Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1875-03-03
FRED. DOUGLASS ON THE CIVIL
RIGHTS RILL.


FRED. DOUGLASS is not excelled for
ability by any colored citizen of the
U. 8. He is q perfect gentleman, the
soul Of honor, totally devoid of rash
communicate ideas, but calm aud just
in all his noble life work. He recent
ly addressed the public upon the Civil
Rights bill through the columns of
the Washington Chronicle, in the fol-
lowing mastery letter, which is
worthy of the candid attention of
every citizen of the country:
TO the Editor Of the Washington
Chronicle:
SIR: You have already allowed me
liberal space in your columns to speak
in the interest of my people, for which
/ thank you sincerely. You will now
increase my debt and my sense of OBJ
legation by allowing me space for a
few words more, especially with ref
eroncc to the pending civil rights bill.
While regard the Senate bill as in
comparably better than the one passed
by the House, it does seem to me of
the utmost importance that one or. the
other of these bills should be immedi-
ately passed. There are urgent rea.
sons for this, both in the hard lot Of
the colored people in the South, and
in the necessities of tho Republican
party itself. fthat bill is passed and
becomes the law of the land, the coun.
try will have Its doubts removed as to
the vitality and soundness of the Re.
publican party. 1t will show that its
leaders are. still in earnest; that they
still believe in the great principle Of
freedom and equality asserted in the
Declaration of Independence, and re
asserted in the amended Constitution
of the country, and that, sink or swim
fall or flourish, they mean to stand BY
that principle, and by every just infer
erence from it,
AT THIS MOMENT OF GLOOM,
when the old disloyal element of tn,
country seems rising steadily to pow
or, and all reactionary elements ar
rampant, and
AAVol AIMS FhVM Vth NANAS
are grinning in the faces, and squeez
| ing the hands Of the men who ono
hated, and now only dispise them, tn
passing of this bill would be such
manifestation Of courage and fidelit.
as would greatly rebound to the cred
it of the Republican party, and he'll
to check the lawless spirit of th
South. My people are killed there be
cause they are supposed to have bee
or about to be abandoned by the Re
publican party. We need the meas
ure, not 90 much for its literal execu
ton, as for it's moral effect.
WE WANT 1T BECAUSE IT is RIGHT,
aud because now that it has been dc
bated for years, ii it shall be defeate
our condition as a class will be ren
dered worse than it would have bee
had no attempt been made to pass i
counsel nothing however, inconsist
ent with the success Of the Republi
can party, in urging this bill but / sc
success in the line Of its principles
and nowhere else. 1t has nothing t
gain by deviation or leaning towar
reaction. That position has alread
been conspicously and permanent
taken by party from which it cannc
be wrested. Our strength is in keel
ing on our own ground. Any concel
sion to tho prejudices born of SLAYER
Is folly and weakness of the wori
kind.
| 1t exposes tho party, with som
show Of truth, to one Of tho most d.
structive charges which can b
brought against it, and that is insir
certify, cowardice and hypocris,
The party can far better take the cd
UNI Of passing the bill than be lashe
aud despised for its lack of manlines
want OF courage in carrying OF
its convictions. In my judgment th
future success of tho Repu blican part
depends upon no three things NOR
than these: the civil rights bill, givin
President Grant all needful power
keep the peace Of the South. and sea
ing p. B. s. Pinchback in the Sena
upon his credentials. The colored pet
pie, and good many who are NJ
colored, begin to consider Mr.. Pinck
tack a prosecuted man. There is n
stain upon the loyalty of Pinchbacl
and he has the same right of recogn
ton by the Senate that Governor Ke
logg has. If the one il a de .facto GOV
ernor, the other il tho de facto Senator
While rebel generals,
-r.. VIII. .ias ~ wi. " akkfo t6e Americ.
Senate, and this loyal colored man
kept knocking for years at the doors,
makes us appear more generous to Ell
emies than just to friends more ami
Bile to the men who fight against ,
than to those who fight on our side.
The fundamental, perpetual, aud Wit
objection to the passing OF the Civ
Rights bill is it's supposed tendency
promote social equality between Il
white and colored people of this coul
try. This, If understand 1t, is VIII
gives such serious trouble to Senator
Salisbury, Bayard, Gordon, Merrimo
and others from the late slave State
IN REPLYING TO THESE GENTLEMEN
II have no cowardly disclaimer
against social equality to make, for
l know what socisl equality IL l hay
rather q favorable opinion of it. Ha'
ing associated pretty freely with viii
persons, both at homo and abroad,
have acquired taste for II, and woul
be the last to shrink from any of i
consequences. But what do these gel
tlemen mean by social equality? Tn
is the question. When we know tn
VIC can tell whether this bill fayol
what they SO earnestly deprecate {
not.
| Under the old slave system, wit
which these gentlemen are well q
quainted, and under which 1 was Dor
and, as we used to say, "fotched up
we had great deal Of "society" wit
white people, but not the least bit {
Equality" 1t was one.sidcd "s'
ciety." Voluntary ON one side an
involuntary on the other. There W.
nothing mutual about 1t. Ifmy oil
master at any time wanted my comps
ny, whether to ride, to walk, or s
down with him, he had not to addrel
me q respectful and polite invitatio
to do so. He had but to command
my part was to obey. Good as his 81
ciety was
IOFTEN FOUND IT GREAT BORE,
and would have gladly separated my
self from it, but tho old man woul
insist upon my staying with him.