The Hawaiian gazette., 1900-06-29
LAST Of
HIS RACE
G. H. White Only Negro
in Congress,
CHANGE IN SITUATION
Some Afro-AmeriCans Who Have
Won Prominence in National
Politics.

| WASHINGTON, June iO--He Ii the last
Of his race. An epoch is closed Seated
in remote corner OF the chamber Of the
House Of Representatives, near Brumi-
drs painting Of the opening u negota-
SONS at the siege OF Yorktown ne list
ems TO an uproar on the floor apparently
lost In reflection A light mulatto OF
sturdy physique he has close cropped,
ldusy hair ana two inches Of whiskors
mlitalre. The cycs are bright, the mus
tache neatly trimmed, and the hair part
ed In the middle. There Is a slight trace
Of the Ethiop in his features, but II,
face Is pleasing and intellectual. Dressed
with excellent taste, he is evidently a
man OF education and refinement. Speak.
ing IN correct terms IN language spark
ling with American ldiomR, he lacks af-
liability, although polite in manner and
direct in conversation. Indeed, he has
few II any Congressional associates. His
wife, a lady OF beauty and refinement
frequently visits the capitol and returns
home with him after the tolls of the day
This statesman is the Hon. George Hon.
ry White, of Tarburo, N. c., the last oI
the negro Congressman.
The reconstruction tide has at las
passed the flood and Is beginning to ebb
The palmy days of the new era are oveI
and the relapse is here. Mere ephemerG
were the carpetbagger and scalliwagger
They were political insects with lives
measured by days But the negro sur.
yivcd nearly a third of century. He was
"A part of the soil of the South, cultivat-
ed by questionable methods, but never
fertil.2ed Like the old Virginia tobacco
fields, the soil seems to have run out,
and the land, no longer productive, is
about to be abandoned Mr.. White is as
able and intelligent a representative of
his race as has ever appeared in Wash
ington. He COMFORTS himself with great
dignity in the House Addressing his
colleagues with unusual ability, when the
opportunity serves, he seasons his elo.
quence with ridicule and sarcasm, relieV-
ing 1t with trite sayings and metaphors.
Once in the present session he reached
the plateau of real oratory. In burning
words he arraigned Judge Lynch for
high crimes and misdemeanors in the
South, and sought his impeachment at
the bar of public opinion. There was no
pleading for favor but a demand for in
dividual rights. He did not beg for fair
play; he eXacted 1t. The speech dissect-
ed acknowledged facts with an unspar-
ing scalpel, laid bare the fostering wound
and demanded the prompt application Of
a remedy. Possibly 1t was more aggress-
i've than suggestive. more irritating than
convincing. but no one could gainsav its
logic Tho members listened with intense
interest and the speech aroused strong
editorial comment. Among those who
congratulated the orator was one or
two Democrats trcm south of Mason ana
DiXons line. il WIS the best work done
nv White dur,1g his three wears in Con-
gross Nov1ap q was the last protest
that win ever be made by a black man
in Congress.
..
SlIuAlIoN HAS CiiANHbD'
For tho situation has changed The
woods have bea, cut away and the
stream has nm dr.. The dcnudinr of tine
forest begon fo,r wears ago when Mis-
etesinni adonted n state constitution TINT
practically disfranchised the negro.
/ o,,isio,,a followed snit and North car
oIino ana Virpini arr oneadv treadinp
i'm the same nath The ffteenih amend
mont 10 VIRTUALLY beInrr wined ont Dry
ore tbe tones in the he'd of the brook
There may no water under them but
whether If will ever again ooZe to the
surface limo alone can determine
what racima II was i'm its hnvdav,
Tho amnestied whites eoem 10 have re-
IrurIpI n
,norn No more incongrunus ,oIiticoi oil |
emants were unheaved in the French
evolution II WIS stratum, 40 states
,,onebi,, ,,pfo,asbo douad and utterly nm
,nn,,,n II n,as IiI,o f,,nai Tho nrod,Ict Of
, ,,ight and onIv few oxncrts couId |
thn Mushroom nom the toad |
- !, act i,noni,od ar Tho door NJ tho
Ifo,,.o % penrnsontnti,,os in the rortiath |
,ors.oS, T., tI,o nnrso,, % - west indian
',.,i On ,,ao, al NE ror,o v,as
n-iIits SI.Har5 ana H., h,,d ,.oon,yed a cor.
To- a,' 'ialtt, 60, ca,,orro, II ~
49,, -, aS o,,tgiayn TI,s cot yas
''tlstt1 r,. CaIoh g II,rt Tbn cam
,i,toa - ,,,ia,.taI live, No
~ 81, 80 AZ 7b If,,so
,fna. - a,,,,aS rt,, go o,,ly ana ,,igor
'',,,,,' a. ,,.o ~ o. asyrn Who S,as
''isI' 90 w. - So ,,, 80
M ,,t ~ o''S az, ,o,rI u.,s III
u rfo ~ aIsnta1 70 tho
-, III 60 c., sro,,, .fi,,,ss,nni
"a t,,,, ~. s,,t a., r,ahr,a,.,, iS5o ks
~ 'V -" -, -