davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-01-12
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was sheard on the floor of the House of
Representatives; but his certificate was
rejected by an Overwhelming majority.
and the Republican leaders breat he'd more
freely because they had, for at least
season, escaped the fellowship of a black
man in the councils of the nation. Men
ard was one of the most accomplished OF
his race. a college graduate, and has rem
dered very creditable service to the gov
eminent, but three years after the close
of the war that had been fought for
the freedom of the black man a Republic
can Congress was unwilling to accept
even one Of the most creditable of his
race to membership.
In less than two years the negro again
knocked for admission into Congress, and
this time he stood at the door of the
Senate. In January 1870, Hiram R. Re-
vells a .full-blooded negro, and a man of
much more than common ability and of
unblemished integrity was elected to the
Senate to fill the unexpired term by the
Mississippi Legislature. 1t was accepted
as the irony of fate that this negro leader
should be chosen to fill the vacancy in
the United States Senate that had been
created by the resignation. of Jefferson
Davis at the beginning of the war. Mr..
Revells was a Methodist minister. and
highly respected as one of the most
ers of the South. On the 25th of January
five days after his election, he appeared
in Washington, and the Republican lead
ers of the first legislative tribunal of the
nation were in consternatio at the
threatened advent of the negro in the
Senate. The Senate was overwhelmingly
Republican but many of the party lead
ers made exhaustive study to find some
reasonable excuse for refusing the seat
to Revells. 1t was not until a month
after he had given his credentials to Sem
ator Wilson of Massachusetts that Will
son felt safe in presenting them to the
body, and moving that Revells be sworn
as Senator. An animated debate fol-
lowed, occupying three days. in which
Republican Senators invented many ex-
cuses for rejecting the credentials with
the negro behind them; but on the 18th
of February Chales Gunner delivered one
of the ablest speeches of his life in de-
Tense of the rights of the negro, resulting
In the admission of Revells by decided
majority. Thus, on the 25th of February,
1870 the first negro entered our national
Legislature when Hiram r. Revells was
qualified as United States Senator and
during his term of little more than one
year he enjoyed the solitude that was
broken by very few of his fellow Sem
ators in social intercourse even on the
floor of the Senate.
L met Senator Revels when he was a
member of the Senate, and was very
much interested in him as the first repre-
sentative of his race in our national Con-
gress. He was a man of rather impos-
ing presence. severely unassuming, and
unusually intelligent. He was sincerely
devoted to the Improvement and elevation
of his race on the highest lines of adj
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-01-12
A Tidbit Of Congressional History.

From the Washington Post.
Eyes" said Amos Cummings yesterday.
- read what your interviewer said Harry
Smith said concerning my letter last Sun
day. If had said what the interviewer
said Harry Smith said l said. would. doff
my hat to Harry What I did say In the
letter was that in Randall's first term
as Speaker (the Forty-fourth Congress)
the South held thirty-two committee
chairmanships and the North thirty-one.
l nowhere said that they were appointed
by Mr.. Randall, nor did convey that
idea. Harry is also reported as taking
me to task because l said that David
B. Henderson had an experience Of six
teen years in the House before he as
pired to the Speakership.' / reiterate it.
The fact that few votes were cast for
him in the Republican caucus OF the Fiji
ty-first Congress did not make him an as
pirant. You might as well say that I
was an aspirant for the same office in
the same Congress because the late w.
H. H. Cowles of North Carolina saw fit
to cast vote for me in the open House.
The Hon. James D. Richardson OF Ten
>nessee saw fit to honor me in the same
manner at the beginning of the present
Congress-. Yet 1 have never had any as
pirations in that direction. The honor
of being an occasional contributor to the
Washington Post is enough for me-"
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-01-12
Opera Singers off Sage> Their Many Wh1s and Capres

certs with his band at the Madison
Square Garden, and one morning while
he was rehearsing there Nine. Maretzek
took her young pupil to him and asked
him to hear her. We'll" he said, what
will she sing?"
The aria from 'Sonnambula,' if Mr..
Arbuckle will play the cornet obligato.
Let the Bright Saraphne,' answered
Nine. Maretzek.
This is a very pale looking little girl"
said Gilmore. But let's hear her.
The pale looking little girl sang her
pieces so nicely that the bandmaster de-
cided to give her chance with the pub
lie. Now, little girl, don't be afraid
Just sing right OUT were his words as
he handed her to the platform the first
night. She made mice little success"
Her operate debut was made at Brescia
in "Trayiata.' For five nights week
during an engagement of three months,
for the whole of which she received 500
and a benefit which brought in 200 livres,
or about $50, she sang nothing but Ira
viata." Other nights another prima dom
ma sang "Sonnambula." That was the
entire repertory for the house for the
season. From Brescia Nordica went to
Novara and sang Alice in Robert le
Diable." The little theater was not heat
ed. The dressing room had stone walls
and it was SO cold she used to carry a lit
tie brazier of Goals with her from her
lodgings to the theater. After Novara
she sang Alice in Genoa. The first night,
after certain phrase there were strong
Kisses. For an instant they paralyzed
her. Everything swan around. She had
the same experience for several nights
and always after the same phrase. She
concluded there was something wrong
with her pronunciation. Finally, one
night. after diligent study on her part
the critical moment passed without a
hiss, and her singing of the aria was fol-
lowed by st orm of applause.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-01-12

