The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-03-02

.to o,s,;,pt,,nal amendments, the lmputation
&c h,d fa;tb would be justly cast upon the par
- r,hioh had the power to defend their right
o,,a fai,ad 70 exert it, l have indeed small
foitb in the efficacy of legislation to cure the
weak minded prejudices OF caste, which are the
fruits of ignorance and imperfect civilization.
They have prevailed in all ages. The heather
of Hndoostan prided themselves upon them,
and the pigmies of China incorporated them in
to their social laws. They weaken before the
enlightenment and breadth of thought which
come of education and will disappear when the
requisite standard of intelligence has been at
tanned. 1t is only day or two, since we had a
public instance of this childish prepossession in
respect of color displayed by foolish lad in
the Naval Academy at Annapolis, and encour-
aged by his still more foolish father. The
youth declined to fence with fellow academl-
clan, because he was of dark complexion. IL
barely possible he may have shrunk from tne
competition from pure misgivings OF MS own
skill. But at any rate he based his refusal Oh
the color of his classmate. He thus rendered
himself liable to expulsion, but the omcers OF
the academy gave him chance to consult MS
father. Mark the answer of this proud sire OF
q chiyalric son: "He was raised as SOUTH
ernor and not on social equality with negro,
and would not advise him to do what would
not do mysefp' Now l dare say the old man
and the young one both thought this was high
toned chivalry instead of any low toned snob-
berry, That is the way they were brought up
Very likely if a record could be made OF the
views of the white denizens of the wafer
street bagnos or the Baxter street gin shops
they would indicate very lively sympathy
with the sentiments of this callow parvenue.
And many people with far less excuse for such
narrow mindedne5s would doubtless coincide
with them. Nevertheless there is no logical
principle on which you can defend such beha-
yiour. Inside of the academy these young
men we're peers and there was due from each
to the other courtesy and respect. Ii beyond
it's walls the colored cadet saw fit to avoid his
white classmate or uice Uersd-so there was
nothing offensive in the manner of doing it
it was all very we'll. This is the rule pre-
scrbed by the laws of good breeding, and II
the juvenile fire eater who has just been
elected from the Naval Academy had studied
that code he would have saved himself the
modification of expulsion and the public ex-
posure of his rudeness.
This is to be sure very trivial affair, but as
an indication of the coaSse in which we are
drifting it is not without significance. Assum-
ing that the cadet is type of the young blood
of the South, and don't know why he shouldn't
be, it would appear that the new generation
will not be very much wiser on the question OF
color than the preceding one, and the same
ahout q aun and l1f6-
rior race which wrought such calamities on the
father ere to prove equally disastrous to the
we'll being of the children. The civil rights Dill,
under such circumstances, comes in as pub
lie educator. In every action arising under 1t,
there will be discussion in the courts as to the
duties. rights, immunities of these respec
tive races, and sounder opinions will be pro-
mulgated and find acceptance in reference TO
the obligations which real manhood imposes
upon each of them, in his intercourse with the
other.
Unless there is q substantial agreement
among the Democrats of the Senate to let the
force bill go through, do not see how there
will be chance of passing the appropriations.
If there is the customary talk against time
with which the minority have generally con-
tested political measures there will be a tight
enough fit in bringing the force bill to vote.
Which ever party creates the necessity for an
extra session, ought to be held responsible for
it. But each will try to throw that accounta'
biity on the other The Democrats profess an
entire willingness to expedite the adoption OF
every bill which has no political bearing. The
Republicans per contra very properly maintain
that thsv ara not iustified in leaving the SOUTH
ern question in its present unsettled condition
during nine months recess. They are right,
and it is pity they had not thought of it SOON
er and began earlier. As it is they have nc
option but to pass the force bill in any event
and the appropriations if they can.
YARMOUTH.