New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-10-30
Prof Langni0 on speeCh Reviewed

As YOU invite communications Of public
jn,eres, that are respectable, even though
you NAV no, agree with the sentiments ex-
messed. / send you this:
Prof. John NJ. Langston's late speech In
defense of the Republican party should not
IN unno,iced. II is a marked effort. | read
!, in your paper some time ago, and have
vailed TO see if he would pronounce the re.
nor, inaccurate. The gentleman is correct
when he says the Republican party has done
much that is to our benefit. add in doing
sor rs il has done great deal for the coun-
,r Wemu.t cling to it, we must work and
ioluce il 10 So lecislate that its grand lecla-
ration. stall he recognized, respected, and
le the general rule Of action. OF course we
cannot ally ourselves with its opponents, for,
uithou, referring to its past affecting us, a
blind in!atuaton has such hold on il that ii
,snno, see that il is lis interest to respect
certain principle, dear to US, principles the
Republican party have made popular. Until
the scales shall fall from the Democratic par
Tvs eyes il reed not hope to have an ally in
the colorcd man il cannot so long as it shall
try 10 entomb living principles and pronounce
them dead issues"
Though cling to the Republican party
because have hope in it, because it has a
greater amount of sterling character and in
iegrity within il than has its opponent, am
not blind to the fact that my party is open to
criticism. | know, as does Prof. Iangston,
that the colored people are not satisfied with
IFS failure 10 do for them what it might and
should have done. They will reason and
conclude that party becomes important to
them over other parties by its being more
consistent, and by its cyincing greater re-
gard for their rights. They desire cOmpeti-
ton between parties in this respect. In the
light of policy il need not be expected of a
political party 10 press ana pass a radical
measure, even one il may have declared just,
if ii is against the prejudiccs Of consider
able number, and if the party interested seem
Indifferent. | admit that until June year
ago, (since when no new Congress has as
sembled,) the Republican party was not COM
mitted by formal declaration to the letter Of
Summers Civil Rights Bill. There may be
some propriety in saying await the action of
Congress which convenes in December; it.,
not its predecessor, is committed to pass q
supplementary civil rights bill, by which
there may be "en'ectually main tained through
out the Union exact equality in the enjoy
ment of all civil, political. and public rights. 1"
Wait-Presdent Grant has not had the OPP
10 n,Il lnf,v
published in his late Inaugural relative to our
civil rights as American citizens. His noble
words in behalf of equality makes him stand
out conspicuous beyond all his predecessors.
All Of the above may be asserted with con-
fidence but 1 cannot endorse Prof. Lang
ston's defense of the non action of Republi-
can members of the late Congress affecting
civil rights. He, in an excusatOry manner,
asks in relation to their non-actiOn: "Is
there any way by which their conduct can be
explained or extenuated ?" and replies to the
query that the action proposed, Chat is Sum-
ner's Civil Rights BILL is - unusual has no
parallel in legislative history" that the
subject is surrounded by many difficulties !;
that if the colored American is citizen why
legslate at all as to common carriers and
inn-keepers in his behalf? Why not allow
him as others to stand upon the rules and
usages Of the common law?" After making
these suggestions and putting these queries
as his own, he adds "that some are of the
opinion that if legislation be had at all by
Congress, the CIVIL Rights Bill of Mr.. Sum-
ner is altogether too broad and cOmprehen-
siye that others are of the opinion that leg
islation with regard to these subjects should
be had, if at all, not by Congress, but by the
legislatures of the different States - and
then proceeds again, on his own account, to
cay Legislation has been had in New York
Mississippi, and other States )" that there
has been feeling existing among some OF
our most intelligent, conscientious and re-
publican leaders that the country was moi
ready for legislation in this behalf ;" thai
certain influential colored men when The
application Of the principle contained in the
Civil Rights Bill was presented opposed its ap
plcation, as in the case of separate schools
and separate school boards, thus leading rad
ical members Of Congress to believe tina
even the colored people themselves are op
posed to the passage of such bill :" h,
continues and says "while the Hon. Charlie
Sumner urges the immediate passag
OF this bill, Republican members of Congress
no less conscientious have hesitated a..i re
used thus far to act that the people gener
ally have neither understood and realized tn
Importance of such legislation, nor accepte,
Is legality." :
All of this is his ipse DIRT TO palliate injus
ices; and he goes on to say so much
think may be said Justly by way Of explain
ing and perhaps excusing the conduct of sue
members Of Congress as failed to act"
The gentleman is incoDgruOus, contradiC
tory. With one breath he says the last Con
gress should have passed Summers Civ
Rights Bill, that it should be passed withou
delay, and, after saying this, he goes on an
gives reasons, which he says are just ones
excusing non-action-none of which are ten
able. Can it be possible that one Of our bes
known colored men-an educated person
honest to his class, and true to justice -ha
rehashed 50 much unsavory subterfuge an
invented SO many fabulous excuses In beha
OF injustice? He says, the action We d.
IQand il & 4 ha