vancement, and he probably did more
than any one of his race in his day IN
smoothing the thorny pathway Tor ms
people in the South A notable liiustra-
ton of the general public sentiment IN
the North on the subject of the negro
as national legislator was given IN
Philadelphia soon after Revells admls-
sion into the Senate He suddenly rose TO
a national fame as the nrsJ black man
to become a national lawmaker. and he
delivered lectures in many sections of the
country, which were largely attended.
Among other invitations he received and
accepted was one to lecture IN Fhiladel-
phia In the Academy of Music, but when
application was made for the use OF the
academy the managers of that institution
were thrown into Mysteries at the sug-
geston of bringing negro on us plat
form, and Revells was refused the right
to speak there. OF course, it was not an
nounced that the academy was refused
because Reyels was a negro, but 1t was
none the less the truth. The Black swan
was allowed TO MARBLE her sweet notes
on the same platform. but she was not
political factor, and her coming did not
mean political fellowship, but the advent
of the negro Senator was a living OBJ
ject lesson of equal rights for the black
man, which could not at that day be
Ten years after Revells' retirement
form the Senate l visited the capital of
Mississippi, and there met the late Sen
ator George who was then Senator-elect,
with the Governor of the State and
number of other prominent officials. 1
was equally surprised and grained TO
hear from them that ex-senator Revells
was doing a great work in Mississippi
as president of a college for colorcd stu
dents and that he was very highly re-
spected, and his work was so well APP
preciated that the state or JEFFERSON
Davis. who was then living. contributed
annually and literally to maintain the
institution Revells continued in that
work until his death and he lived to see
Blanche K Bruce, of his own race rep
resent his State In the Senate, with half
dozen or more negro Representatives
in the House Bruce entered the Senate
in 1875, served a full term, and afterward
was made register OF the treasury. He
had a more rosy pathway than his pre-
decessor in the Senate. as the negro was
no longer Stunned as a pest in the coun-
ellis of the nation Since Bruces retire
ment in 1881, the colored race has been
without representation in the Senate.
With the appearance OF Revells in the
Senate came two negro Representatives
Joseph r. Rainey of South Carolina, who
was admitted without question, and JEFF
ferson F. Long of Georgia, who filled an
unexpired term of little more than
month and who was sthe only negro ever
chosen to either branch of Congress in
that State. From the time of the appear
ance of Raney in the Forty-first Con-
sress the negro has served in one or both
branches until the close of the last Con
gress. with the single exception of the
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-01-12
Mr. Croker May Make of These -Four Men Boss Of 7an1any

Men standing close to Richard Croker
say that he fully intends to Indicate
the active leadership of Tammany Hall
and the Democracy of Greater New York.
According to these men. however this
action is not to be taken by Mr.. Croker
because of the defeat Of his party this
year, or owing to internal dissensions in
the organization. If he does lay down
the reins 1t will be simply because he is
weary of the cares and responsibilities
of the position. and wants to take long
rest at Vantage. his. English country
seat
The slatemakers are already busy try
ing to decide who will be Mr.. Crokers
next head of Tammany would undoubt-
edly be named by the retiring chieftain
without particular regard for the wishes
Of his followers. but the conditions are
not ordinary. Mr.. Croker can remain in
power as long as he likes. There is oppo-
sftion to him, but it is not strong enough
10 dislodge him. At the same time, If
change is to be made, this hostile element
must be conciliated in order that the new
head of the organization may have har-
u,ony In the ranks. Mr.. Croker is not a
man who brooks much opposition, and
he has ruled with an iron hand. But there
are few Crokers, and in his absence it
win require the utmost nicely of tact in
the controlling spirit to get the machine
running smoothly again.
Mr.. Croker's personal choice for the
n,ace is said to be Edward NJ. Shepard,
the defeated candidate for Mayor. but
Mr.. Shepard is not altogether acceptable
10 the warning factions, and is not likely
to be forced upon them If Mr.. Croker
can so arrange matters that the kick
ers'' will acquiesce in Mr.. Shepard's APP
pointment the leadership will be entrust-
10 him Falling in this there are four
other men who are in line for the place
These are: Senator Timothy d. Sullivan,
otherwise known as Dry Dollar Sulii-
van John f. Carroll Larry" Delmour
and John J. whaien. All of them have
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-01-12

