The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1871-11-10
Negro Equality.

The design Of the Radical leaders has
always been to force an absolute per.
sonal equality between the whites and
blacks. The rank and file, it is true,
are made to believe that the equality is
only to extend to "equal rights before
establish the truths of this assertion of
ours beyond controversy, we copy from
the ". Y. Tribune the following letter
of CHARLES SUMNER, the lawgiver of
the Radicals, written to Negro con-
vention held in South Carolina, viz:
BosToN, Oct. II, 1871.
DEAR SIR: l am glad that our color
ed fellow-citizenS are to have cOnven-
ton of their own. So long as they are
excluded from rights, or suffer in any
way on account of color, they will nat
urally meet together in order to find a
proper remedy, and since you kindly
invite me to communicate with the con-
vention, l make bold to offer few
brief suggestions.
In the first place, you must at all
times insist upon your rights, and here
| mean not only those already accorded,
contained in equality before the law
Wherever the law supplies rule there
you must insist on equal rights. How
much remains to be obtained you know
too well.
In the experience of life can respect
able colored citizen travel on steam.
boats or railways or public conveyances
generally without insult on account of
color? Let Governor Dunn of Louisi-
ana describe his journey from New Or
leans to Washington. Shut up from
proper accommodation in the cars, the
doors of the Senate Chamber opened to
him, and there he found that equality
which railroad conductor had denied.
Let our excellent friend, Frederick
Douglass, relate his melancholy exper-
fence, when within sight of the EXecu-
| tive Mansion he was thrust back from
the dinner table where his brother com.
missioners were already seated. You
| know the outrage.
might ask the same question with
regard to hotels, and even the common
schools. A hotel is a legal institution, +,
| and so is common school, and as such
each must be for the equal benefit of
all. Nor can there be any exclusion
from either on account of color. 1t is
not enough to provide separate accom-
modations for colored citizens, even if
in all respects as good as those of other
persons. Equality is not found in
equivalent, but only in equality; in
other words, there must be no discrim-
ination on account of color.
The discrimination Is an insult, n
hindrance, and bar, which not only
destroys comfort and prevents equality,
but weakens all other rights. The right
to vote will have no security until your
equal rights in the public conveyances,
hotels and common schools are at last
established but here you must insist
for yourselves by speech, by petition,
and by vote. Help yourselves, and
Others will help also.
| The civil rights law needs supple
ment to cover their cases. This defect
has been apparent from the beginning,
and for long time i have striven to
remove 1t. / have bill for this pur-
pose now pending in the Senate. Will
not colored fellow-citizens see that those
in power no longer postpone this essen
tial safeguard? Surely here is an OBJ.
ject worthy Of effort.
| Nor has the Republican party done
Its work until this Is accomplished Is it
not better to establish all our own peo.
pie In the enjoyment Of equal rights