New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-08-26
THE WEST INDIAN WHITE MAN.

The greatest good of the greatest number is held
to be sound democratic doctrine. 1t is considered
among us to be a "glit.ering generality" only
when black men are in question. Unless we made
this eIceptitn n, it would, in some sections of the
country, as in South Carolina, for instance, be
altogether subversye Of that divine order of society
which, IS good Christians, we are bound to uphold
in preference 70 democratic order of mere human
invention. We do not mean here to dispute these
great principles of our Republic. But in looking
at West India Emancipation We must endeavor to
di,abuse our minds Of American notions and con
slider the subject from the British standpoint
After half centurys sgitatiOn Of the question
whether negro is properly man or merchandise,
Great Britain permitted herself to be Influenced 80
far in bis behalf as to decide 10 favor ohis humanity
We are not discussing the wisdom, the morality,
or the Christianity of this British prejudice, but
looking at it simply as fact. She bad in her West
Indian Colonies something more than u million of
subjects, Of whom 1913 600 only were whites, the
rest negrOes-al slaves excepting only about
l5O. OC0 She ehose to make a practical applica-
ton Of the principle of the greatest good of the
on our patent in an offensive manner-regsrding
them all as men and subjects, she freed the 100 900
bondmeu IT, when they ceased to be slaves, they
becsme happier, more contented, and better black
men, considered simply as back men, then, so far,
British Emancipation Was successful. II there be
any weight in human testimony, that fact must be
granted as proved.
Ifthat great xperment, then, was unsuccessful at
all il was only as regards the whites If this also
be taken for granted, We still have as net result
the prosperity of $4,000 men sacrificed to the
prosperity of 200 coo other men. AS human
affairs 90, it is not q bad balance sheet Within
the last fifty years the policy of the Govern nent
of the United States has been changed, We will
not venture to say how many times in relation to
Banks and Tariffs; but never, in any change, has
the sacrifice Of the few to the many been SO small,
while not unfrequently the sacrifice has been OF
the many to the few. Yet certainly our expert
ment at governing, as regards the material welfare
Of the whole people, has been successful. Let US
be equally candid toward our neghbOrs We To-
sist again, and very emphaticay, that in weighing
British act We must look at it with British eyes;
and if that Government chose to consider her
West Indian subjects as one people, for whose in
terests and welfare as 8 whole she was bound to
esis,te, without regard to small class interests,
except 10 protect them from useless sacrifice, it ia
neither reasonable nor just in US to thrust in as
An element of the question our American
prejudice in favor Of that one class and against the
other, and predicate our conclusions upon that
alone A forced discontinuance Of the royal priv
ilege in an African chief, to bake any one Of his
subjects whose condition promised good eating,
would 10 doubt be considered by him and his court,
and the chiefs and courts of neighborng tribes, as
an infringement upon royal and timehonOred
prerogativs; but for those who might at any time
be called upoD lot 70 eat b.! 10 be eaten We fancy