Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-02-03
THE CIVIL G BILL.
An East Tennessee Republican Jour-
nal. Edited by a olsred WAN, states
the Demands OF the Coiored People.

nal. Edited by q Coi9re0 M8n, states
the Demands OF the Coiored People.
From the Msryvvile Republican, Jan. 81.
fhe merits of this bill land the de-
merits, too,) have been commented on
by the press of this country quite ex-
tensiYely; therefore we need not offer
any apology for introducing it in these
columns.
We hold that this bill Is entirely n
necessary under the constitution, which
| guarantees equal freedom to ALL free
men: but, to overcome the preiudices of
| the masses, and to harmonic the ele-
ments of the opposition to this meas
ure, it has been necessary to frame a
special law, embodying and specifying
the true intents of practical freedom,
and thus leading the people ON by de-
grees to the final consummation of
those grand aims which gave birth to
liberty on this continent, and investing
all citizens with those rights which win
indeed make this a FREE REPUBLIC.
If this bill fails to pass, this session
of Congress, it is safe to say that the
colored vote of this country viii be
lost to both political parties. The lead
ing colored men OF the North and
South are determined to press the pas
sage of this bill, at all hazards; and
woe betide the luekless Republican
Congressman who fails to act well his
part when this bill is voted on. His
majority was the colored voters; in the
next election his defeat will be assured,
by the assistance Of this colored major
Sty.
MIXED SCHOOLS.
There is considerable opposition to
the "mixed school" feature in the Civil
Rights Bill. We don't believe that the
colored people contend for this feature
because they expect to take practical
advantage of its privileges; but they
contend for it because they consider it
a part of their rights, as citizens of this
republic. We do not honestly believe
that the "mixed schools question would
work well at all where the largest ma
jority of the whites were opposed to it;
and would, of course, not advise the
colored people to push the matter IN
that case. But as a matter of justice,
no sane man can deny that it is right
and legal; prejudice and not law, only
keeps it from being put into practical
operation everywhere. We favor sep
arate primary schools for the two a
ces; but there is no use prohibiting it
where all classes are favorable to mix
ed schoOls"-and it would be equally
unjust to force it upon either class
where it wal not wanted. However,
this is all talk, as the Civil Rights Bill
will perhaps be relieved Of the mixed
school, clause before being voted on.
"wHY THIS THUsNEss?"
What is the matter with the Repub-
lican press of the country? They do
not have a word to say editorially con-
corning the Civil Rights bill No elo-
quent ~perorations in favor of the bill!
Indeed they
"Hasdle it tenderly,"
and don't "Ift it, worth a cent"
"Why this thusness," gentlemen? Why
waste your streets on the desert air:?"
strenuously advocating, In long-winded
editorials, the defeat of the new salary
bill, ct c@teri, and never say nary word
in favor of the &C. R. B?" Hal? echo:
"Ha!")