The Washington bee., 1910-02-19
The NEGRO Politician
PASSING AWAY; HE IS

AOS4NI IA w n III ID
Among the numerous articles,
pertinent and suggestive, which tax
ed the editorial page of a recent is
sue of your paper, was one concern
ing the passing of the Negro politi-
clan.
The Bee emphasizes this fact with
pathetic candor and delicately though
with no indication of nervous col
lapse, sings a requiem to the depart
ed.
1t should be cause for much salts
faction to those who properly belong
to that class of formerly useful clti-
zens, that they have in the main ac-
quilted themselves creditably, and II
they carefully listen they may catch
the echoes Of sympathy which swell
from the hearts of a grateful people.
Brought on the stage of American
affairs at an awkward, inOPPortune
moment. they took up their part with
? great deal of fortitude and have
with ingenious artfulness advanced
from scene to scene, a picturesque
though sombre shadow, around whom
plot and counterplot have developed
Tor his own undoing, with such "a
Diditv, as to leave him bewildered
and dismayed.
As an actual factor in the equation
of politics the curtain has fallen be-
tween him and the dazzling glare of
the footEghts and the world realizes
his presence through a noisome rum
bling of shifting scenes, for which
unskilled stage hands are responsible.
For him the account IS about made
up. His duty mas been performed and
having earned the exit the. Negro
politician will live in history as a
link of definite value in the chain of
American evolution and develop
qent.
In bis character as politician, the
Negro portrays tragedy as well as
comedy; touches heights where only
the noble dwell and explores depths
whose caverns give back the lamen-
tations of those long lost to hope.
The retirement of the Hon. George
H. White, the sole representative OF
eight million of people, elected to the
55th and 56th Congresses from the
4th District OF North Carolina, was
the final operation of political surg
cry which deprived the congressional
body of its only remaining member
Of Negro origin. The Hon. George,
be it said in passing, was distinctly
a very lively member and persuaded
his colleagues on more than one oc-
casion that the interest of their con-
stituents might be better served by
listening to him than by attending to
correspondence.
lust as Republicanism at the close
of the Civil War, in it's efforts to es-
tablish the party in control of the
South, was responsible for the ap-
pearance of the Negro in the legis-
lative halls of the nation, just so
must his elimination from that high
Office be accredited to that same gra-
sious influence.
Negro representatives came IN a
long line at intervals of varying
length, from Menard in 1868 to
White in 1900, with burroughs OF
care deep writ upon their brow and
the dust of conflict on their robes,
apparent then as now.
They wore their blushing honOrs
on most occasions, as a garment
loosely, yet in a moment every inch
of slack could become tau with
chesty expansiveness. Some were
. absurdly dlgnlhed as well as woe
fully ignorant, others of rugged
simplicity, earnest and honest: few
challenging respect and friendship OF
their peers and winning distinction
and an honored remembrance
through their eloquence, department
,,d eo1apdid talents
In the galaxy of Negro legislators
who in this troublouS era contributed
of their lustre to illuminate the dark
frmanent of politics, Robert Brown
Elliott shines with an unparalleled
brilliancy. Indeed his reply to Alex
ander Stephens, ex-Vice President Of
the Confederacy, on the floor of the
House, was taken as remarkable
performance and achieved for thi:
D--~;,,e n ccucOicY4Ot1S OldCt