New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-12-04
THE QUESTION OF CASTE.
SENATOR SUMMERS SPEECH.


the entire lecture. and enthusiastically appauded
some portions of it. 1t must have pleased the
speaker to see assembled among his auditors the
dusky faces Of the whose elevation and enfran-
chisement he has so long ChampiOned. Father hEa-
cinthe occupied one of the upper stage boxes ana
listened with interest apparently, to Mr. summer
words. He sat in the rear of his box, as though
wishing to escape observation, and probably NOT
half dozen persons were aware of the distinguished
ex-Carmelite's presence. Mr. Sumner was ihuo"u'eu
by Horace Greeley, and said
Mr. presidents In asking you TO cOnsluer lho Nueson
OF Caste open great subject Of immediate pracucai
interest Happily Slavery no longer exists 10 disturb
the peace OF our Repub but 1t Is not yet dead III olher
lands, while among ms the impous pretensoh OF tns
great wrong still against the African because he
Is black and against the Chinese because he is yell
low Here is nothing less than claim Of hered-
itary power from color and 1t assumes that human
beings cast In the mold with ourselves, and in all
respects men, having the title Of manhood that we
have may be shut out from equal rights account Of
skin Such is the preeDsiOn plainly stated On other
has been my duty to show how inconsistent
this pretensOn with character republic and with
the promises OF fathersa OF which consider never
OF order say and to urge. Bat present purpose
rather TO show how inconsistent IL is with that sublime
TRUTH being part of Gods law for the government OF
the world which the unity of the human family
aud It's final harmony earth In this law, which is
both commandment and promise, l find duties and
hopes perpetual duties to be postponed and per
petual hopes to be abandoned, long man is
Believing in this law and profoundly convinced that
by the blessing of God will all be fulfilled on earth it
is easy to see how unreasonable is a claim of power
founded any Interchangeable physical incident derived
from birth. Because Is baek-because man is yel-
lOw-he Is none the less man. Because man is white he
the By this great title he Is universal
heir to all that claim. Because he is man. aud
not account OF color lac enters into possession Of the
promised dominion the animal kingdom" over the
fish of the aud the fowl Of the air, and over
every living thing that moveth upon the earth" But
this equal copartnershp without distinction OF color
symbozes equal cOpartnership in all the Rights of Man.
PATH FUTURE
As upon this important theme confess nm.
welcome impeachment, partly from the prevailing pre-
iudiee OF color, which has become with many what is
sometimes called second nature, and partly from the
little faith among men in the future development Of the
race The cry. "a whtemans government" which is
such insult TO human nature has its influence 10 the
work OF degradation. Accustomed TO this efrOntery,
conspicuous il they simply consider the figure our
fathers would have cut had they declared the equal
rights of white men, and not the equal rights OF all
men. The great declaration was axiomauc and
sefeydent because universal COnnneo TO. 10 CIass ~
cry people close tho soul TO all those quckenDg voices,
whether OF prophet, poet or philosopher, by which
are encouraGed 10 perseycre nor do they heed the best
lessons OF science. begin by declaring my unateraOe
faith in the future, which nothing diminish or I'M
pair Other things may renOunce, but this cannot.
Throughout life Of controversy and opposition ire
quenty in small minority, sometimes aIuoSt alone
have never for moment doubted the final fuhnent OF
world would be continuing chaos To me it was clear
from the beginning, even in the early darkness ana
yield to wclLiirectcd efforts against it, and
now II is equally clear that every kindred pretension
those equal rights, which the of life on earth
Nor this great triumph be restricted to our kepuDHe
Wherever gathered into nations. wherever civil
zatiou extends her benehccnt sway there will be man
cst Against this lofty truth the assaults of the adyer
sary better than the arrows OF barbarans yainy
shot at the sun SIN II moves and 1t Will move until az
che poet pictures personal success feeble expression
for that tranScendent Future where man shall be con-
auerOr not only nations but over himself, suDdu
Ing pride birth. prejudice OF class petenson Of Caste
GOVERNMENT THE SCIENCE or JUSTICE.
The assurances Of the Future strengthened when
ook at government and how its character is con-
stantly improving within the sphere Of knowl
edge. Men know before they can act wisely, and
this simple rule is applicable alike to individuals and
communities GO, my SOD, said the Swedish Chaneel-
erned" Down 10 his day government was little more
than an cxpedient, a DEVICE trick Tor the
be OF one. Calling itself Ommonweath. il was so III
tsm was the prevailing law. Machavel, the much
quoted herald OF modern politics insisted that az
governments whether mOnarchical or republican, owed
their origin or reformation to single lawglTer' IKE
Muos, Lycurgus, or soon II TINS were true 10 DIS day.
Isno IN ours In the presence Of an enlightened PEG
pie single awgiver, or an aIistocracy OF aw'gveTs Is
impossible. while government becomes the rule Of All for
the good OF d-not the One Man Power so constant IN
ustory-uot the triumyrate sometimes oceurrlng-not
racy which the rule OF cldss-nOt any combination,
hoGsoeyer accepted sancliouing eXclns:ons-but the
body OF the people, without exclusion OF any KIND
In the great words Of Abraham Lincoln at Gettysburg
OF the RO far by 9 PeG 5as b aea
at best an art Ike alchemy or astroiogy'
where ministers exercised subtle power or spec.
ulatOrs tried imaginative experiments, seeking some
philosophers stone at the expense of the people Though
n many respects stil Art only II is fast becoming
Science founded on principles and laws from when there
can be no Just departure AS science II IS Determined
knowledge like other science, aided by that uni
Nersal handmade, the philosophy Of induction From
OF particulars the general rule Is deduced ana
this Is AS true OF government OF chemistry or asr0n-
Omy. Nor do 10 doubt that in the evolution
OF events the time is at hand when government Will be
subordiuaied uuquestOnable truth, making diversity
OF opinion impossible IN this great science as
1t is now impossible In other sciences already
mastered by man. Science accomplishes part
only OF It's beuehcent work wien it brings
physical nature within its domain. That other nature
Aud is 1t true hat man can look INTO the unathomaOle
Universe there to measure suns and stars that ne can
penetrate the uncOuned ages OF the earths existence,
reading everywhere the inscriptions upon its rocks but
that he cannot look INTO himself or penetrate his own
nature to measure human capacities ana read the IN
scrptOus upOn the human soul / do not believe IL.
already accomplished III such large measure Tor
the world matter viii yet be Tor that Oher
world OF Humanity aud then II Will appear, by law as
precses chemistry or astronomy, that just gov
eminent stands only the consent OF the governed at
all men must be equal before the law OF man as Ley
are equal before the law OF God and that any dscrm
nation founded on the accident Of birth IS inconsistent
with that science OF government which simply the
kcience OF Justice Oh earth.
one OF our teachers, who has shed much light on the
Lcience of governmental refer 10 Professor LeDer OF
New York-shOws that the state is what he calls " Judl
society,"" precisely the church Is religious society,
aud an insurance company financial society The term
h. fecitous as 10 Is suggestive Above the state rises the
image Of Justice lofty, bhndfod, with balance III hahu
TrTe IA stands i'm colossal form, with lesson Of
Eaua Rights Tor All, while under its inspiration govern
proceeds according 70 laws which cannot be also
beyed with impuuy, aud Providence is behind 10 sus-
tain the righteous hand In proportion AS men are WISE
recognize these laws and confess the exalted science
Know thysen" Is the Heayeh-uesecndeG li99ncton
49,. 49,. wFgFu WNHgH "A "A