New-York tribune., 1873-07-30
WASHINGTON,
SENATOR SUMNER AND THE COL0RED
PE0PI L.

PEOPLE.
HE REMINDS THE CoLORED CITIZENS or TIE Dis
TRIcT OF COLUMBIA or THEIR DUTIEs-THE
DANGERS OF APATHY-MIxED SCHOOLS JUST AND
HEEDPUI-
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUvE.l
WASHINGTON, July Ex-senator Sumner intends to
leave for Boston Thursday This afternoon he al
dressed the following reply to note of consratula-
ron and gratituderecenty received from the leading
colored citizens OF the District:
WASHINGTON, July %, 1873.
GENTLEMEN. I am honored by your communication
Of July 2O in which, after cOngratulating me upon
returning health and expressing your sincere hopes
that l my labors In the Senate, there TO
take up again the OF equal rights you mention
that the ooOred citizens OF Washington are now en-
gagged In agitating what you properly call "a Common
School System for all Children" desire TO thank you
for the good will myself which your communication
exhibits, and for your hopes that may again in the
Senate take up the cause Of equal rights Health
itself Is valuable only as 1t enables us to
perform the duties OF life, and know
no present duty more commanding than that
to which you refer. confess TO true pleasure IN learn
ing that the eoored people last rising to take the
good cause into their hands, because through them
tstrumph certain but they must be In earnest they
must Insist and labor; then labor and insist again; only
in this way can Indifference, which ia than
stubborness opposition be overcome. Toe open Zoe
feels throb at thought OF opening to ali complete
equality in the pursuit OF happiness Permit me TO remind
you, gentlemen, that living the National capital you
have peculiar responsibility In the warfare Tor equal
rights you the advance guard sometimes the f0rOrn
hope You animated to move forward not only for
your own immediate good but because through you the
whole cOlored population Of the country will be bene
flied. What IL secured for you will be secured for ALL
while If you fall there is small hope elsewhere Do not
forget. aud let this thought you TO increased
eXprtion that your triumph will rebound to the good
OF all. The District of Columbia is the place where all
great reforms born OF the have begun. 1t
is the experimental garden and nursery where all
generous plants have been tried Emancipation,
eolored suffrage the right OF colored persons TO
testify and the right to ride n,sreet carsall these
began here. and 1 remember how well they were all
encountered On the abolition OF Slavery were
soemnly warned that riot, confusion, and chaos would
ensue. Emancipation took place. and not voice or
sound was heard except Of peace and gadness. was
soberly assured by eminent politicians that If colored
persons allowed to vote there would be massacre
at the polls. Then. AGAIN cOored testimony was depre
Gated while insisted that the street cars would
be ruined If opened to colored persons. But all those
changes demanded by simple justice have been IN every
way beneficial Nobody would reverse them now.
but those who would establish slavery again
who would drive colored citizens from the
polls; who would exclude him from the
courtroom; who would smut nun from Ine
street car all objections revived and made
service again in order to defeat the effort for Com
mon Schools being schools founded tho very prn-
cpe OF equal rights recognized in the elective fran
chise, IN the courtroom and the street car II this
principle Is Just for all the latter. and nobody
says the contrary now, why hesitate TO apply 1t
to educationl How often we arc eIjoined to
train the child in the way he should CO.
why then compel him, in those tender years, TO
,bo han or nv n
when Impressions are received for lc impose upon him
the badge Of Infeioryi He is 20 be man, therefore
he must be trained TO that sefrespect without which
there be true manhood but this can be only by
removing all ban OF exclusion. and every badge of ne-
riority by color. As old objections are revived, so
again do present the great truth announced by our
fathers in the Declaration OF Independence that
all men are created equal" Admitting this prin
ciple as a rule OF conduct the separation OF
children IN public schools account OF color,
ia absolutely lndefensble In abolshng 1t VIC simply
bring our schools into conformity with the requirements
OF the declaration. To the objection that this change
will nure the schools reply this is contrary to ex-
perience In other places where the cOmingng Of chill
dren according the genius OF republican institutions,
has been found excellent IN influence; and further
reply, by insisting now always DO upon that justice
to an oppressed which has been too long delayed,
and which fails TO be wellspring OF strength
and happiness blessing all who help it and all who
ceve it, Feeling do on this question, You will under
stand that cannot see without regret any opportunity
neglected OF advancing the especially among tho
coOred citizens. On this they should be unit.
Wherever the question presents ITSELF whether in Con-
gress in the legislative chambers OF the District
or Popular Assembly there should be solid vote
against any discrimination account OF color. 1t is
easy for lawyers politicians to find excuses accord
ing TO their desires but flnespun theory or techni
caty should be allowed to prevail against command
ing principles. Accept my best wishes and believe me,
gentlemen. your faithful friend, CHARLES SUMNER.