The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-01-30
CIVIL RIGHTS.

the modern democrat acts. As IL to show
the country what rights would be conceded
to the enfranchsed freedman, If so be the
republican party should be defeated, as if
to demonstrate that rules for the govern
ment of legislative bodies are not made TO
protect the rights of minority, but only |
for the purpose of enabling faction to OBJ
struct the due course OF legislation, the |
democratic members of the House of Re-
representatives. have been engaged day and
night in factious opposition to the civil
rights bill. In a government of the people,
where majorites rule, as If by divine right,
the democracy are endeavoring TO reverse
the rule and place all power In the hands
of minority. BY their "fillibustering"
course, they say, to the majority, in effect,
you shall transact no further business un-
less you yield to US. The contest thus de-
generates from dignity into absurdity and
the end depends, not on right and princi-
pie, but on the capacity for endurance.
Have the minority any right to so obstruct
legislation Physically and politically they
have. Morally they have not. They are
entitled to their own views of the civil
rights bill, but the responsibility for its
passage or defeat rests not with them. But
what is this civil rights bill, and what pos
sible objection can there be to it, save
prejudice alone? The bill, as it passed the
senate, simply provides that all citizens of
the United States shall be entitled to the
full and equal enjoyment of the "accom-
modatons, advantages, facilities, and privi-
| leges of inns, public conveyances on land
| or water, theatres, and other places of pub
| lie amusement and also of common schools
and public institutions of learning or bene-
violence supported in whole or in part, by
| general taxation and of cemeteries so sup
ported )" and that no citizen possessing
all other qualifications shall be disquali-
| fed for service as grand or petit juror on
account OF race, color or previous coAdi-
ton of scrvitude. That is all there is of 1t,
save only the penalties affixed for its viola
ton and provisions for its enforcement.
Nothing very bad aboutit is there? 1t is
nothing more or less than the same civil
rights which have always prevailed in Yer
mont. .Wehave never suffercdany very great
danger or difficulty therefrom, have we?
But it is not, even, proposed to go as far
as this. The proposed bill, when amended
as proposed, if we understand it Alright,
provides for separate schools for the whites
and colored. This concession is made, but
still democratic opposition continues. 1t
may have been right and polite, or it may
the freedmen citizens and confer the right
of suffrage upon them. Men may and do
differ as they have right to do, relative
to this, but it is too late to raise the ques-
ton now The colored men of the south
are and must continue citizens and voters,
and thew are entitled to the same civil
tights and privileges as the whites-no
more or no less. Both are free and equal
before the law, and their equality must be
secured to them, if needs be, by stringent
legislation. All the hue and Cry which has
been raised IN reference to ''socal equality
is the veriest nonsense, because no one pro.
poses to NEEDLE with this matter by law
and no legislation can affect it, because il
is beyond the power of law to regulate it.
Neither congress or state legislature has
the power to legislatc upon the subject, be
cause individuals, and individuals alone
must regulate their social relations. Civil
rights and social equality are as differen
as night is from day the former necessa
riY results from the changed condition o.
the south, while the latter remains, as it al
ways has been, matter of individual
choice We believe.that the people of th
country will never allow the scepter o
power to be placed in the hands of any pc
lltcal party who refuse to accept and &C
upon the necessary results of the war ant
they never should. When all men are SC
cured in their civi, rights, when the white
and blacks are treated alike, when each re
cognizes the civil and political equality o
), the other and when caste, OH account o
color or race shall have become unknown
| ~ Will NC tiiiiC cupuSu ~ taih boouI tHc iC
publican party having accomplished it
mission. Until then, the country has neet
= for it. 1t may suffer temporary defeat am
disaster, but it will never die. In som
: form or another. perchancc under new
t name and stripped of every weight it viii
n make its principles realities. and faction
n opposition, like that which disgraces con
gress will only give the party and its prin
4 ciples new lease of lite.