New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-02-17

| One hundred years hence, benevolent anti
quaraus will read, with wonder, that upon the
10th day of February, in the year Of Christ,
1864, the Senate Of the United sya,es, while a
fierce Rebellion was threatening The integrity Of
the nation, engaged itself In discussing the
right of black men to ride In certain railway
carriages in company with those of lighter
compilation. If it were not for the grave
phneuthropic considerations which arc involved,
this debate would be as lulicrous as that which
once shook Roman Senate concerning the
proper method of dressing turbot Of unusually
enormous dimensions. Abstrnctly, there was
nothing in the modern instauee, for even the
most garrulous Senator TO talk about. There is
not moralist living who will not admit that
the prejudice against color is an intensely arti.
fetal one, originating in political distinctions,
and carefully cultivated for the sake Of perpetu.
ating those distinctions when common sense,
common prudence, TO say nothing of common
equity, demanded their abrogation. The hatred
Of Blacks, by certain class Of men in America,
is love itself in comparison with the feeling en-.
tertaned toward Jews throughout Europe, even
50 lately Is in the seventeenth century. Such
prejudices are the predestinate fruit Of op.
preston, cruelty and injustice, aud with thoir
causes they viii as certainly disappear as the
mist rolls away under the influence of sunrise
There was race in Spain, long after the modern
civilization Of that country, no member OF
which could cnter q Christian church; and, If
railway carriages had then and there been run.
ming, not one Of these Pariabs would have been
permitted TO travel in them. repetition of
this heartless aud repulsiye wickedness has been
peculiar feature Of our own boosted ciyliza-
ton. With professions Of absolute democracy IN
our mouths, we have clung 10 an aristocraoy OF
color far less sensible or tolerable than an aris-
tocracy Of birth, and have brought difcredit
upon tic very theories on which we protested
to depend for public and individual happiness.
1t Is sad to say that We have done even worse
than this; for VIC have, thoughtlcasly, il is TO be
hoped, practically diTegardcd the fundamental
principles of the religion which we profess, |
falling back upon The economy and iteralncss of
the Hebraic faith, and repudiating the dominant
doctrines OF younger revelation. This wide |
inconsistency and yawning difference between
our principles and practice, has at last brought
us TO the greatest grief which can torment
people-and yet thcro arc men of Senatorial
dignity who have drawn 10 wisdom from what
arc literally our excruciating experiences, and
fancy that what it seemed proper and prudent to
say in 1850 it is proper and prudent to ray now.
We should doubt the prudence or propriety at
any time, or under any probable circumstances;
but we cannot for tho life Of us see why those
who thought they did the Union good service
by hating the Black then should fail to see that
they may now do the Union nobler service by
a revision of their judgments and wholesome
restraint of their animosities. We are willing
to make the lowest possible appeals to such
men. We are willing to demand of their heads,
what it would be folly to demand Of their flesh.
ess and obdurate hearts. We would ask them
o make sacrifice Of their hatreds, which seem
It best to be but petty. FOX the sake Of a coVa.