Fiftieth Congress. when 1t happened that
the colored race was without representa-
ton.
South Carolina had the most brilliant
galaxy of eolored leaders of any State
in the South, and the negro never had
such opportunities to prove his ability to
exercise high official authority and to
vindicate his race I spent part of the
winter of 1870 in Columbia, the capital of
the State for the purpose of completing
an air railway line to the South, and |
was brought in to very close connection
with the authorities of the Stale. The
Governor was a weak white man-weak
In intellect. more than weak in integrity,
and the plaything of a corterie of spoils-
men. Cardosa, a highly educated negro,
and long a minister in Massachusetts, was
treasurer of the State, and certainly he
meant to use all his efforts to maintain a
thoroughly credita able administration, but
he had little encouragement from either
the whites or the blacks around him.
OF all the white State officials,
Secretary Chamberlain, afterward Gov
ernor. was the only one who seemed
to appreciate the opportunity and the
duty to restore a great commonwealth to
some measure of prosperity. With Car
dosa were Rainey and Smalls, and Nash
and Elliott and Purves, who bore an
honored Philadelphia name. and Whipper
and Wright, then supreme judge, and
Delaney and Boseman. | met them fire.
quently and several times in general con-
ference, for every interest with which I
was Identified would be aided or him
dered by good or bad local government.
This circle of negro leaders possessed
an unusual measure of intellectual force.
Cardosa was thoroughly cultured; Rainey
served longer in Congress than any other
negro of our history, and maintained him
self creditably in point of ability; Elliott
was the most brilliant of all. and later
startled the country by his reply to
Stephens, ex-Vice President of the Con-
federacy: on the floor of the House, and
proved himself foeman worthy of the
steel of the able Southern leader; De-
laney won college honors in Ohio and
boldly struggled for honest. government
until the last hope persisted. and Bose
man. who wanted to make a creditable
record for his race, finally gave up the
battle and nestled down as postmaster
of Charleston. True. the environment of
these negro leaders gave little encourage
ment to those who sought to make the
| government of South Carolina distin-
guished as an illustration of the ability
and integrity of a negro. All of them
were Impoverished, and they soon saw
only profligacy and decentralization
around them on every side. One by one
they faltered and fell with very rare ex-
'ceptions. and today four of them are
conyiets in the criminal records of the
State, convicted in their own courts and
by Negro juFics and some of them are
holding department offices in Washing
ton. They escaped sentence by the peace
made In 1871 when the Federal author
tiles had a number of South Carolinians
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-01-12
COLONEL ALEXANDER MCCLURE
In Chicago Inter>ocean.

universal amnesty of 1877. and has since
been rewarded with important Federal
positions in his State.
When Congress met In 1879 the entire
negro representation in the House had
been effaced and Senator Bruce alone
represented his race in the national coun-
ellis In the succeeding Congress Smalls
and Lynch reappeared as Representa-
tives. and in the following Congress
James d. O'Harra- Representative from
North Carolina, was the only negro in
either branch of the National Legisla-
ture He was defeated for reelection to
the Ffftieth Congress, and no negro was
elected in either House or Senate from
any other State, thus leaving that Con-
gross without a single negro representa-
tive in either branch. In the Fifty-first
Congress the negro appeared again in
Representative John NJ. Langston Of Vir-
ginia; Thomas. E. Miller of South Caro-
lima. and Henry C. Cneatham of North
Carolina. In the Fifty-second Congress
Cheatham was the sole representative of
his race. as was George w Murray of
South Carolina in the Fifty-third and
Fifty-fourth Congresses. and George IL.
White of South Carolina served alone OF
his race in the Fifty-fifth and Fifty
sixth. Thus ended the record of the ne
gro as a national legislator.
The negro is at present retired from
high official position. Will that retire.
ment be permanent? 1 see nothing in the
present political conditions to warrant
the hope that the negro will at any time
in the near future become a political fac
tor in national affairs He is practically
disfranchised in all of the Southern
States, where his numerical power would
give him political control, and he has
made no progress in political advance
ment in any of the Northern States,
strongly and radically Republican as
many of them are AS rule the enfran-
chisement of the negro has not elevated
him or inspired him to the great work of
educating and ennobing the race. There
are very many most creditable excep-
lions, but the great mass of the colored
vote in our Northern cities is a mere
commercial commodity. and that has
made the elevation of cultured and high
ly respected negroes to honored political
positions next to impossible. If this dis
credtable condition were confined to the
black race it would be an ineffaceable
reproach upon the negro, but 1t Is only
Just to say that in his debauchery of the
sacred elective franchise the black man
is only an imitator of his white political
associates. From the present outlook it
seems to be clearly indicated that the
mission of the negro is ended as a polit-
ical factor in high official trust.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-01-12

