The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-12-20
SOCIAL EQUALITY.
~ur civil, RIGHTS BILL FAILURE.

,vress to pass the Civil Rights BILL the pc
scheme and long cherished hope of Charlie
Sumner, was a very clear indication of tn
fact that this measure was regarded will
much distrust and disfavor by the Republican
sa,embers. At the first glance they discovered
IN it an element OF mischief and something
that BODIED no good to the future OF the Re
publican party if it dared to espouse the
measure.
Ey its adoption it would infict upon the
whole country a curse that must inevitably
end in fearful conflicts and disastrous results.
Senator Brownlow was far-seelng enough
and sufficiently alive to the real consequences
That would follow such injudicious leglsla-
scS,n. to take bold and unequlvocal position
-2oainst the bill and used all his efforts to de-
feat it's passage. It's final postponement was
an evidence that majority OF the Republican
members were afraid to assume the response
Soility of advocating its passage, and the an
,nouncement that new bill had been pre-
NAKED for this Congress, with the objectiona-
asle features Of mixed schools and indiscrimi-
nate burials eliminated, proves very conclu-
saveIy that the Republican representatives
nave wisely concluded that the Northern peo-
ale will not submit to any such outrage upon
their social rights as was contemplated by the
Massachusetts Senator.
Recent developments in this city have de-
zaonstrated the utter futity Of attempting to
mix the public schools. The people have re-
solved not to submit to the heinous wrong,
and are determined to maintain the schools
Grec from all appearances Of amalgamation.
u1iscegenation, or any other kind OF mixture
af the white and black races. As the Kellogg
usurpation was swept away, on the 18th of
September, by one bold stroke of the men Of
New Orleans, so did the mixed public schools
,succnmb to the resistance and fearless oppo-
ltion Of the girls and boys. Before their
wrath and resolute stand, the piebald con-
s,srns of Superintendents Brown and Boothby
saisslpated like chat before the wind, and to-
day there is not negro in our free schools.
Vain efforts are being made daily by bold
and impudent negroes to gain admittance to |
our theatres, bar-rooms and saloons. But |
dnvarisbly have they been successfully re-
sisted. When thwarted they resort to the |
courts and invoke Lynch law, and thereby |
esoothe their injured feelings by salve which
that learned disciple of Coke and Lyttleton
6nvariably administers in the way Of judy
g1lent in favor of the plaintiff
In spite, however, of the moral lessons
which Judge Lynch attempts to read the peo-
yle, and his homilies upon the rights of the
usgro, the public cannot be Invested Of that
natural prejudice, which is the result of in
rtinct and inherent antipathy, and makes
them revolt against social utilization with an
apferior and antagonistic race
Having succeeded then, in obtaining the
publication Of the public schools, the inviola-
bility Of the places Of public amusement and
r,ssort, we have now but one more duty to
perform, and that is to secure return to the
system OF " star" cars on our street railways.
The abandonment OF the star cars was OBJ
sained at a time when our people were under
military government. The occasion was
seized by some designing Radical who de-
sired to make political capital with the negro
population, and the question was pressed to
sach point that some decided action had to
1ae taken. We are free to confess. that the
directors of the various railroad companies
yielded too promptly and too Internationally
I'D the recommendation of Gen. Sheridan, who
osas ri that time in command of the city.
But be that as it may, radical change has
taken place in the public mind all over the
country relative to the question OF social
equality. In the Northern cities like New
York, where there are but few negroes. the
distinction is rigidly enforced and colored
person is not tolerated in an omnibus. In
louisville, Mobile and other Southern Cities
special cars are assigned for the use ofnegroes.
We see no reason, then, why in New Orleans
the same rule should not be enforced. On
many of the lines of railway the conduct of
che negroes in the cars has been such as to
drive ladies and children from their seats,
leave the ears on account Of the insulting and
vulgar behavior of the negro passengers
Let then, the car companies furnish sepa-
rate cars. equally good in every particular.
Tor the exclusive accommodation of colored
people; confne them to these cars and COM
pei the whites to use only those set apart for
heir use. The companies will be greatly
benefited by this arrangement, as many will
ride who now abstain altogether, because of
Fhe Objectionable company into which they
are forced under the present regulations.
Aside from any question Of pecuniary profit.
4 will be paying that respect and Difference
"a the preiudices of people, which are so
strongly rooted that neither laws nor time can
syer eradicate.
Every day We see and read of this and that
mousse closing OUT selling below
sost and we sometimes wonder that
there are not more failures in business