn
floors and uneven stairCascs for anything
better. No "a State street is little for
eipn colony In il self and a most varied one
at that. for within its walls are the con-
sulates Of Italy, Great Britain, Norway,
Russia, Sweden, Colombia, Ecuador and
Turkey
After all these have been mentioned there
remains one more, which is in several re-
spects the most original and interesting of
all the consulates in New York. is theone
belonging to tie Kingdom of SIAM If any
one should happen to see floating above the
Union League Club a bright red flag bear
ing upon its field the sacred W hite elephant
he may know at once the rea son for the dis
play 1t isnot a new emblem selected blythe
club, but merely the royal ensign of Siam.
flying in all propriety over the Siamese
consulate The only address given in the
directory for Isaac Townsend Smith, con-
sui from Spain to this city, is No, L East
Thirty ninth street, the Union League
Club. lie is not unknown there and else
where in the city, but it is doubtful w hether
all Of his many friends are aware of the
diplomatic office he holds 1 has not yet
been definitely ascertained just how alb
sorbing the duties are at the consulate, but
it is known that Mr.. Smith finds leisure TO
do several things sbesides.-Chicago Journal