The negro race is entirely unrepresent-
ed in either branch of the present Con-
sress. and I cannot recall negro Sena-
tor, Representative or state officer in
any of the Northern states. For the full
period of a generation, with single brief
exception. the negro was represented in
one or both branches of our National
Legislature, but he is now retired and
apparently without hope of reasserting
himself as a factor in National legisla-
ton.
The story of the rise and fall of the
negro in politics is one of the most inter-
esting of the many strange chapters of
our national history during the last gen
GRAFTON. When reconstruction came after
the surrender of the Confederate army
only q few of the more radical leaders
of the Republican party contemplated
universal negro suffrage in the South, and
had Lincoln lived it certainly would not
have been attained. In was only when
the strong Republican House and Senate
came in direct conflict with President
johnson that it was found TO be necessa-
ry to enfranchise the negro and disfran-
clzise the Confederates to a large extent
to accomplish reconstruction on basis
that promised the mastery of Republican
power in the South. l believe that Lin
coin would have reconstructed the South
without universal negro suffrage and
made a majority of the Southern States
1Republican, but when the issue came be-
tween Congress and johnson the radical
element of the Republican leadership was
doubly armed, by johnson apostasy, in
the effort to force universal suffrage in
the South. and it created political mas
terry whose record is one of the most
fearful blemishes in the annals of the
erepubnc.
Universal negro suffrage was first es-
tablished in the District of Columbia,
WHERE'S Congress has supreme authority.
and territorial government organized
with legislative authority chosen largely
by the enfranchised freedmen. A very
few years made it an imperative necessi-
ty for Congress to disfranchise the entire
people of the District of Columbia, solely
to escape the ignorant and profiigate
rule of the negro. l happened to be
present in the gallery of the Senate when
Senator Morton, the ablest alf-around
leader of the Republican party, made his
final appeal against the passage of the
bin repeating the right of suffrage in the
District of Columbia. He was a man of
broad, practical ideas, and he told the
Senate in plain terms that the disfran-
chisement of the negro in the District of
Columbia would be but the beginning of
the end, as thereafter Congress could
make no accusation against the Southern
States for taking the same action. His
appeal was unavailing. as he well knew,
and the same Republican authority that
had enfranchised the negro under the
very shadow of the capitol of the nation
was compelled to declare that his dis
franchisement has become an imperious
necessity to protect property and main
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-01-12

for some one for the part of the king.
Escudier, the conductor, who had heard
Edouard sing in private, said to the COM
poser: Perhaps that big fellow, Edou-
ard de Reszke will take the role" When
Edouard received the proposition he con-
suited with his sister. go and see Yer
di, she said. IF you please him in lit
tie role it may lead to something better
Accordingly Edouard went to the Hotel
de Babe and called on Verdi. After look
ing him over, the composer asked: DO
you know 'Aida'?" Edouard answered:
Il have heard 1t in Italy, and have sung
all the roles for my own amusement"
THE female ones, too?'' asked Verdi
Then they laughed, and the next day
Edouard had his first rehearsal. He made
his debut in April, 1876, at the old Thea
ter des Italiens, at the first production
of Aida in Paris, which Verdi himself
conducted. During the first entr acte the
composer came behind the scenes and
said to Edouard: my friend. you look
more like the son than the father of Am
neris, but you are singing very we'll"
Perhaps there is nothing that can give
a better idea of the vastness of the De
Reszlxe estate than the statement that
one potato field on it contains 10000 acres.
One of the most iteresting, because the
most varied, lives in Mr.. Kobbe's book is
that of Nine. Nordica. She was studying
voice production In Boston when Brig
noi went there to give a concert. The
day of the concert the soloist with him
suddenly was taken i'll. He was advised
to ''go and get Lillian Norton" She sang
at the concert, and he was so delighted
with her voice that he advised her to
study in New York with Nine. Maretzek.
Accordingly she placed herself under Nine.
Maretzek's care for the summer months,
receiving instructions in operate arias.
When autumn came she decided not to
go back to Boston. 1t was her crossing
of the Rubicon. Gilmore was giving con-