Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1866-03-16

I1eoPtes
10 us of the South this is so plain tina,
it seems almost useless to say q word upon
the subject. There is the difference of or.
IGN, the difference of tastes, the difference
of caste and the difference of color which
stand as perpetual barriers to analgama.
ton. The different varieties of the eau
caslan race, such as Scotch, Irish, English
french and German may amalgamate with
advantage, and, after series OF years, be.
come fused into one people, as they have
done Oh this continent; but not so with tie
unfortunate Africans. They must accom-
plish their destiny for veal or woe, as an
isolated people. They may have exemp.
ton tro'a slavery-:hey may have freedom
as they now have; that is the right to reap
the fruits of their own labor and to be
protected under the law in their persons
and property, but social equality with the
white man, never. The laws of nature
and natures God forbid it. Impossibil-
ties cannot be accomplished. The horrors
of San Domingo were the natural fruits of
the radicalism OF the French socialists,
who, contrary to the nature of things, de-
clared universal liberty, equality, and fra
ternaty. We have given liberty, but it is
to be hoped we will never commit the same
great error OF attempting 10 give equality
and fraternity.
There is between the white and the black
the lnextinguishabls sentiment, or if you
please, prejudice of race, and caste, and
this is intensified and made perpetual by
the physical badge of color, which isolates
the negroes forever. Tt is impossible for
The leopard to change his spots or the
Ethiopian his skin. The blacks cannot be
absorbed by the whites, for every advance
IN that process makes itself like tile turbid
stream flowing into limpid waters. They
can no more be merged into the white
race than tho poor Indian, who, though
native to the soil, receding before the pale
face, disappeared from the land, and the
places which knew him shall know him no
moro forever.
But if imagination were possible, it is
not desirable. 1t is asource Of demorali.
cation in republican governments to have
mixed races, as in the South American
States. Whenever people consent to
mix with all races and colors, they have
lost that individuality and pride which
make nations great. The pride which
made tile Roman contemn all Others as out>
side barbarians, which made him so jealous
OF his privileges and so proud of the beast
OF being "Roman citizen" was the prin.
c'pal cause of making Rome the most
powerful empire that has existed in the
history of the world. N1ongrel, motley
breeds are good for nothing; they ars feeble
and sbort.lived; they can have no pride of
blood, and consequently no high standing
OF character. AS if seized by some moral
leprosy, they sink at once to the level of
the inferior element. Is there anything
inexcusable in that pride of race which
struggles to preserve its color clear and its
blood pure? 1t is a crime, it is one which
leans 10 virtues side. Is there anything
unnatural or unchristian in being proud Of
Our race, which, we think, is IS superior to
the dusky tribes in every respect as it man.
ifestly is in complexion9 Can it be re-
quired, in order to conform to the new
standard of philanthropy, that we shall be
so Catholic in our sentiments as to love all
mankind as we do our kith and kin, and
all colors and races as our own? 1t may
be selfish, but excuse us from such philan-
thropy. We are old fashioned enough to
believe that charity begins at home. The
order OF Providence has fixed limits which
it guards by corresponding tastes and pro-
prieties. We sbhor the doctrine of mis-.
cegenatior, not only as vulgar, coarse and
bestIal, but as unnatural, if not impious.
We cannot consent to become a breeDof
no race, out of hybrids from 'embraces
forc'ble and foul" a motley piebald crew
OF mulattoes of all colors, from snowy
white to sooty-
"Mongrel, puppy, whelp and hound,
And ours of low degree"
If there can be no real unity, there can
be no practical unity; but rather a strife
for the mastery, in auhich one or the other
mast be annihilated.
We think the argument for putting the
negro on an equal footing with the white
man, as to political rights, is founded on
false premises. Lie is not the equal of the
white man, but inferior to him in physical
organization, in intelligence. and 10 capaci-
~. He is interior boh from nature and
from the condition he fas occupied here
and elsewhere. We believe that the in.
feriority of the negro is as certain as any
truth that was ever uttered; but we DO not
rest our objection to his participation in
the Government solely, OF, indeed, princi.
pally, upon that ground, but on the ground
snat he is Of different race, and must re-
main so. If he were the equal of the white
man in all respects, it would still be unwise
and unsafe to give him political power in
common with the white man.
Two separate and distinct races nearly
equal in numbers, especially, if differen,
In color, cannot divide the powers of GOV
eminent in peace and harmony. .They
may live side by side az common subject,
under 9 despotism, may bs governed and
protected in their persons and property by
the same laws, or one may DO subord;nafs
70 othc other, but both cannot rpas. .isipata ir
the powers Of government without eterna
disoord The taun ,an6s .,,sA.,ia al1.I,