Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1874-12-17
CIVIL W.. SOCIAL EQUALITY.

legislates upon Social ~reiaions' unat IN
It's effect ii tends to place the black upon
an equality in social position with the
white man. We may Be blind. obtuse.
or stubborn. bot we fail to see that
either this or any other legislation under
the late amendments 70 the National
Constitution. has any such tendency.
In brief, We have never yet road or
heard OF any Law OF Congress, which in
any way infringed upon the social rights
OF any class Of citizens.
The late amendments to our Consti-
tuition made the black race citizens;
nothing more. nothing less. A citizen
has certain rights, recognized every
where. It was deemed necessary in or
der to guarantee these to the newly en-
tranchised race. to dsfne them. and en-
act laws which prescribed penalties for
their curtailmsnt or deprivation. a v
for crime. This has bosn done in q
measure. But IL has been found that
on account Of color. . certain class OF
our citizens have been denied free en-
joymsnt ofths privileges apd unimpsded
exercise Of the rights Of citizenship.
This Is notably the Ease in the
denial to this class Of the privi-
lsgss Of the common school sys.
tenn. This system Is based upon civil
equality. Is supported by general tax
alton. and il or should be in Its benefits
impartially distributed.
What are the fscts2 We find negroes
in many States OF the Union excluded
from our public schools. This sIclu.
sion il based not upon bad character.
insubordinstion. or mental incapacity.
bot solely upon the color Of thar skins.
To send ones children to public school
is q right Of citizenship. It Is a civil
not . social right. And to guarantee to
parents this right to educate their chill
dren at public eIpsnss-whsrsin they
are co-contributen-is absurdly said to
be legislation upon social relations. II
10 not 90.
A the Law now stands any drunken,
dirty brute ssn enter Q street car. and II
he behave himself and pay his fare can
ride. And this Notwithstanding the fact
that net one in the car would accept the
acquaintance Of such . person, or grant
that he WAS in any respect their social
equal. This has been so for years. II
is one Of the rights Of c~itizsnship. and
is universally recognized. But when.
forsooth. the same principle IL sought to
be applied to the black race, we are met
with tho allegation that such legis-
latisn seeks to establish social
equality. Can anything be moro
prspostsrousi One may buy . seat in q
theatre. The next seat may DO pur.
chased by q thief or wen q murderer.
Yet who will contend that because a."
who Is an sstimabls gentleman. with his
family occupy seats adjacent those Of
'.B." who Is, mayhsp, q criminal. they
are, perforcs, on terms Of social squali-
typ But lot "B's seat be occupied by
&C. colsrsd man. who 10 also . cih-
zen. perhaps, nay, probably an sstima-
BILE, honorable business man. and We are
At once met with the cry Of amalgama-
ton and social equality. Is it not alb
surdl What social relation does "a"
hold to "B" or scr" None whatever
save such a. both. not one alone, may
choose. The difference between social
and civil or legal equality 10 Is clearly
marked a. that between . boor and q
gentleman. We are absolutely masters
OF the former. each in his eva choice Of
associates. and the latter il the creature
Of Law for purposes not Of ~socialty
neither Of private intercourse. but purely
for public good and svsn-handsd justice
to every man who contributes or Is La
bic so to de toward the public defense DR.
welfare.
The very men who cry out most loudly
against that legislation which seeks to
guarantee to every citizen equal rights
and privileges are foremost in contra
dieting their own u%tterances by their
daily acts. Not one Of them would
hesitate. in passing by an outcast or
disrsputabls character upon the street,
to declare that such an one vas not
their social equal. even though such per-
son has. and ever has had, the right 70
frequent public places OF amusement.
churches. hotels. and railroad cars, on
tsrms OF perfect legal equality with
themselves. As we'll might We deny to
any class OF citizens their privileges on
account Of birth a. color. A well
might We declare that colorsd persons
shall walk on one hide Of the street and
whites on the other. As to say that they
shall be excluded from public places be-
cause Of the accident Of color. As well
might va grant that all men Of all classes
Of citizens. both native and forsign-born.
are our social equals. because they have
civil rights identical with ouu. as to
assume that legislation which secures
these last. impinges upon society's best
interests and tends to overthrow its safe
guards. There 10 no sense In IL. 1t is
wrong ab iniiio. individuals choose their
own companionships. Majorities make
laws for general protection. Custom and
inclination rule the hrst; constitutions