The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-19
MR.. CLEVELAND GETS TANGLED UP.

MIR. CLEVELAND GETS TANGLED UP.
recent letter from former President
Cleveland denying that he had ever enter
tanned a coiored person at any time or
place was put in such strong terms as to
indicate that he intended IL TO be final
The letter grew out of the comments by
Democrats on President Roosevelt's invit-
ing Booker T. Washington to luncheon at
the White House. The Republicans retort-
ed that Mr.. Cleveland had entertained Mr..
Taylor. of Kansas. whom he appointed
minister to Brazil He denied that he had
done so, and his denial was accepted. Then
IT was said he had invited the late Fred
erick Douglass and wife to his wedding re-
ception. and he denied that.
IL Mr.. Cleveland had stopped with a SIM
pie denial of the specific charge il would
probably have been accepted. for Mr.. and
Mrs Douglass are both dead, and no proof
could have been adduced that they were
invited to Mr.. CIeveland's wedding recep-
ton. but he went further. Among several
letters of denial which he wrote was one
TO friend in the South, which was given
out for publication. and in which he said:
IL so happened that have never in my
ofilclal position, either when sleeping or
waxing, alive or dead, on my head or on
my heels, dined. lunched or supped or in
vlted to a wedding reception any colored
man, woman or child If, however I had
decided to do any of these things neither
the fear of Mr.. Watson or any one else
would have prevented me.
The Mr.. Watson referred to is Hon.
member of Congress. Populist leader and
candidate for Vice President on the Popu-
list ticket with William j. Bryan i'm 1896.
Now comes Mr.. Watson, armed with a
book entitled Life and Times of Frederick
Douglass, written by the distinguished
colored man himself. Mr.. Watson quotes
from the book. giving page references
showing that Mr.. Cleveland invited Mr.
and Mrs. Douglass to the White House
many times. showing them special atten-
tion Mr.. Douglass speaks of the former
President in very friendly manner, and
praises. him because he treated .malig-
nant and time-honored prejudice. with
manly defiance when surrounded
by distinguished men and women from all
parts of the country, and by diplomatic
representatives from all PARTS of the world,
and under the gaze of the late slavehold-
ers'"
Mr. Watson's comments on Mr. Doug
lass's book and Mr.. Cleveland's letter are
interesting. He says;
The point is this: Did Mr. Douglass tell
nes on Cleveland in that book? He had
not intend to do so. He, negro Repub-
mean. was praising white Democrat for
conduct which the black man considered
heroic. He did not mean to iniure Cleve-
land or to misrepresent him He was eulo-
giving that gentleman; he was showering
praise upon him: he was throwing bou-
the brave, manly Democrat who defed the
Southern race prejudice and who gave TO
MIN, the negro, the same treatment which
was accorded him i'm Europe where color
does not decide the social position of a
man."
For nine years this book has been in cir
been enjoying the credit for all the good
Things his negro admirer said of him
Doubtless there are thousands of people
VINO nave thrilled with admiration as they
read OF the manner in which Mr.. Cleve-
land defied the malignant race prejudice of
the south, wrote invitations with his own
hand to Mr.. and Mrs. Douglass. accorded
them the treatment due in ones house to
all ladies' and gentlemen, and boldly con-
formed to the European standard which
disregards color in fixing social status.
And now, after nine years-after Doug
lass has died and after the Southern negro
has been acknowledgements the said
Grover Cleveland and declares ne is not
the nero Fred Douglass said he was
OF course. Mr.. Douglass could not be mis-
taken about having been invited to the
White House. His statement is undoubt-
eddy true. 1t is hardly possible, either that
Mr. Cleveland could have forgotten the
fact, though he might not have been aware |
that Mr.. Douglass mentioned 1t in his book.
There is one explanation of the affair which
would partially reconcile the two state |
ments When Mr.. Cleveland was President |
Mr.. Douglass was living in Washington. |
the most distinguished colored man living. |
He had held several high offices under two |
or three Presidents. 1t may be that Mr.. |
Cleveland sent him special Invitations tn |
attend public receptions. but not to a pri- |
vate entertainment. Note the language. of |
Mr. Cleveland's denial: 81 have never. in |
my official capacity, lunched, supped or in |
vited to a wedding reception any colored |
man. woman or child" This would not in |
c}ude a special invitation to a reception
This explanation would acquit Mr. CIeye- |
land of downright falsehood, but not of |
equivocation. His apparently sweeping de-
NAL was intended to create the impression
that ne had never shown colored person
social attention of any kind, whereas Mr..
Douglass says he frequently invited him
and his wife TO the White House His
present denial is a clear case of verbal
quibblinS. and Mr.. Watson's statement will
probably call out another letter from him.
The contrast between his action when he
was President and his present anxiety To
is suggestive of a tricky and
shifty politician hunting votes.