The weekly clarion., 1874-08-27
The Question of the ..CoIor Line /"


way to settle the sectional troubles
was to comply with the terms of the
government (Which though harsh Were
more moderate than we had promised
ourselves, if we fsiled to maintain our
independence and to recognize the dem
ocratic principle that all men of what
ever race, cline, or nationality should
be made equal before the law.
A white mans league to deprive the
colored man Of the enjoyment of the
privileges of the government is as repug-
nant to this fundamental doctrine OF
popular government, as the Native Amer
lean league which was formed some years
ago to prescribe foreigners and Catholics.
One is the "color line'-the other was
the ''Native American line" The lat
ter league, addressing its arguments to
the prejudice of nationality and religious
creed, swept over the country like
hurricane and enlisted three-fourths of
the voters against the citizens of foreign
birth and Catholic religion. The storm
soon spent itself, but its track was marked
by desOlation and blOodshed. The
fercest passions were aroused and many
of the class against whom the war was
waged on account of birthplace and
religion, experienced its fury. The
torch and the sword were brought into
requisition in many communities where
the foreign and Catholic elements were
numerous And so it has been since
the beginning Of the world-that contests,
having their origin in the prejudices of
nationality, religious creed, or race,
have never failed to arouse the passions
of the parties to them to such an extent
that the bayonet, more than the ballot, or
any other peaceable argument, has been
relied upon.
A war upon the principle of equality
before the law, is really war upon the
Reconstruction plan of the Government
and the Constitutional amendments to
which the faith of the nation is pledged,
and to which both parties are committed.
These are the words of the Democratic
platform of 1872, on which we then stood,
and which commanded our entire APP
proval
We recognize the equality o all men
before the law and hold that it is the duty
of the Government in its dealing with the
people to mete out equal and exact Justice
to all, of whatever race, color, nationality
or persuasion-religious or political.
We pledge ourselves to maintain the
Union of these States, emancipation, and
"ment and to oppose any reopen
ing of the questions settled by the 18Th, l4th
and 18th amendments of the Constitution.
Our candidate for the Presidency en-
dorsed this doctrine in his letter of ac
ceptance, and emphasized it-thus:
All the political rights and Franchises
which have been acquired through our
late bloody convulsion. must and shall be
maintained, aud enjoyed ev
ermore There shall be hence
forth 70 prescribed class and no disfran-
chised caste within the limits of our Union.
etc, etc.
On this rock we have built our faith
Circumstances of which We are but crea-
lures may indu ce us to abandon it. |
Mere pride of con sistency should not
weigh against the supreme demands of |
country and selfpreservation; but we trust |
he day will not come when we shall be
iriven to this alternative.
We are told that the negroes by re-
using to support Mr.. Greeley forfeited |
heir right to the benefits of the principle
lere declared. We do not ourselves
hink they chose the wiser part; but we
should remember that the regular candi-
late of the party to which most of the
blacks belonged occupied precisely
he same ground with Mr.. Greeley-that
he latter was an insurgent against his
,vn party and that it is the usage of par
les, introduced long before the negroes
we're voters, to Show no quarter to rebels
against regular nominations. 1t is a
Caucasian example which the African
las not been slow to follow.
Concede that in many instances the
negro has made bad use Of his suffrage;
lie has undoubtedly employed it to put a
yast number of vile men into office-dem-
lgogues, organizers of strife, and profes-
ional plunderers. But are the whites
wholly blameless for the malign influence
lnder which this class Of inexperienced
-oters placed themselves? The mass of
he negroes were faithful to their old
masters during the war which they knew
involved their emancipation. They pro
ected the old and the defenceless at home,
nd cultivated the crops to feed the ar
MES of the South during the struggle,
nd may it not be true that their conf
ence in the native white population
would have been as freely given in po-
itical matters if the latter had not
dopted the unfortunate code OF 1866,
outlawing them; and opposed
he measures of the Governmen for their
olitical enfranchisement, with violence
nd all the moral agencies at their con-
roll? Was it human nature for them to
ntrust the privileges with which the
overnment had invested them to the
cry class who from education had be-
eyed them to be unfit for the exercise
We, the old citizens, have found it
ifhcult to erase from the minds of the ,
egroes the impressions which were then
amped upon them, ought We to attach
i the blame TO them? Can We not af
nd to be just?