, 1875-02-07

THE CIVIIcRIGHTs BILL,

1t may pc assumed now That there Will bo
On agreement between both Houses OF Con-
gress On the Civil-Rights measure, though
there is some doubt expressed as to the
Sehate's action, and that, as finally passed, it
will commend itself to the President for his
approval. The bill passed by the House on
were to be made to the original conception
(of which the mixed-school system at the
South was the most dangerously, and the
measure is now thoroughly in keeping with
the spirit Of the Last National Democratic
platform, which guarantees the "equaity of
all men before the law, and holds that it is
the duty Of the Government, in its dealings
act justice to all, OF whatever nationality, race,
color, or persuasion, religious or political"
Indeed, this section Of the Democratic plat
form has been very appropriately incorporat-
. ed in the preamble of the bill, and we are
surprised that the Democrats in the House
could SO far stu1hfy themselves as to vote
against it, after being committed to the Ian
guage quoted above. There is nothing in the
House bill which is not intended to put into
practice the sentiment thus uttered by the
Democrats two years ago. The bill is intend
ed to ASSURE to the colored people of the
South certain civil rights to which they are
entitled under their present political status,
according to their individual conduct and per-
sonal condition ; and probably the only OBJ
lection that remains to it is the estab-
ishment Of q precedent for 1egis-
lnting on what some call " social relations "
that may be abused in the future. We hope,
however, that the bill may become law by
the vote of the Senate, and that it will secure
to the colored race Of the South the treatment
which they deserve at the hands Of the whites.
But it may be questioned whether it will not
be disappointment in its operations to the
colorod people themselves.
In considering the likelihood Of this, we
are impelled to return to the circular issued
few days since by such representative colored
men as FREDERICK DOUGLASS, Prof. LANGsrox,
and Mr. PNoHBAcK, in which they proclaimed
IN ultimatum-' They said, in effect, that they
must hive the Civl-Rights bill, or they would
be forced to the alternative Of either Joining
the Democratic party or adopting policy Of
retaliation and revenge. We shall rejoice if
the final adoption Of the measure shall relieve
them from such an alternative. The policy
Of retaliation and revenge would be SIM
ply suicidal If pursued with the bitterness
which the words indicate, it might result in
the determination Of the whole negro race.
At all events, it's Inauguration by them would
plunge the colored people Of the South into
desolation and desperation. They could not
hope to cope with the whites, who far out
number them, in "war Of races" As the
weaker race, the more ignorant, the poorer,
the less accustomed to deadly weapons, they
would suffer tenfold the injury they could |
possibly Be able to inaict on their opponents.
Even during the War Of the Rebellion, when
the great bulk Of the white males of the |
South were at the front, the negroes were
unable to organize at home any aid for the |
Union cause and their own until the Union |
armies reached them. Since the War, when
ever the negroes and whites have, come in |
open conflict, the killed and wounded among
the blacks have been forty to one among the |
whites. In declared "war Of races" and |
without any Intervention on the part Of the |
North, it would be almost as easy for |
the Southern whites to exterminate the |
Southern blac}a2 as it would be for the |
men Of the North to exterminats their women |
and children, il they set ont to do it. It is
sup1ame folly for the negroes to talk Of re-
vengo and retaliation. They might join the !
Dataocrst;s partF, u b TIE. a1tfl this would |