The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-05-04


the blight Of character, or the relentless
biting Of debt, or the early and
eternal separation of families. or the loss OF
hcror, or the murderous conflicts of our streets
and in cur hotels; the personal dependence OF
the poor, the restitution and beggary which no
bepeyolepce can fully relieve, the toll of the
apprentice for his hard employer, the constant
miserable pi.tAnee of few shillings day, the
ri.hs Of rsilvsys, steamers, storms and disas-
ts-s- sll which are the marks and destinies OF
the f-eest and most elevated conditions OF
social lite. What has the colored race in Ame
,ica 10 suffer in comparison with the most
prosperous of tie white populations!
Bat i. we were willing to give the black
races full equality Of position, their physical
jnsp.i.ude would soon cause them to lose it.
And if two races Of unequal powers live to-
gether, the higher will rule, and must, from
the very nature OF things
A profound writer has said what might be
considered paradox, and is nevertheless true
that slavery cannot well exist until there is
6rst perfect liberty. And the reason is, that
where liberty truly exists the inferior sinks to
his level, and the superior man rises above
hin. Ard 30 it Is with races The greater
-.o,e, vOnnan sUvvO sne iers.
1t is always, then, with the most profound
regret we see the true question blinked by 50
many Of our public men. Why do they not
consider the laws Of nature, somewhat, in their
treatment OF this vexed question? Men Of
az -
ton and inequality Of races Politicians ina
CINE that their shibboleth can make them
equal; while some, who know enough to
know they cannot, only agitate that they may
rise to place and power. By no human effort,
no earthly legislation, can we alter the relative
position OF the races and until Gods own
time, the negroes of the United States can
never become equal to the whites, physically
Or nenta)iy-though perhaps they are far
happier, have less care, less labor, less respcn-
sibiiity, and are the only men in the world
wha have a moments thought from their en-
ployers when their work is done.
The true vocation of an enlightened huma-
nifty is to endeavor to mitigate the ills of lie
by every kind mesns in it's power-not by VIC.
lence, for that produces resistance and reac-
ton, and defeats itself. It has duties quite as
great to perform for white as black, and is
bound to consider and decide, very often, too,
between a choice o. evils.
No assault upon our constitution no disrup-
ton o. the Union, will ever change the cha
racter Of the negro race or elevate it TO al
equality with the whites. 1. has neither the
will nor the power, neither the characteristics
nor the capacity, for self government. 1t has q
thorough dislike Of industrial pursuits Of any
bat the lowest description. rs social rela-
tons, as admitted by some OF themselves,
operation and the advancement Of their tani-
lies.
A.their recent convention 10 Philadelphia, 1t
was admitted that but few bred 20 the mocha
mic arts, among the free negroes, ever followed
them up; and that the parents even, here in New
York, preferred to live on the wages earned
by children Of the tendereat ages, rather than
to work for and support themselves.
We are no advocates for slavery Of any kind,
neither for that which civilized society imposes
on the poor and the weak, nor that which
compels the .olored man to grow fat and sleek
Gu the smallest quantum OF labor: but we do
entreat the reasonable men Of the times to
pause and reflect before they lend themselves
to those rash and dangerous doctrines which
are undermining fabric truly glorious and
great, and which, with ell its incongru;ties and
evils, is still the noblast work on earth Of God
and man.