davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-06-10
NEGROES WHO HAVE SAT- IN TUE
CONGRESS OF THE NATION
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

Copyright. 1900. Amos ]. Cumming;)
He is the last OF his race. An epoch
is closed. Seated in n remote corner of
the chamber OF the House of Represen-
tatives. near Brumidis painting of the
opening of negotiations at the siege OF
yorktown, he listens to an uproar on
the floor, apparently lost in infection.
lsht muiatto of sturdy physique, he
has closc-cropped. kinky hair and two
inches OF whiskcrs militaire. The
eyes are bright. the mustache neatly
trimmed. and the hair parted in the
middle. There is a slight trace of the
Ethiop in his features, but the face IS
pleasing and intellectual. Dressed with
excellent taste, he is evidently Il man OF
education and refinement. Speaking in
correct terms in language sparkling
with American idioms, he lacks affabH
ity, although polite in manner and di-
rect in conversation. Indeed, he has
few If any Congressional associates.
His wife, lady of beauty and refine
ment, frequently visits the Capitol and
returns home with him after the tolls
of the day. This Statesman is the Hon.
George Henry White, OF Tarboro. n. c.,
the last Of the negro congressman.
THE TIDE HAS EBBED.
The reconstruction tide has at last
passed the flood and is beginning to
abb. The palmy days OF the new era
are over and the relapse is here. Mere
ephemera We're the carpet-ibaggcr and
scallhwagger. They We're political in
sects with lives measured by days. Bu:
the negro survived nearly a third of a
century. He was Il part of the soil of
the South. cultivated by questionable
,t,.,
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 ana
intelligent n representative of his race
as has ever appeared in Washington.
He comforts himself with great dig
nifty in the House. Addressing his coli
leagues with unusual ability, when the
opportunity serves, he seasons his elo-
Guence with ridicule and sarcasm. re-
lieving it with tritc sayings and meta
phors. Once in the present session he
reached the plateau of real oratory. IN
burning words he ariaigned Judge
Lynch for high crimes and misdemean-
ors In the South. and has sought his
Impeachment at the bar of public oDin-
Ion. There was $40 pleading for favor,
. but demand for individual rights. He
did no. beg for fair play; he eXacted
it. The speech dissected acknowledged
Facts and with an unsparng scalpel
laid bare the fostering wound and de-
manded the prompt application OF a
remedy Possibly IL was more aggressive
than suggestive, more irritating than
convincing, but no one could gainsay it's
logic. The members listened with in
tense interest, and the speech aroused
strong editorial comment. Among those
VINO congratulated the orator were one
Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-06-10

G. De Large ana Thomas T.. Miller, Of
South Carolina; benjamin :. Turner
and James w. Rapicr of Alabama. ana
Josiah 7. Walls. OF Florida. Murray.
Turner and Walls were slaves. HAPPIER
WAS the son of a runaway slave. and
was educated in Canada. He was a
tail swarthy negro. looking like an In
dian. He was cool, calm and reserved
a good talller and Il fine speaker. lie
spoke French. German and spanish.
and was Il commissioner To the Vienna
Exposition. Cain was II little. short.
spatty negro. a fair talker and very ag
gressive. He wanted all the rights OF
white man, and wanted them quick.
Walls was a Temperatures negro. 4
smart talker and AN adroit manipula-
tor Of his race. Turner was II stout
stalwart negro, who made only one
speech in the House. AS 1t attracted
some attention it was said to have been
written 10y Prof. Seelyc, OF Amherst
College.
So much for the past. We know the
present. What about the future? For
this is a great world. and God moves
in a mysterious way.
AMOS ]. CUMMINGS.
Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-06-10
AN ABLE NEGRO.

