Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-02-23
STATES TAKING REVENGE UPON A
ssKTGGER

e'N1GGER.'
The other day the New York Tribune
had ga word with the chivalry," in which
this paragraph occurs:
"Hardly year ago, Frederick Douglass
"a Southern born, Of whom the South will
yet have the sense to be proud-was re-
turning from most important mission to
Santo Domingo in company with Senator
Wade and other associates on that mission.
Reaching at length a Virginia steamboat,
almost in sight of table, there was a call
to dinner, and the Commissioners went for
ward, when Douglass was Tudely stopped
at the dOor-he was niger and mustn't
presume TO eat with white folks! So the
Commissioners all lost their dinner, the
company lost the pay for it, and Virginia
had her revenge for Gettysburg and Apo
mattOx."
Ten days or two weeks ago the same
Frederick Douglass arrived in Erie, Penn
sylvania, where be was compelled to re-
main over Sunday, as there was no train
on the Erie and Philadelphia road that day.
He made application for ride in the omni-
bus from the depot to the hotel, but was
refused. Arriving at the Reed House, af-
ter registering his name and room having
been assigned him, be was informed that
his meals would be sent to his room, thus
politely informing him that "he was a mig
ger and mustn't presume to eat with white
folks" Can the Tribune tell for what it
was ti'at Pennsylvania had her revenge
then?
1t is, simply ridiculous for the Tribune
to twit the Southern people in this manner.
The prejudice against social equality with
the negro race is as deepseated in the
Northern people as in those of Southern
birth, and all that the Tribune and journals
entertaining like sentiments can say will
not ehace this prejudice; certainly not when
the people who entertain such prejudices are
addressed in the spirit the Tribune mani
tests; neither will all the civil rights bills
which Mr.. Sumner can offer, even ifpassed
by Congress, accomplish this object. The
Tribune ought to know that the course
Sumner is pursuing, and which it tacitly at
least approves, only makes the matter worse.
It is strange that intelligent men, who pro-
fess to be more than ordinarily friendly to
the negro race, do not see and appreciate
this fact. We suspect they do, and that
that they care nothing for the negro
except to use him for political pur-
poses. The New York Commercial Id
uertisey; Republican journal, takes SEN
sible view of this question. 1t says:
Erred Douglass, who was lately refused !
admission to the Planters Hotel, st. Louis, |
explains that he went there for the express |
purpose of creating a Tumpus, thinking thus |
40 bring the disease to the surface, and eff |
feet a cure We are afraid the disease lies |
deeper than Fred's remedy can reach. Full |
equality before the law is the privilege of |
all, without distinction of race or color |
but the Almighty has established certain |
natural barriers between the white man and |
the black, that no human statutes or ordi- |
nances can ever overthrow. Charles Sum-
ner, with his civil rights bill, and Fred. |
Dsuglass, with his social equality chimera,
may not see this, but the future will dem
onstrate it even to their satisfaction"
The late President Lincoln, whose mem
ory portion Of the negroes at least profess
to hold in reference, said in his memorable |