The colored American., 1866-01-06
EQUALITY.
SOCIAL AND POLITICAL.
J. T. sHUFrEN.

eTn Willie HAL. LIZ o0hno' 0ASSP "a
dreaming Of it; he cannot eat for thinks
ing Of it; and it would seem almost an I'M
possibility for him to do business for
arguing and apeechifying against 1t. But
for Ill his dreaming anu thinking on, and
speechifying against such frightful mon
ster as it appears in his eyes to be. the
6g.ute remains as hydra-headed as ever.
lie has by 10 means settled the question,
and one thing is certain, he never Will
settle it the way he wants it settled
God forbid that he ever should, for If he
could, the Negro would not be the only
cne that would have to bow beneath his
iafexible rule. The Northern man and
tile Foreigner, yea, any one that was not
OF Southern birth, would have to leave
The field for the rapid development of his
comprehensive and freedom Aovsng genius.
It is a very common thing for him to
declare, il thunder tones, that the
Negro can never attain unto Social and
Political Equality yet, he is straining
every nerve, and not leaving single
stone unturned IN order to preUent him
from attaining unto that giddy distinc>
ton. Such conduct, in our eyes, betrays
q tear on his part that the colored man
has a right to, and ultimately will reach,
that forbidden fruit. But there is a
question which We would wish him very
much to study carefully, and endeavor to
answer honestly, before he prosecutes
further bis determined opposition, and
that IS Is the colored man as anxious
To AQuo Social and Political Equality as
Tie white man is not to let him hdVe at E
We think the answer to this will be
4 negative, at least in the case of Social
Equality. {Ie has enough Of that a0ath-
out hiS consent, God kaOtrS. But there
Is still another question which We would
Dresent for bis consideration and calm,
dispassionate judgement, and that is !:
Has the white man really good reasons
for refusing that position to the colored
man We shall endeavor to present a
few facts il answer to this question by
considering il what Social and Political
Equality consists.-And First: What
is Social Equality?
Man in his natuge--whither brldled
by civilization, or wallowing in the un-
luxurious freedom of savagedom-is a
social animal, congrcgating into cities
aud villages, or into tribes and castles
and governing, or being governed, by
laws and regulations for the general good
Of the society. But even in these social
congregations, whether they be made uE
Of untutored savages or polished humans
there are u1ssociaL differences. For in.
stance, what is known as the upper ton
Of white society has no direct social deal
ings with Tie poorer classes, or the toll
ers for daily bread The upper ton
hc1res themselves around with naughty
airs. and pompous appearances, which
il the eyes Of any sensible man, appear
as apeish foolery, bnt which efectuall,
prevents the poorer classes from socializ
inc with them. But when votes are II
demand, the upper ton ofice>seeke
very condescendingly lays aside his purse
proud dignity, and humbly solicits tn
poor mans support; that gained, or tn
time being over when it was needed, b
passes him BY with the same disdain an,
contempt that he would bestow upon
hegcar, and this is called Social Equal
ty. It may be so in name, bnt certain
" not in nature or practice lis true
poor man can marry rich man
daughter, but it is remarkable inciden
il the history Of match making, and be
comes a nine days wonder for the time
But the boundary line of Social Equal
ty among races, especially the white race