The colored American., 1903-03-21

Carolina Is VlSlLlnS our city this week,
pursuing the even tenor of his way
snd quietly caring for the many inter
ests which are entrusted to him. Mr..
Cheatham is an interesting man. Of
engaging manners and fine presence,
his digniffed bearing and superior
mental equipment soon won him an en-
yiable place in the esteem of his as
soGiates in the House of Representa-
tives when he first came to Congress.
At this time he was a very young man.
Judged by political Standards and we
believe the youngest member of the
House, except Mr.. Stockbridge, of
Maryland. Democrats and republicans
alike appreciated Mr.. Cheatham, and
were glad to extend to him the many
little cOurteSieS which go so far in
smoothing the sometime rugged path
way of a new member, especially if
he be Negro. 1t is we'll known
how difficult it is to get undivided at
tentiOn of the House Of Representa-
tiyes. That honor is accorded to few
men. The heads of the great commit
tees. eX-Speakers and some unusually
bright and brilliant stars in oratory
are alone able to "quell the riot and
compel its silence. The House is not
a forum for mediocrity. 1t is in
tensely practical. Nowhere else does
a man so quickly reach his level. 1t
is a high compliment to Mr.. Cheatham
that his every forensic effort while a
member, received the closest atten-
tiOn of the body and the warmest ap-
probation from both sides of the
chamber He left Congress in the
chances and changes of political life
to the great regret OF almost the entire
membership, the personal friendship
OF whom he retains to the present day.
With his career as Recorder of
Deeds of the District, all are familiar.
His relations with the District Com
missioners and with the Judges and
Officers of the District Courts were
most cordial. They have all given
unstinted praise to his conduct of that
office and to the courtesy and efficiency
which he eXacted of his subordinates.
An instance of Mr.. Cheatham's person
al popularity is found in the fact that,
though similar appeals by his prede-
cesSCrS were Intellectual he succeeded
by his personal efforts in securing
from his old friends in Congress a sub
stantial appropriation with which to
equip the office with type-writing ma
chlneS one of the most important i'm
prOvements it has ever had.
After his term of office as Recorder
expired and it became evident that
the eXigencies of politics required
that another gentleman should be ap-
pointed to the place, Mr.. Cheatham
ana not linger about Washington, nor
ana he sullH in his tent, but he prompt
y returned to the people who had so
mighty honored him by their Suffrages
ana with whom his entire life had
Deen spent, and took his place again
as private in the ranks of the great
industrial army which after all is to
work out the salvation of the race.
Inc people of North Carolina. who
loved him, and whose confidence he
mad never betrayed could not, how
ever forget the great benefits which
ms former leadership had achieved
lor them, and in spite of his own
wishes he soon found himself again
III the forefront of the political strug-
gle IN the Old North State, and COM
PEELED to interest himself in the reali-
ldtlon OF the great hope of all party
men both in and out of North Carolina
mat the republican party in that
state shall be rehabilitated, unified
ana made harmonious, that the virus
oI lly-Whitism shall be eradicated and
mat the manly, deserving and capable
Negro shall again occupy his wonted
pldce In the party councils.
mere is national significance in this
m