Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1875-03-03

defined? What conditions are essen
tiai to its existence? Where does it
begin? Whore does it end2 What
are the laws by which it is re guiated =?
AS the matter stands now, they
make social equality something quite
mysterious, not to say terrible and
awful. Perhaps the best way to find
out what social equality is. will be to
inquire and ascertain, If possible, what
1t Is not. Let us now go to the outer
circle and travel toward the center,
and we may thereby be able to solve
this mystery of social equality. The
question is, what makes social equal
ity! Is it living in the same world,
breathing the same air, aud feeling the
genial rays of the same sun? Then
The Bnshman and Hottentot of Africa
Is socially the equal of the best society
in London and Pals. Well, if 1t is not
living in the same world,
THEN WHAT is 1T?
is it living on the same continent. in
the same country, in the same State,
the same city? 1t is evident that
neither of these conditions embrace
the idea of social equality for a man
may live in the same town and vet
have no social fellowship with thous-
ands of his equal fellow.townsmen
But let rs come little nearer: Docs
living on the same street, walking on
the same sidewalk, riding on the same
strcet-car, standing upon the same
deck, or sleeping under the same root
| comprehend what is involved in the
idea of social equality? Isuppose no.
body with any brains will contend
that they do.
| MAN NAY SIT AT MY SIDE
in theater or at the dinner table of q
hotel, and yet be as far above or below
me socially as heaven is above the
earth. Well, what then is social equal
ity? for it is evident that wo have not
yet found 1t by this negative method.
But once more: Is it voting at the
same ballot-box, drinking water from
the same stream, seated in the same
Senate chamber, or having ones name
on the same roll? No; this cannot be,
for 1t entirely excludes the idea of kin.
dred character and disposition, and in
| wolves the absurdity that Senator Nor
wood, with his stale jokes and coarse
witicisms at the expense Of race
which has no representative on the
floor Of the Senate to reply to him, lie
socially the equal Of such gentlemen az
Senator'S Frelinghuysen, Boutwell,,
Edmunds, Sherman, Conkling, Thur.
man, and others. l have travelled in
an English stage coach for DAYS to-
gether without ever once exchanging
word with the passenger next to me
When slave / sat
SIDE BY SIDE BY MY MISTRESS
and master in their carriage, and vel
social equality did not exist. Every
day / am spoken to here in this capitol
. by gentlemen who do not recognize me
as socially their equal. A great many
things are essential to social equality
The hod-carrier and the millionaire art
equal as to rights in the street, and
equal as to proprietorship when il
their respective homes, but neither ha!
theright to enter the doors of the othel
, without that others invitation or con
sent. Social equality involves sacred
right of choice. This right of choice
is not less precious to the humble anG
poor than the high and rich. As {
colored man / ask only such protec
ton by the law as is freely granted Il
the people of all other colors. I ash
7 that my color shall no longer be treat
t ed as e crime, aud that the manhood
ofmy race may no longer be insulted
by the denial of rights which are free
: ly accorded to every other race and ma
tionality. Task that loyal men wht
: assisted in saving the country shall no
be denied civil rights in Difference Il
, the malign sentiments of defeated reb
els and traitors,
. WHO SOUGHT TO DESTROY THE COUNTRY
) To those who pretend to think mt
Indifferent or inactive in regard to tht
, civil rights bill have only to say tina,
, have written and spoken as much In
; its favor as themselves. A hundred
towns and cities OF this country Cal
: bear witness to the truth Of thi
assertion, / have no disposition
to question the efficiency o
those who havo merely hung
, about the Capitol and the committee.
rooms of Congress. They have doubt
less done we'll within their sphere, and
l thank them for all they have done
but when they turn upon me and
charge me as failing in my duty they
display neither modesty, charity, mol
justice. FREDERICK DOUGLASS.
q Z A rather interesting story 10 told II
8 connection with the election of And.
{ johnson TO the Senate, q fortnight age
: Two members ofthe Legislature, from
: neighboriDg counties, went hom
8 to spend the Sabbath in the bosom O
their respective families, returning Il
i the Capital on Monday. One was
i johnson man, the other opposite. Tn
0 conductor of the train was an "anti.
Q At station some thirty miles out, thu
: johnson man left tho train for few
I moments, to converse with frient
s whom he observed among the saun
q terers about the station. The anti
J. Johnsonite suggested to the conducto
to have the engine steal out of III
depot without letting off any Fremont
3 tory whistle. Done-and the John
t son man found himself left behind tn
0 train, and Nashville thirty miles away
: But he was not disposed to give it III
9 so. He went to the nearest liver,
!! stable, and explained the situation
! Fortunately the livery man was
9 johnson man, and gave him the bes
!. horse in the stable, with orders to rid
t him to the death, if need be. Mean
8 while he telegraphed to Andy to for
. ward relays OF horses to meet him OF
r the route-which was done; and tn
horseman entered Nashville but littl'
D behind the train. The railroad maj
: communicated the story of the sharl
:, game he had played to bevy of hi
anti-Johnson colleagues; and then So
, down, happy, to await the roll-call fo
! Senator. The further down the alpha
!, bet the call progressed, the broader
! the smile that lit up his mild but ex
9 pressive lectures. Presently the nam,
! of the left legislator was reached
johnson !" was the clear respons,
from man just hurriedly entering
the door-and the other fellow never
could be induced to tell the gentlemen
: sitting neer him what he had beer
/ 1op1 nh ~ line he