The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-14


DEMOCRATS HAVE A SURPRISE.
The Democrats in the House were quite
taken by surprise on Tuesday by an unex-
pected development during discussion of
the Booker L. Washington incident at the
White House. A great deal too much i'm
portance has been attached to the incident
political capital out of it. If the President
wished to talk over the Southern situation
and educational questions with the most
prominent colored man and educator of the
age, it was natural and proper that he
should invite him to luncheon, where they
could talk freely and at leisure. The Incl
dent had no significance whatever beyond
showing the Presidents independence and
his direct, open and aboveboard way of
doing things.
During the first Lincoln campaign, when
political professions with transparencies
State than they are now, favorite feature
in Democratic parades was a large open
wagon filled with pretty young girls bear
ing banners inscribed None but White
Husbands" No Negro Husbands for U.s."
etc. The White House incident seems to
have inspired the Democratic leaders with
the happy thought of reviving the social
equality" bugaboo of forty years ago.
During discussion of the subject in the
House on Tuesday Representative Bar
tholdt of Missouri quite took the Demo-
Gratis off their feet by showing that Thomas
jefferson once entertained a negro at din
ner at his family table at Monticello. The
negro in this case was born a slave, like
Booker Washington, but acquired his free
dom and became educated. The incident of
autobiography, which he wrote and pub
lished many. years afterwards. His name
was julius Melbourne. He was born in
North Carolina, and in 1915, after having
gained his freedom and acquired some edu-
cation. he started on trip north, intending
to visit MIR. Jefferson.
In his autobiography he says: 81 had
heard Mr.. Jefferson so much talked of, had
read much about him in the newspapers
and Sc much of his own writings, of which
1 was great admrer. that my curiosity
TO see that great man and converse with
him was intense" When ne arrived at
Monticello he was conducted to Jeffersons
study, where he found him sitting at a
table covered with books and papers. HE
rose when l entered" says Melbourne, land
received me with great politeness and APP
parent cordialty. / instantly found myself
at perfect ease in his presence After
giving his first impressions of the ex-Presi-
dent. Melbourne continues:
| remained i'm the neighborhood of Month
cello nearly a week and spent portion of
every day in Mr.. Jefferson's library, at his
pressing invitation. On Tuesday before /
left those quiet and philosophical shades I
received a card from MIR. Jefferson inviting
me TO be with him in company with a few
friends the next day at 4 O'Clock / went
TO his house and found there Chief Justice
Marshall. William Writ, Samuel Dexter Of
Boston and DR.. Samuel L. Mitchell of New
York There was also there another re-
markable man from the North. 1t was
Elder John Leland. a Baptist minister. who
then lived in the western part of MaSSa-
chusetts.
Then follows description of the dinner
and the substance of the conversation that
occurred.
Mr. Barthodt. who brought the facts to
the attention of the House for the first
time. had obtained Melbourne's autobiog-
raphy from the Congressional Library and
verified his statements by reading from it.
lit almost took the Democrats breath away
to learn that the founder of the Democratic
party had entertained a negro at a formal
dinner party. The Democrats had never
heard of the incident before. The only rea-
son it was not generally known. said Mr..
Bartholdt, was because nobody thought
anything of il and one saw fit TO criticise
Mr.. jefferson for il. II Mr. Roosevelt's in
viting Booker t. Washington to an informal
luncheon had any significance, what shall
be said of the father of Democracy enter
/ tanning negro at a formal dinner party?
Such incidents are unmportant They dc
not affect the course of events nor the his
tory OF nations They are generally due &c
accidental circumstances, and not to any
settled conviction or purpose. They do no,
desire to be polite. Yet the Democrats viii
| probably continue to harp on the Roose
welt Washington incident as if it were par
| of "a diabolical conspiracy to enforce negro
equality Ii recalls the banners borne in
Democratic professions forty years ago
| mo Negro Husbands for U.s.
|