New-York daily tribune., 1846-01-22
The Prejudice of Color.

For God 10 win the ooui lua' n'ti'.si'
Fall Riper Jan. 10Th, 1886. JOHN WES'ALL'
--ucEp>------,---
The Prejudice of Color.
Our readers will remember the announcement
made some time ago in The Tribune that RALPH
WALDO EMERSON and CHARLES SUMNER fad re,
fused 10 address the New Bedford Lyceum the ground
that Colored Persons were excluded from Its
We have now the peasuro of laying before our readers
the manly letters in which those gentlemen made known
the determination to which they were constrained by
hn, sense of Justice which always prevails with noble
minds over the suggestions of tmd and selfscekng
exped;ency As examples of faithful adherence 10
their highest convictions IN circumstances well cacu-
ted 10 try their mor courage these letters are nonora
bio alike to the heads and hearts of their authors ana
viii secure for them the thanks OF all liberal nnceo
mon and the blessings of thousands whose hearts nave
been pierced by the shafts of unreasonable and cruel
Prejudice.
we commend the facts stated by Mr.. Sumner In re-
,.,,on In the treatment awarded People OF Color IN
other countries to the special notice OF the Edor o
The Globe whose Democratic sensibilitles were 30
shocked lately by the presence OF several persons De-
longing to this prescribed class (uot Saps nno In
by the way We receive time since
complaining of our remarks this subject and
aaondng the decision of the n B. Lyceum because (as
the writer urged) The Churches have Negro Pews and
don't allow coored persons TO take seats iudiscrmnate
,y although they willing to for them. Our an
swer TO this Ia very crusty The Church s model for
the World In far she Ia guided by absolute Right
eousness when she falls short OF the highest standard
the World Is bound to excel her, but has right 10
plead her apostacy in palation of its own misaceds
Think of Christ preaching TO congregation OF which
part despsed and placed In corner on account OF
,rry-- 4 ,Fuaf1th hara
reproved this niauisy to begin with s-But read the let
ter, CONCORD, Nov. II, lSi5.
w. .,ercH Esq secretMy-
esasy Sf March acavaS and tse renn
of some proceedings In your Lyceuu lately which by
excluding o.lers, think ought to exclude me- My in
dormant d that the application of colored person for
rs~IDership by purchase of ticket in the usual
ner, had been rejected by vote OF the Lyceum and
this for the first time Now, think the Lyceum exists
for popular education work in II for that and think
that II should brbe and importune the hubest and
ignorant in, aud exclude nobody or II any body
certainly the most cultivated-ths vote quite cmbar
rasses ne, and should NOT know how TO speak to the
company Resides ini,s direct councraction the OBJ
vious duty aud sentiment of New. England, and of all
fceemen in regard to the coored people, the vote ap
pears unknd, and so unlocked for, that could
come with any pleasure before the Society
II sm msnformcd. will you-f they are printed
have the goodness 10 send me the proceedings or If
not printed, their pUrport; and oblice.
Yours respectfully, r. w. EMERSON.
BosToN Nov %, 1916.
Ny Dear Sir have received your favor Of Nov.
2@th, asking to appoint evening in February or
March which 10 lecture in pursuance OF promise,
before the New Bedford Lyceum
On receiving the invitation OF your Lyceun felt Hat
tered by the honor conferred me. and in undertak
ing as did, to deliver lecture at time tn be sp-
pointed afer~ard promised myself peculiar pleasure
IN an occasion of visiting town which have
scen but whose refined hospitality and liberal spirit
they have been described to me- awaken my warmest
interest
Since then. have In the public prints Protest.
purporting 20 be signed by several gentlemen, well
known 10 me by reputation, members of the Lyceuu
and some OF them part oits Government, from which
appears that in past years. tickets OF admission 10 the
Lyceum freely sold to colored persons and that no
objection made 10 them members but that, al
the presen tmo tickets refused 10 colored persons
and membership of the Lyceum is also practically re-
fused TO them though, by special vote recently adopt
cd they arc allowed 10 attend the lectures without
pense. provided they will sit In the North Gallery
From these facts IL sppears that the New Bedford Ly-
eeum has recently undertaken TO establish. within It's
Jurisdiction distincnon OF caste which had been
thsre recognized before.
One Of the cardinal truths both of religion and free.
DOM the Equality and Brotherhood Of Nas In the sight
of God. and of III just institutions the white
claim no precedence or exclusive privilege from his
color. 1t is the acciden, of an accident that places
human soul beneath the dark shelter OF an African
tennnce rather than beneath our colder complexion.
Nor can conceive any application of the benign inunc-
ton do unto Others would have them do unto you,
more pertinent than 10 the white man. who to0ads dis
elimination between his fellow men on difference OF
skin.
Is we'll known that the prejudice OF color which Is
akin the and selfish spirit that holds fellowmsn
In slavery. Is peculiar country. All will rcmem'
Der the two ouths of African blood who gained The
highest honors in tie College Paris in the winter OF
lSS and dned on the same day with the hiDc OF France
the descendant, of S. Louis, aud OF Louis the Great at
the palace of the 10illeres In Paris, have sat Tor
weeks, at the School of Law the same benches with
eolorsd persons listening like myself 10 the learned
lectures Of Deserando ard OF Rossi do remember
OBSERVING in the throng of sensitive young men By
Nnom they We're surrounded any feeling toward Them
CCHeeptoi cempanonship and respect In Italy al the
oi faiozzeola the shores OF the Abss Lake,
80 ". .u9 sue OF the ancient Alba LorcR. have seen
iot native OF Abyssinia ouy recently
49, ny, o Gus sosf'a homo, and ignorant of the LAM
Franciscan Friars whose cues, he W., H. Sa,;h,s,i ad
ssectonate familiarity. In these exnmoes ynsv bc dis,
cerned the proper influence OF The Chr.,;sn sni-i,
In lecturing before Society," which ha, en,b boJ.5 N,
prejudice oil Color among It's laws. aud thu, for,p.r m
sed Injunction of the highest religion sn n;,.
might seem TO lend my sanction 10 wha, ia rnas, nI
10 my soul and join with them ir di.obe,i.rc =.
that command which teaches regard as Of ono
bloodaiI the children of the earth:
'Quarnvis illc niger, quan,v.s u candidas esses
cannot do this.
beg leave therefore. be excused al present from
appointing day on whiek lecture before your Lyce
u and pray you 10 lay this letter before the Lyceum
that they may understand the grounds on which deem
it my duty decline the honor of appearing before
them
Ihope you viii pardon the frankness Of this con,mu-
nicatiou. and believe me- my dear sir,
Very faithfully yours.
-als-vf- CHARLES SUMMER.
w. }. RoreH, Esq