New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-11-18
.cAsTEr-LECTURE BY SENATOR SUMNER.

i
under the auspices OF tho ClayOnn Literary Society of
Newark n J. was delivered in the Opera House by the
Hon. Charles Sumner, last evening, subject; Caste"
The audience large the Hall being crowded 10 Its
full capacity. company OF eminent citizens OF New
Jersey were seated on platform. among them Chan
celor Zabrske ex-senator Frelinghuyseh, Ward,
the Hon. William D. Kinney. Gen. Runyon, the Hon.
Joseph p Bradley Congressman Halsey, and the Hon
Courandt Parker. Mr.. Frenghuysen presided, and in
trodu ced the distinguished Senator, who received
with marked demonstrations Of welcome. Mr. Sumner
commenced by observing that the question OF the preya
lence OF caste wac eminenty question Of to-day Slavery
TO be sure no longer troubled the rep0Se OF inc epuoc
but its spirit remained and was exhibited still IN our
assunptOn OF superiority the negroes ana over the
Chncse-the negroes because they are p'hck anu the
Chinese because they arc yellow Inc clam 10 supe-
rorIty and authority founded upon the difference IN
color he would attempt 70 show TO be Inconsistent
with spirit OF laws, with the laws Of nature.
which are the laws Of God Profoundly believing In
this law and its ultimate triumph prejudice
it was for him reject any claim set up by
or color Men OF every possessed an equal copar
nershp in power beasts and this he thought should
symbolic the copartnershp IN all the rght OF mankind
The time would come when government would DC
science the laws Of which, If they are 10 be applied In
laws OF chemistry iand astronomy. The first business
that the student of the theory OF or that the
student OF mankind is 10 set about Is TO know himself
what his position IN the universe ana ms position
toward his fellow In the determination OF bis posi-
ton in respect his fellows and his duty toward them.
the great OF the Father Of All to do unto others as
w. would that they should do unto yOu"-should be
accepted az the only rule for the Of conduct
or Tie direction OF thought And upon this safeguard OF
divine law would he place rights OF every
race of mankind He would attempt 10 awaken
repugnance to tho spirit OF caste AS neon
man nature Tho speaker alluded to the
opening OF India 10 commerce by the Portuguese The
system which found there OF gradatlons In society
the Portuguese expressed by the word caste" which
has since then passed ali modern languages TO ex-
press the condition OF society The liked orders
we're found In their greatest distinctive character In In
dis but the thing itself was ancient Evidence OF nus
existence found upon the herogyphics In Ancient
Assyria Egypt aud Persia and later II existed IN tho
feudalsm Of the middle ages He described minutcly
and learnedly the distinctions OF caste In india eopar
ing them with similar gradatODs among the people OF
other nations and with those that partially survive III
This assumption OF superiority opens ques
ton OF SURPRISING interest in science In government aud
In religion In the religious view OF equality or inequahIy
OF lac refer but two passages IN the WORD
OF God In the first ~ was said IN the narrative OF Ie
creation. so God created man IN HIS own Image. IN
the second 81. Paul said upon AaB Ill., uOu hhth maui
of one blood all the nations that owen upon tie
face Of the earth" The first passage occurred ~. "
the solemn history OF the creation; inc ecoV th
would remain venerable and beautiful forever as the
declaration OF the grandest character In Christian
The scientific aspects OF tho question uepohu uo ma
difference in complexion. distinction ia chfIo..i o
capabilities It WAS claimed grew out OF ~ ne
race. science at fault IN informing uS va 'o
number Of -Four was the number OF races Vi e
which scientific inquiry first established then anotng
added then II demonstrated DY eniiheuJ uhNer
ers and naturass that there were eleven ana sc,o,
men equally respectable hold that there aru % d 70
races upon the earth. II phil0logy were caiea "a
our aid, how great an increase OF races hgnI e
widely Inherent aud those OF dheren races US @
Whatever may be the origin there is'an
ing lheL al WIN cosmopolitan chaldCtci
Thought intelligence conscience ana tho hOpo " ~
making them alike In their general characteristics ~
they are dssiBilar from everything IN nature lie uliso
introduce great names in Science 10 cOrr0b0Tate ho
opinion that the origin Of human species was inc
But there could be no final human testimony IheIe
another unity To which could ali aGehOr
safely the unity Of intellect. mutual Identity, ana caIa
cities for Improvement All history, anatomy pheyeoi'
ogy aud phiiology testified to the unity of mankind
By these tokens man everywhere was known man. and
b these tokens the speaker claimed for him all the rights
Of God Wa clearly the father OF all Iaen; hence
all men are equal II not. they arJ not all OF Que
father on earth they tho children of Father IN
Heaven Admitting common humanity 1t was EaTu "