The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1874-06-25
THE STANDARD.
Thu RsDAY, JUNE 25. 1874.
From the New National Era
The Civil Rights Bill.

On Monday last another Intellectual at
tempt was made to take the Senate
Civil Rights bill from the Speakers table
in the House. The majority of the
House are Republicans, and if they real
ly mean to give all citizens of the United
States the equal protection of the le.w.
they have it in their power 20 do it.
They had that power on Monday last. but
they did not exercise it. The Civil
Rights oil IS postponed and justice de-
layeo oy tbe votes of the members OF
congress Tho owe their election mainly
to colored votes. That much feeling ex-
lsts mong our people because of the diliy-
dallying with a measure which is to them
of vital Importance is strictly true. That
this feeling is one that will be worked
upon by demagogues to an extent that
may impair the success of the Republi-
can party is also true.
Colored voters, like white voters, are
governed by their interests in casting
their ballots. 1t is the colored mans
aim to be secured in his profession of
citizenship rights He votes for such men
as he believes will correctly represent
him, and, when they accept the platform
of principles which induces the colored
man to vote for them, the colored voter
has right to expect his so-called repre-
When the representative fails to do his
duty in behalf of his constituents, then
some other should be chosen who has
better idea of what he may owe to those
who elect him. We, therefore, fully SYM
thize with that feeling among our colored
voters to refuse to vote for the men who
have deserted their cause at the exact
time when their assistance was needed.
The New York Times chuckles over the
defeat of the Civil Rights bill, and says
that it would have been an annoyance
to one class without conferring any ade-
quate benefits upon the other" We hold
that equal benefit will be conferred upon
all because all will receive the equal pro-
lection of the law. We have no doubt
that many white persons would be an
noyed by seeing negroes treated as hu-
man beings; and we have no doubt that
those white men and women in the South
who, through no fault of the negro, are
the fathers, the brothers and sisters, un-
cles, aunts and cousins of the negro, will
oppose with more bitterness than all
others any law that will protect the ne
gro from the brutality of the white man.
1t is, however, too late in the day to dis
cuss the necessity for the Supplementary
Civil Rights bill There is not a colored
man who travels in the South who does
not meet with insult and robbery by
nearly every railroad corporation in that
section. Every colored lady is annoyed
if not grossly insulted, who may be COM
PEELED to travel in the South. The Times
asserts that there is general feeling
that enough had been done for the ne
groes to enable them to take care of
themselves. and that in common fairness
nothing more should be asked" Negroes
are citizensiof the United States, and are
to-day denied the equal protection of the
laws, such protection as the alien editor
of the New York Times enjoys, for in
stance, in public schools or public con-
veyances and places of amusement, By
the way the laws are administered we are
prescribed class. Until we are accorded
the rights of the American citizens to the
fullest extent, not enough has been done
for the negro; and the negro would ex-
hibit lack of appreciation of the rights
and duties of his citizenship were he not
to labor for, and insist upon having, all
the benefits attaching to the condition
of an American citizenship. The negro
who has barred his bosom to the storm of
bomb-shell and bullets in defense of the
nation can very justly demand the same
protection of law as is accorded not only
to the editor of the Times, who is an
alien, but the same that is given to the
men who exhausted every resource to
destroy the nation. We are not beggars
asking for shelter under the equal pro-
lection of the laws. Our race has earned
the right to justice and paid for it in
blood shed in defense of the Union dur
ing the rebellion, and in blood shed in
the struggle that followed the war in the
work of reconstruction. The outrages
we are compelled to endure to-day are
committed under the shadow of law, but
L II i
know that our race is right in seeking a
redress of grievances. We naturally
look to the Republican party for that re
dress. Does the tone of the leading or
gan of the Republican party in its cry of
halt indicate the design of that party to
refuse justice to the negro? Or does the
cold shoulder of the party, which is given
to journals advocating civil rights, indi-
cate disposition on the part of the party
to abandon the negro to the tender mer-
cy of his enemies? We earnestly hope
that the Republican party will be true to
its leading principles. We support the
lieve it to be the party of justice, and the
enemy of oppression. We have support
ed it because we believed it would not
forget its professions The united vote of
the colored race has been given to the
Republican party because of its profes-
sions. vote which was of no inconsider-
able importance in maintaining the party
in power The negro believes in the
Republican party, and we do not desire
to have his confidence shaken.
The failure of the Judiciary Commit
tee of the House to bring forward the
Civil Rights bill, which does not require
two-thirds vote to get it before that
body, is exciting suspicion among col
ored men that there is disposition on
the part of party leaders to let the Civil
Rights measure die. Why not bring for
ward the bill now before the Judiciary
Committee? The bill may be amended
by inserting the Senate bill. Such action
would at least show that the charges of
trickery being resorted to against the
bill have no foundation in fact. Let US
hear from the Judiciary Committee.
FIRBNEss.-Law is fine thing, and it
is a sign of great frmness of character