Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-07-29
VOL. XXXIV.f Al -A11o
The Prejudice of Color NOT Un-
q 3. p 80 = natural. -

INC -sEGP.3m0lce Oh OAOE- MOl Ono
natural
In order to reconcile the people to negro
equality, the Radicals tell them that there
should be no distinction socially,c civilly or
politically, on account of color, because the
prejudice of color Is unnatural, and conse-
quently is no emanation of Deity. 1t must
be remembered that the distinction of color
in peoples was not made by man but by
Cod. The Ali-wise is the author of the
distinction. He could as easily have made
all peoples of the same color as of different
colors. He must have Intended some great
purpose inlmaking white people and black
people: and, with the distinction of colors,
He at the same time created feelings that
attracted into one body those of like col-
Ors, and repelled those OF different color.
As we remarked yesterday. the antagonism
of races is one of the most natural and
universal of all sentiments. 1is,Hr ,s 7l75a
There is no instance in which 1t has been
obliterated in a people or even mitigated.
1t is founded on the organic qualities, the
primary instincts of humanity /; and, if it
can be said that any impulse was conferred
upon man for a wise purpose, tis proper to
say this was so conferred. What has been
and is the universal law of all distinct races
must have had its foundation in nature
God, when he< made people of different
coloYs and races, could have implanted In
the breast of alla' sentiment of affiliation
and attraction instead of that of antagOn-
ISM In His wisdom He did not do so.
We conclude, therefore, that the prejudice
of colof and race is natural, implanted by
Deity in the human breast for some wise
The greatest men-great' in intellect,
culture and position-have indulged their
prejudice of color, as well those of lower
| grade in mental gifts, culture and position
| in society. OF the former, John Quincy
Il L. III
well-knownli .antt-slavery man, he at the
same time considered the social equality OF
the white and the black as a gross outrage
upon the law of nature. The Mobile Ad-
uertiser refers US to Mr.. Hackett's gossippy
book of Notes and Comments on Shaks-
peare, for the evidence of the. extent of
MIR. Adams prejudice against color when
\ it was part of humanity. His prejudice
against Othello, who was not negro. but
a Moor, was very decided, and he couldnot
forgive Desdemona for marrying him. He
says: "She absconds from her fathers
house, In the dead hour of night, to marry
a blaekamoor. zrSheo breaks her fathers
heart and covers his noble house with
shame. to gratify-what? Pure love, that
of Juliet or Miranda? No! unnatural
passion; it cannot be named with deli
cacy.n 81. =e,s jsr7s,h -iir7 .-ss{ lo.-o rsI
T. Again 81 must look at Shakespeare in
this, as in all his pictures of human life, in
the capacity of a teacher of morals. Imust
believe that, in exhibiting q daughter OF a
4 Venitian- nobleman of the highest rank,
eloping in the night to marry thick lip
ped, wool headed Moor, opening train OF
consequences which led to her own deStruc-
tion by her husbands hands, and to that OF
\ her father by broken heart, he did not
4 intend to present her as an example of the
4 perfection of female virtue. The first
action of Desdemona discards all female
delicacy, all filial duty, all sense of ingen-
Jous shame. So / consider it, and so it is
considered by her own father. Her offense
i is not mere elopement from her fathers
house for a clandestine MARRIAGE / hope
it requires no unreasonable rigor of moral
4 ity to consider even that as suited to raise
| a pre- possession rather unfavorable to the
character of a. young woman of refined
sensibility aud elevated education. But az
elopement for a clandestine marriage with
q blackamoorw -- 3, ....t. -...-.s-. .l.-
| Mr.. Adams dwells upon the enormity o.
the offense, and cannot forgive her unnat-
4 ural conduct. He sums up as follows: q
4 81 still retain, then, the opinion
First. That the passion of Desdemons
for Othe1lo is unnatural solely and ex'
clusiyely because of his color.
s.Seconi. That her elopement to hin
and secret marriage with him, indicate 6
4 personal character not only very deficieni
in delicacy, but totally regardless of fila
duty, Of female modesty, and of ingenuou
/ shame. ..
"Third. That her deficiency in delicaci
is diseernible in her conduct and discourse
throughout the play" H.
On another occasion, on the same subject
he said:
ssThe great moral lesson of the tragedy o
i Othello is, that black and white blood can
not be intermingle1 in marriage without
gross outrage upon the lawof nature; ant
that in such violations, nature will vindi
cate her laws. The moral OF Othello is
not to be beware of jealousy, for Jealous!
is we'll founded in the character of his wife
though MOTH the fact of her infidelit.
with Cassie. Desdamona is not false to he
husband, but she has been false to the pu
Fity and delicacy of her sex and condition
when she married him." s-t.
Every one knows that Mr.. Adams was al
ardent santi-slavery man. There was non
more so. But to be opposed to slavery an
to have no prejudice against color, were. i
his opinion. two very different things. ii
regarded slavery as uupatural and abhor
rent; he also regarded the social equalit.
of the whites and blacks as unnatural an,
abhorrent. Prejudice against color, as h
showed is not in antagonism to the dictate
of humanity or natural rights. We com
mend Mr.. Adams prejudice to the seriou
consideration of those who think the preju
dice OF color is opposed to the teachings o
God, and should not, therefore, be cher
ished.