s-Aff'tifse-he= had zayrttIrTts
among the reconstructionists. Quick
Wited ana versatile in action he had
peeh OF service to his party. He be-
came candidate for clerk of the House
IN the Forty-seventh Congress. 1t was
universally conceded that he was more,
than competent and entitled 10 the
honor. Like others Of his race, how
ever he was set aside when rewards
were distributed to those who had dis
llnguisEed themselves in political con-
Hlcis. Rainey was n light colored gen
ticman with waivy but not knky hair
Suavc in conversation, he had soft. en-
Eaging manners. and was supposed 10
be West Indian negro. He spoke
French fuently, had the Creole patois
and affected literature. He was fair
orator. and was regarded as a litcra
teur. He admired Dumas. leciured on
rouiFeant.regarded Dessalines as n pure
patriot detested Soulouque. and claim
ed that Hannibal was n greater mill
tary genius than Napoleon. Rainev
TOOK an active part in the colonization
OF liberia,and believed that the future
81 the cmancipated slaves lay in that
direction.
cne of Rainey's associates in the
forty-iirst Congress was Israel G. Lash.
representing a district in North Caro-
when Rainey was sworn in to fill the
Whittsmore vacancy. He had been a
slave. and was born in 1910. Lash
lacked education and refinement. made
no effort To ascend the ladder OF fame
a.ld was of morose disposition. He
cropped from his perch at the end of
the term.
Meantime n new negro appeared at
the door of the Senate with credentials
from Mississippi. He was Blanche X
Bruce, born slave in Virginia in ISL
In his boyhood he went 10 Mississippi
and afterward settled in Missouri, but
returned TO Mississippi after the war
lie acquired land and became a plan
ter. He entered political life as a SER
geant-at-arms of the State Senate. was
tax collector and levy commissioner.
and was finally elected United States
senator for the term beginning in 1875.
Being close friend of Roscoe Conk-
ling and a gentlmean of education and
refinement. he welded considerable in
iiuence in the Senate. His friendship
for Mr.. Conklng was so great that he
named his only child after him. He fire.
quently presided over the Senate, filling
the chair with grace and winning en-
ccmiums from his colleagues without
regard to party. On retiring from Con-
gress. in 1871. he was succeeded by Lu-
cius Qu:atus Cincinratus Lamar, and
was made Register OF the Treasury by
President Garfield His wife was an &C.
toNoon, refined and genteel and well ed
Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-06-10
Cures Blood Poison
A Trial Treatment Sent Free to All
Who Suffer From any Stage
OF the Disease.
Cures Cases Tina, Hot Springs and all
Other Treatments Failed
to Even Help.

Thcrc has been discovered by the State
Medical Institute. 222 Elektron Building,
Fort Wayne. Ind. the most remarkable
blood poison cure ever heard OF. 1t has
cured all such Indications AK mucous
patches IN the mouth, sore throat, copper
colorcd spots, chancres. ulcerations on
the body and in hundreds of cases where
the hair and eyebrows had fallen out and
the whole skin was mass of boils. piiup-
les and ulcers, this wonderful specific has
completcly changed the whole body into a
clean. perfect condition OF physical health.
Every railroad running into Fort WAYNE
brings scores OF sufferers seeking this
now and marvellous cure. and to enable
those who cannot travel To- realize what a
truly marvellous work the institute is uc-
compishinE. they will send free to every
sufferer a free trial treatment. so that
everyone can cure themselves IN the
privacy of their own home. This is the
only known cure for blood poison. Do not
trial win bc sent sealed in plain package.
mal3-cosutt
Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-06-10

9Oc Fine Atwood Black Bedford
Cord Dress Goods, worth sl.Oo.
This is worth S1c. yard.
a. worth Sl.OO--i5-inch Black Bird
III Eye Granite Cloth.
Sc Finch Black Poplin-value No0-
wv fine black figured
6Sc Heavy i6.inch NIohair Sicilian.
OOS real value Sl.Oo
Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-06-10

or TWO Democrats from south of Nh
son and DiXon's line 1t was the hest
work done by White during his three
years lh Congress. Mayhap it was the
i"S. protest mat Will ever be made by
Il black man in Congress.
LOST THEIR POWER.
tf1r- situation f11s cfi.1nged. The
woods have been cut away and tho
stream has run dry. The denudinr of
the forest began four years ago when
MISSISSIPPI adopted n State constitution
that practically disfranchised thc
negro. Louisiana followed suit. and
-North carolina and Virginia are al
ready treading in the same path. Tho
fifteenth amendment is virtually being
wiped out Dry are the stones in the
bed of the brook There may be water
under them, but whether it VIII ever
again ooZe to the surface time alone
can determine
What n regime 1t was in its heyday
The amnestidc whites seem to have re-
Gardcd it as n sort of political might
mare. No more tncougruous political
elements were upheaved in the French
revolution. II was a stratum of states
manship unforeshadOWed and utterly
unknown. 1t was like fungi. the pro-
duct of a night. and only n few experts
could separate the mushroom from the
toadstool 1t first knocked at the door
of the House Of Representatives in the
Fortieth Congress in the ncrscn of q
West Indian negro thirty years old His
name WAS j. Wills Mcnard. and he had
received certificate of election form
Gov. II. c. WarmOth. Of louisiana His
seat was contested by Caleb S. Hunt
The Committee on Elections reported
against Menard. and Hunt was seated
ny The House. Menard argued his case
aoly and vigorously, and was the first
negro who WAS heard in Congress.
HIRAM II. REVELS.
The next negro who appeared was
Hiram II. Revels He was elected to
the United States Senate from Missis-
slppi, and took his seat in February
1870, his term expiring March 4. 1871
Revels was tall and commanding and OF
very agreeable and engaging manners.
II was said that he had a white wife.
lie was n graduate of n Quaker semi
nary in Indiana. At the expiration of
his term he became a Methodist minis.
ter. and made his theological career re-
munnerative by lecturng in Boston and
other cultured precincts.
while Revels was a United States Sem
ator several negroes were admitted to
the House of Representatives. This was
in the Forty-first Congress. The most
prominent was Joseph II. Rainey, born
a slave in Georgetown, S. c.. in 1882
kaihey was barber in Charleston
when the war broke out. He fled to
the West Indies in 1862. where he re-
manned until the close of the war. On
returning to Charleston he was elected
to the constitutional convention. after
ward became a member OF the State
Senate. aud finally landed in Congress.
Rainey was hand in glove with John j.
Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-06-10

