one which
no man who is ambitious to have a political future can safely afford to
ignore,--especially under the new order of things about which you are
well posted. While I am sorry for your friend, and should be pleased to
grant your request in his case, I cannot bring myself to a realization
of the fact that it is one of sufficient national importance to justify
me in taking the stand you have so forcibly and eloquently suggested."

This ended the interview. I went to the home of my friend that evening,
and informed him and his amiable wife of what had been said and done.
They thanked me warmly for my efforts in their behalf, and assured me
that there was a future before them, and that in the battle of life they
were determined to know no such word as "fail." A few weeks later my
friend's official connection with the public service was suddenly
terminated. He and his family then left Washington for Kansas, I think.
About a year thereafter he had occasion to visit Washington on business.
I happened to be there at that time. He called to see me and informed me
that, instead of regretting what had occurred, he had every reason to be
thankful for it, since he had done very much better than he could have
done had he remained at Washington. I was, of course, very much
gratified to hear this and warmly congratulated him. Since that time,
however, I have not seen him nor any member of his family, nor have I
heard anything from them except indirectly, although I have made a
number of unsuccessful efforts to find them. I am inclined to the
opinion that, like thousands of people of the same class, their identity
with the colored race has long since ceased and that they have been
absorbed by the white race, as I firmly believe will be true of the
great mass of colored Americans. It is to prevent any embarrassment
growing out of the probability of this condition that has actuated me in
not making public the names of the parties in question. No good could
come of the disclosure, and much harm might follow. I can, however, most
positively assure the public that this is not a fiction,--that it is not
a mere picture that is painted from the vividness of my imagination, but
that the story as related in all its details is based upon actual
occurrences.

With this one exception, Secretary Lamar retained in office every clerk
whose name appeared on the list that I gave him. They were not only
retained throughout the Administration but ma