Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1865-11-24
Graves. Inquisitive.
From the New York Tribune.

| From the New YORK Tribune. ..
Mr.. Bernard Graves, of Moska, Iowa
favors us with another catechism, whereo
the gist is as follows:
II. Are you in favor of the social equal
ity of the two races? Yes or No.
"II Are you in favor of the political
equality of the two races-in other words
are you in favor of the eligibility of ne
groes to Office, such as Governor, Legisla-
ture, Congress, Sheriff, &c? Yes or No.
| "III. Are you, under any circum-
stance, in favor of permitting niger chill
dren to occupy seats in our common
schools with white children? Yes or No.
Now sir, 1 dare say that Thomas JEFF
ferson, or old Ben. franklin, or that the
Declaration of Independence teaches the
affirmative of either of these three propo-
sitions, and therefore do not see the pro-
priety of your having SO ostentatiously
paraded them before the public"
A1sl0erS By the Tribune:
l. We hold that Mr.. Bernard Graves,
and every other human being, should be
at perfect liberty to associate on such
terms as shall be mutually acceptable,
with every other human being who chooses
to associate with him. We further affirm
the correlative right of Mr.. Graves, and
of every one else, not to associate with
any others, white or black, than those
with whom he chooses to associate. If
this is social equality" we are for it; if
not not. Mr.. Graves must judge for him
self r.F
IL. Regarding the government of God
as the best yet devised, and being assured
that such government is without partial
ity," and that He is no Hrespector of
persons" but of those of every rank or
race who do righteously are accepted of |
Him, we believe in making human gov
ernments resemble the divine as nearly as
possible. Unlike Mr.. Webster, we would |
have every human organization 're-enact |
the law of God" so far as they can appre-
hend it. We are quite willing to see |
drunkards, thieves, burglars, vagrants,
lORfers, and all manner of reprObates and
habitual evil-doers, debarred from voting; |
and we object to no intellectual or moral
est of fitness to exercise the Right of Suf-
age. Mere color or race we regard as no
criterion at all, and would never apply it.
And, as to eligibility to Office, we would
impose no restrictions whatever on the
rec choice of the electoral body. Let men
-ote in perfect freedom if they are allow
d to vote at all.
III. Wherever the whites see fit to pro-
-ide as good schools for black children es-
'ecially as for their own, we do not OBJ
sct to separate schools, though we do not
ealize need of them. Where :
o such are provided, we demand the
omission of all children to the Com
ION Schools We attended for several .
srms Vermont common school which
,as also attended by the three or four
nildren of the only negro living in that
istrict, and were not aware that those =
lildren were better or worse than others f
hey learned rather better than the aver
,e of Whites and behaved quites as well. C
Ie are not aware that the Whites were Ii
any degrea injured or contaminated by II
em. C
Now, mark the contrast: c,
So much for Mr.. G.'s questions. Are
ey not frankly answered?
We regret that Mr.. Graves had not
en- fit to favor us with his Interpretation tC
those grand afirmations, preceding our ?
thers Declaration of Independence, that d'
Allmen are created equal, and endowed N
their Creator with certain inalienable IN
,hts, among which are life, liberty and
e pursuit of happiness, to secure which y,
vernments are instituted among men" II,
:. oIT. q. cI9IsItly Tells US WHAT ne Al
inks they don't mean; but we can bet cl
judge of that when we shall have
st determined what they really in
lded to affirm and declare. Isn't it bet
and more workmanlike to begin at this til
d? G
Visiting the thrifty young city of Mus be
inc, Iowa, several years since, the mu-
to barber under the principal hotel
veus this leaf from his experience: 81
ne here among the earliest settlers; l l..
We worked hard, been frugal, and have NJ,
,spered; have now $4,000 worth 9,
real estate on which l am taxed
ivily to school the children of my
ghbors, who pay little or no tax; but fu
children are not allowed to attend the It'll
pol supported by my money, nor any au
nmon school whatever 1 think this Ba
ID" So do we think it not only hard 27t
cruelty unjust; and, if Mr.. Graves da
holds it, we trust there is no negro in
va who is not morally his superior.