or two Democrats from south of Ma
son and DiNon's line. 1t was the hest
work done by White during his three
years iqi Congress. Mayhap ii was the
last protest that will ever be made bv
Il black man in Congress.
Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-06-10

PATTERSON. Franklin Moses. Tim Hurley
ana other Rinaldo Rina1dinis of South
caroilna reconstruction. Rainey was
irst elected TO fill the vacancy caused
ny the resignation of p. II. White
more, VINO was threatened with expul-
SION ior selling a cadetship. He remain
eu IN the House. longer than any other
negro ever sent to Congress- so,.,.in =,
eight consecutive years. iNomcsis
caught him in the Fall of 1878. In the
election of 1876 he had Beaten ].
Richardson by $500 votes, hut in 1878
lost IS political feet and was swept
INTO the whirlpool of the past.
Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-06-10
JOHN II. LYNCH.

another distinguished Colored Con-
gresham is brought To mind. Like
HaralSczl, he was n slave emancipatcd
by Lincoln. He was found in Natchcz
when captured by the Union troops.
After attending evening schools and ac-
curing n fair education he was elected
to the Forty-third Congress and re-
elected to the Forty-fourih. This gen
ueman was John X. Lynch, of Missis-
sippi. temporary chairman of the Re
publican National convention that NOM
mated James G.. Blaine In 1851. Sena-
tor Sabin, of Minnesota, chairman of
the national committee. had nominated
Powell Clayton. Henry Cabot Lodge
put Lynch in the field against him, and
Theodore Roosevelt and George Will
liam Curtis seconded his nomination.
The aVowed object of the nomination
was to break up the unit rule. Lynch
was elected with forty votes 10 spare.
Major William Mcl[inley was a delegate
to this convention. lie voted for Clay
ton. while Foraker. Mark Hanna ana
John II. Long voted for Lynch. Mr..
Lynch was aftcrward Third Auditor of
the Treasury under President Harrison.
Another slave who appeared in the
House was Cen Robert Snalls. of
Beaufort, South Carolina. He was the
engineer who ran the Planter, loaded
with artillery and supplies. out Of
Charleston haibor in May, 1862. and de-
iivercd her to the commanding officer
of the Union squadron. Smalls was af
terward appointed q pilot in the navy,
and was made captain for gallant and
meritoriOus conduct. He served three
terms in Congress. being seated in the
Forty-first Congress as The contestant
for Col. William Elliotrs scat. The
Ousting process was completed in ninety
seconds under the Reed rules. tile quick
est time on record, For years Gen.
Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-06-10
ucated. Their devotion to each other
was often remarked.
ROBERT Il. ELLIOTT.

