The enquirer southerner., 1874-07-24
LET US REASON TOGETHER

III tlulCo Vi pClltiN"l |iN N'lOAD ~
citement is apt to run so high and
party feeling became so intense that
we feel that it is almost Impossible
to discuss a great state issue with
that degree of fairness that its mag
nitude deserves. And hence it has
occurred to US that the press would
be better fulfilling its mission, if 1t
would devote a larger portion OF It's
attention in quiet times to the tull
development of those great ques-
tions that it knows must be of vital
interest to the country, in order
that people may vote more from
conviction than from passionate
prejudice. There are, for instance,
many questions that should have
commanded the deep thought and
attentive concern Of our people
Leaving out of consideration the
great question Of national finance,
taxation, import and export duty,
&C., the subject Of the State debt is
one that ought to have elected at
tentive study and close argument of
the press and candidates Of all pc
litical opinions. The entire absence
of all such topics, however, from
political discussions indicates that
politics is not what it once was, and
that there is more at issue now
than "a simple difference in theories
of government or policies of state
action. The point at issue is cal~
culated to arouse feeling, but we
will try to discuss it without excite
ment.
The all absorbing topic for us of
North Carolina just now is the sub
iect of Civil Rights. What is Civil
Rights, and why do We oppose it
Are we less benevolent than our
brethren of the North? Is it inhu>
manity with us, selfshness and a
want Of christian regard for those
about US? We are Of the opinion
that the Southern character will
bear as good test fer generosity,
just dealings, and proper regard
for the feelings Of others, as any
other upon the face Of the earth.-
Then there must be some reason.
unnoticed by the cursory observer,
why the good people of the South
approve the passage of the Civil
Rights bill.
The origin Of the bill is in intense
hatred against the South. 1t is the
emanation # one who upon his death
bed had no word of consolation for
the wife Of his bosom, from whom
We have no evidence that a prayer
ascended for preparation to stand
before the bar to which he was has
tcnine, from ore who was callous to
all else save the perpetuation of the
persecution Of people torn, con-
quered and bleeding, and who should
have elected bis brother!y sympa-
thy. 1t is local too in its applica~
ton, having no effect whatever
North. 1t Is unconstitutional and
subyersiye Of American republican,
ism. 1t is an unjust and wicked
attack upon the poorer class of our
white people, whom alone it can
effect. 1t attacks the purity of our
race. It is ruinous to our system
Of education, the height Of folly as
a matter of legislation and tyran-
nous in its inception.
Upon state like North Carolina,
where there is so large a popula>
tion Of blacks, and especially upon
county like this and many others
in the State, the passage of the
Civil Rights Bill would fa,l like a
pail, bringing desolation, civil strife,
all species Of social disorders, and
clog the advance of civilization for
years. If this be true, and we leave
it to the readers judgment to say
whether the picture is overdrawn. it
becomes a crime against society
and sin against humanity for one
to endorse such a measure. If this
consequence is correctly drawn, does
it not logically follow that the per-
son who helps Civil RICHTER to
Office is also guilty and should be
held responsible for his views? p
Most assuredly it does. 1t matters
not how honest and sincere one
may believe the Civil Fighter to
be, and however dear a friend he
may be, he owes it as solemn duty