The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1870-08-17
V1NDICATION.

V1NDICATION.
Mr. Editor In reply to "Sumter's"
communication-in answer to his nu.
merous persecutors-published in your
issue of tho Sd, We shall condemn him
out of his own mouth, or At least defeat
him by his own statements.
He seems to have an extreme aversion
to tho strong, concise, and venerable
tongue of the old Romans. Appears to
esteem it . mystery, and one, too, in close
alliance with the black act. Now We con-
fess that although by no means inclined
to be boastful Of our scholarship, We yet
do not look upon the Latin language in
the same light as We would view the
hieroglyphics Of ancient Egypt, and so
far from regarding it as having any,
thing to do with darkness, in any shape
or shade. We on the contrary believe it
to bo great medium of light, and have
seen it, when correctly used, irradiate
an entire page with tone flashing line Of
light"
We presume that "Sumter," notuith-
standing his disrelish for Latin, will not
object to our making use Of a Latinism,
which, from frequent application, has
almost become an Anglicism. We
allude to the term "non sequitur."--
Does "Sumter" know the meaning of that
expression If not, we shall at once
proceed to point out to him wherein it
consists. He shall surely realize that
"Ex ante cedentibus OF consequent
bus fit optima interpretatio."
"Sumter" advises us to go to the histori.
cal record, and informs us that We
shall there find it au invariable rule,
that "social equality has always been
conceded before political" He adduces
tho status of the Poles, Hungarians,
Irish, and last but not least the Jews, 10
proof ofsaid rule, which he lays down
as premise, and from which he arrives
at the lame and impotent conclusion
that the negro will necessarily and
forthwith attain social equality so soon
as We recognize the fact that ho is
already imbued with political equality.
IF this conclusion be not "non sequi-
tur" from that premise, then We are
ignorant of the meaning Of the term.
First. What conceivable analogy
can there be between any of the above
mentioned races and the African We
have always regarded them as branches
Of the great Caucasian tree.
The Poles were certainly entitled to
social equality with their conquerors,
being not only pure blooded Caucasians,
but also one Of the most aristocratic
peoples Of the continent.
Some among the Jewish race can also
boast of their lineage, besides having
enjoyed as q race, a national moral
training and education, such as no other
antique Caucasian tribe can lay claim
to. Can "Sumter" pretend to say that
he has been comparing "like things to
like {"
Secondly. "Sumter" has made the
oracle Of history prove too much for
his case. He makes it say that social
equality precedes political {; whereas,
granting for the sake Of argument that
his historical analogy holds, and what
is the fact, so far as the negro in
South Carolina is concerned
It is that he has not only
had political equality, but has luxuriated
in political supremacy, for at least two
years past and "Sum!er" himself
says that he has not yet enjoyed social
equality even with Radicals, who have
no social status to lose. Does "Sumtsr"
still consider his analogy appropriate 2
AS to the theories contained in NJ.
Michelet's Glamour" he has viewed
them correctly according to our view.
They may sound very we'll 10 French, but
are decidedly oatre whom expressed in
plain English.
We tell "Sumter" plainly, chat the
evil Of social equality is much moro apt
to be incurred through our remaining
in a state of mastery in activity, add
as an immediate consequence, psr-
mittipg ourselves to be robbed and
despoiled Of our all, than by reoognix.
ing the political privileges which have
been conferred upon the black man, and