ROBERT Il. ELLIOTT.
Another negro who attracted almost
universal attention was the Hon. Robert
Il. Elliott. of South Carolina. lie was
born i'll Boston, educated at High Hoi-
born. lcngiand. and graduated from
Elton College in 1859. He studied law
and Went to South Carolina after the
close of the war After serving as a
member of the State constitutional con.
Vontion he became n member of the
Forty-sccond Congress. and was re-
elected to the Forty-thrd. There were
four negroes from the Palmetto State
in this Congress, and only one white
man. Elliott was 4 black maN with Il
dash or white blood. He was nine
tenths negro and extremely proud of
his ancestry. He traced 1t back TO the
Congos. n very dressy negro, Elliott
always Wore Il Sealskin cap in Winter.
He kept close watch on the reconstruct
ton laws in the different States. In
those days travellers going South us
ually took the boat TO Quantico, where
they connected with a train on what
is now known as the Atlantic Coast
Line. Elliott insisted upon eating at the
table with the whites while travelling
10 Quan;ico. There he entered the Jim
Crow car. and remained there until the
train entered South Carolina; then he
would pick up his overcoat and trans
settled himself comfortably in u seat
and slept soundly until the train reach
ed Columbia. He was nj one time adj
jutant general of the State. Gen. Eli
oft. as he was termed resigned before
the expiration of his term to become
Sheriff of Columbia. He had ascer-
tanned that the perquisites of the Office
were far superior 10 those of a Con-
gresham.
ALONZO ]. RANSIER.
And there is another South Carolina
negro who attained Il national reputa-
ton, Alonzo j. Rans!er. He was born
in Charleston in 1884. He vas sclf-cdu-
Gated. and was employed as q shipping
clerk ign 1850 by a leading merchant.
His employer was tried for violating
the law in hiring n colored clerk. and
was fined one cent with costs. Ran
ser was a member of the constitu-
tional convention. and aftcrward be-
came chairman Of the Republican State
Central Committee. He was also Pres
idcntial elector on the Grant and Col
fax ticket. and was elected to the Forty
third Congress. He was an apt repre-
sentative of the changed conditions in
Charleston, and can hardly he said to
have compared favorably with the chiv-
alric representative from that city be-
fore the war.
representative who will never be
forgotten was the well known Jere Har-
alison. OF Alabama He was as Black
as coal, a genuine plantation negro. the
forerunner of rag-tlme and the Mobile
buck. Jerc was born in Muscogee coun-
~. Georgia. After the death of his mas
ter he was sold on the auction block
in Columbus. The negro became the
property of j. HARRISON. of Selma, and
remained there until President Lin
coins emancipation proclamation. He
acquired some education afterward. be-
came a member of the State Legisla-
ture IN 1870, and was elected to the
Fortyfourth Congress. He claimed a re-
election to the Forty-hfth. which Was
Democratic. In this Congress Charles
w. Field, Of Georgia, was doorkeeper.
Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-06-10

foc s to 10 Monday pieces Black
~ French Fouiard silk, with white
dots and figures. Tor dresses and waists.
40. s TO lO-s pieces heavy Gross
~ Grain I;rocaded Silks. about 100
yards, worth every cent OF $3.50 a yard.
49, TO 1915 pieces heavy Pure silk
'/S 2-toncd Taffctas. This never SOLD
under S5c.-hcrc Monday iac.
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-08-09
GOSSIP OF THE RAILROADS.


Section. foremen on the Grand Trunk
are required to reporl to station aeentS
every morning the number of trau1ps seen
the previous day. with a description of
each one and the direction in which he
was travelling. ~
Philadelphia papers report the ship
ment from that city of a cargo of soft
coal, about 1000 tons to England. for the
LONDON q Northwestern railway. The
ocean freight on the coal is about 81 a
ton. making it cost about 81 at destina-
ton.
The international Association of Car
accountants, the several local associa-
tlons of car service officers and the Rail-
road Transportation association have an
pointed commi tees to confer on the feas
ii tay OF consolidating the several organ
Cincinnati in October.
A large number of settlers were receiv-
ed yesterday by the 500 Line for Alberta.
They went out last night on the 6
Bartholomew
The Great Northern railroad is employ
ing Japanese laborers between Wiilmar
and Russell.
General Agent ]. p Elmer, of the Chi
cage Great Western railway, returned to
St Paul yesterday, after a trip West He
visited Helena, Butte, Spokane and other
cities and reports that the number Of
settlers brought into the Northwest this
year is just beginning to be felt and no.
ticed.
j. Francis Lee, general agent of the 500
Line passenger department., and E. c.
Ovfatt, travelling passenger agent of the
same line in Michigan, were callers in the
city yesterday.
The overland train of the Great North
ern went out in two sections yesterday
wing to an unusual homeseekers' traffic
It IS believed that the Gulf & Manitoba
road has resumed work In the vicinity Of
Redwood Falls, MINI.
The Chicago Milwaukee & ST. Paul
railway is arranging to cut down the
grade on its Libertyville branch, prepar-
atory to making It a through line to
GAINESVILLE Wis
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-08-09
JUDGES ON A VACATION
WHERE SUPREME COURT JURISTs
WILL SPEND THE SUMNER.

