, 1874-05-31


towards tho closing OF the schools in case the
CiY-Rghts bill is passed by the House is probably
but type OF what will happen throughout the
South. Tho taxpayers there are white. In two
or three Of the States, negro majority can force
them to still sustain the schools In most Ct the
States. however, the whites have now tho con-
troll It is safe to say that these latter WILL,
without exception, shut up their schools rather
than have social equality enforced in them by
United States Law. This may be unworthy prof
udice. But it exists, unworthy or not,-exists
Us fact that the legislation Of century cannot
change. You cannot alter q mans feelings at
Nashville or Galveston By passing law at Wash
ington. The country would sneer at the proposal
of bill which should read: Be it enacted, etc.,
that every white man in the South shall love
every negro" This is absurd on its faco but tits
only the reductio ad abs,trdun, OF the Civil Rights
bin. The difference between the two ia ono Of
degree, not kind. We hare no wish that the
negroes should be prescribed. It is for precise
ly this reason that we object to the bill. It will
revive the old prejudice by persecuting it. It
will c1eavo tho two races asunder in every South
ern State. Even such man as Senator Brown
low pens with pazalytic hand the statement that
of Tennessee are bitterly opposod to it. Thin il
not the way to reconcile races. II the bill
passes, it ID but longer way for Congress to
cry: "DoMn with tho schools!"
If re are really bound to fix the social rela-
tions of the South By law, let the work be
thoroughly done. The present bill needs sev-
eral important amendments. We submit the
following suggestions, trusting that the House
will incorporate them in the law, and provide
for their enforcement BY appropriate penalties.
We must premise that they all depend upon the
central idea of the ill,-that black mans
feelings must not be hurt by g. white man.
Let it be enacted, then, TINT when negro
runs for Office, no votes shall be cast against him
By Caucaaans Thus his sensitive spirit can be
spared the agony Of defeat At the polls, and all
he will have to do will be to buy up the norni-
mating Convention.
Let it be enacted TINT at every social optertain-
nent equal numbers OF whites and blacks shall
be invited. This would be real equality, and no
humbug. The African heart would no longer
throb with pain at bc1ng condemned to matt 1t
the table, instead Of sitting ut it; to
open the door, instead Of stalking majesti-
cally through it. To be sure, this would
result in closing all hospitable doors /;
but what Of that ? II you abolish the school,
why not abolish society
Let it be enacted, again, that st colored gen
tlemen y shall be the only phrase used in refer
ring to our fellow-citizens Of African descent.
Let s' aunty." and uncle" and cont1aband," :"
and II nigger," and ~ freedman" be banned for
ever. Tho old colored WOMAN who replied to
tho greeting: ''How d. ye do, aunty 2" II ain't
your aunty, nin't your uncle, Tse your ekal,
was but foreahadowing the future social millen-
mum.
And, finally, let us ha7o q constitutional
amendment to the effect that cyory alternate
President shall be colored man. Tnrn about is
fair PLAY.
Having done this, VIC can watch with a calm
sense Of having done cur duty and kept 100000
voters faithful to tho Republican party,