National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-03-11
civil RIGHTS,

One of the clearest rights every person
has is to be civil. Civility costs nothing,
and very often the lack of it merits punish.
ment Civility has neither sex, race nor
color 1t is something controlled alone by
human instincts of what is right and proper.
It never was, and never will be, regulated
by law. A man builds himself house,
and it becomes his castle. 1t is for the
owner to determine who shall be admitted
to its hospitality. In a certain sense hotels
are public castles ;Tsome are for the rich,
some for the middle classes, and some for
the Door. A man with an income of three
dollars per diem would not think of engag-
ing rooms and board in first-class hotel at
five dollars. A public convenience is worth
enjoy it or not depends upon the length Of
his purse. Seats in theatre are graduated
as to price. If gentleman wishes the
highest priced ones, and has the money to
pay for them, he can get them. 1t is a
matter which he will determine for him
self When narrowed down to a point,
little or no prejudice will be found to exist
against color. A white man cannot secure
accommodations at hotel unless he has the
money to pay for them, nor can a black
man. The civil rights bill cannot alter the
laws of mine and thine, nor can it change
the governing motives of all mankind in
the matter Of spending money, and, above
all, it cannot change any of the forms, laws
and ceremonies of that civility which has
governed the intercourse of gentlemen from
time immemorial
No law can be framed by the Legislature
of any State for the purpose of evading the
provisions of the bill without infringing
upon the rights OF the general public.
Managers of theatres and hotel-keepers are
under certain obligations to the commu-
nifty, and all experience goes to show that
it is unwise to remove these obligations or
to weaken their force. Judging from the
alarm expressed by some of the misguided
fanatics of the Democracy, one would
imagine that the colored population of the
South was about to move in the Arlington,
the Carrollton, the Continental, the Fifth
Avenue, the Parker House and all the
first class hotels of the country. But COM
mon sense says that the registers of those
hotels for the coming year will not disclose
any more colored arrivals than they do in
the past The most of these hotels have
accommodated one or more of colorel
guests, but they were what is ordinarily
known as gentlemen-that is, if education,
personal cleanliness, integrity and wealth
have anything TO do with making a gentle
man. We do not wish to see the obliga-
lions now resting upon hOtel-keepers and
proprietors of theatres removed. 1t would
be infinitely more agreeable to ride in a
railroad car with a negro than to have a
law in existence relieving a common car
rier from the performance of his present
duties But, as we said at first, civil rights
are natural rights, and the exercise of
them will be adjusted by that natural
law which governs the social and
financial intercourse of mankind. The
lines dividing the different strata
of society have not been altered
since the creation of man, and they are not
to be now. As time rolls on, carrying with
it the increasing elevation and refinement of
the colored race, here and there members
of it will step out and command attention
for ability in some one of the numerous
walks of life, and this will insure them a
position in society for which they are fitted.
They are already in the Congress of the
United States they are in the army and the
navy; they are holding presidencies and
p1ofessorships in colleges; they are occupy
ing responsible positions in the great legal
boards of cities, and they are capable men,
bers of the professions of law, medicine and
theology. As a race they have effected
marvellous changes in their favor during
the last decade, and in the future they will
continue to rise, and the rich and wise and
powerful among them will hold equal
place with the same class of the white race.
This Government isalone for the expansion
Of liberty and all the rich blessings that
follow from its existence, and any man
liable to be called upon in defence of its
flag is entitled to all the privileges it has to
bestow.