Five judges of the supreme court, after
a long season of juggling with the fate
of litigants and unraveling many knotty
legal problems, have all taken to the
woods. Judge Collins will be in and out
of the city during the summer and will
be within easy access should anything of
an important character require the at
tentiOn of the court between now and
the opening of the October term.
Chief Justice Start, as usual, spends
the summer at Rochester, his. old home.
Judge Collins is an expert with the rod
and fly, and he has several good places
picked out in Northern Minnesota where
ne goes every summer, and throws off
the dignity of the states highest tribunal
and bangles the 2angleWorm over the
edge of a rock and exercises with a steel
rod and fly. But Judge Collins keeps in
touch with politics and is one Of the best
Informed Republicans in Minnesota.
Judge Lovely will be at Albert Lea
during the summer and will hunt few
prairie chickens Sept. l.
On the shores of Green lake, near Spicer,
Judge Brown is tanning away the mos
quitoes and watching the clouds pass as
he reposes in hammock. But Judge
Brown does not spend all his time star
gazing, as he, too, is more studious than
agile, and a part of his law library has
been moved to his summer retreat that he
may not be divorced, even for the time,
from the dry facts of law.
Judge Lewis has hied himself to Spoon
er, Wis, and is enjoying visit among
old friends. He will hunt few ducks,
and will probably have a keen appetite
for legal epigmas when he assumes his
place on the bench Oct. 8.
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-08-09
SOCIAL LIFE IN st. PAUL


The marriage of Miss Nina Maude
Butler, daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. Mars
den F. Butler, to Adam Carl Boyer, Of
Butte Mont, took place Tuesday even
ing at the home of the brides parents
on Laurel avenue. Rev. NJ. D. Edwards
of the Dayton Avenue Presbyterian
church, performed the ceremony. The
bride was attended by her sister, Miss
Belle Butler, and the groom by his
brother, Theodore Boyer. A group Of
eight children, including Winifred Lind,
Margaret Davis, Bessie Temple, Rather
inc White, Fred Powers, Robert F'leck-
instein, Griffith Wight and Walter
Boyer, preceded the bridal party as it
entered the parlor.
The bride was gowned in white French
null over Swiss, with trimmings of
valenciennes lace. The maid of honor
wore pink mousseline de sole. An in
Mr.. and Mrs. Boyer will be at home
after Sept. Is, at Butte, Mont.
The Misses Wallace, of the Virginia,
gave picnic luncheon Saturday at
White Bear lake, entertaining a party
of fourteen.
Mr.. and Mrs. Moses Clapp gave a din
her Monday evening at their home on
Holly avenue, in honor of DR.. and Mrs.
Edward P. Ingersoll, of Brooklyn, N.
Y. Miss Hall entertained for them at
luncheon Monday at their home on West
ern avenue.
Miss Haw, of Hanover court house,
Va, is the guest of Mrs. A. S. Morton,
Of Portland avenue.
Mrs. August Oppenheimer. Of Summit
avenue, has as her guest Miss Milligan,
of Chicago.
Mrs, D. Wilkeson, of Dayton avenue, is
entertaining her sister, Miss Mary H.
Miller, of Indianapolis.
Miss Bess Dlummond, of Marshall av-
enue, has returned from st. Louis.
Miss Eva Halderman, of Blair street,
will leave shortly to spend the winter in
Springfield, MINI.
Mr. and Mrs G. M. Nelson, Of Summit
avenue, have gone to the Yellowstone
Park.
Mr.. and Mrs. E. o. Duncan, of Ig,e-
hart street, have returned from Mime
Mrs. T. F. Mccormick, of selby ave-
nue., is spending the week at Minnetonka.
Mrs Pierce, of Providence, r. l., is
the guest of Mrs. Edward Sawyer, Of
Holly avenue.
DR.. and Mrs A. B. Medium, of Sum
nit avenue, are making a trip over the
gecat lakes.
Mrs Henry Roche and two daughters,
Of East Tenth street, are at Lake Min
netonka.
Mrs. NJ. Iverson and daughter, Alma,
of the Premier, are at the lakes.
Mrs. Braton, of Concord street, is visit
ing in Norfolk, Neb.
Miss Carrie Wilson, Of Laurel avenue,
has returned from the East.
Mrs. Ballard, of Carroll street, has been
entertaining the Misses Ethel and Mabel
Moore, of Salem, S. D.
Mrs. Charles Meyers, of Laurel avenue,
is expected home from Chicago today.