Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-04-24
HAVE WHITE CITIZENS ANY RIG hts,

H~NSN~NS~
American people in this year of grace-the
presentation OF petition to Congress from
white citizens of the United States, and of
the State OF Illinois, praying that they may
be granted equal rights and equal protection
by the laws with their colored fellow-citi-
zens. Though it may seem homogeneous, it
is nevertheless q fact, that the negro is far
better protected in his rights than are the
white men, and those who for years labored
to secure the privileges of citizenship for the
ex-slaves, and to protect them in the exercise
of those privileges, now find themselves
forced to appeal to Congress for protection
against unjust discrimination in favor Of the
blacks.
Some weeks ago the GLOBE called atten-
ton to the fact that the United States circuit
court for the northern district of Illinois had
delivered decision in the case of about q
score of citizens of Eigin against their en-
ployer, Mr.. Fl. L. Borden, holding that the
fifteenth amendment to the constitution of
the United States applied only to colored
men, and that white citizens could claim no
relief under its provisions, or under the
provisions Of the passed in con-
conformity with the amendment
The employer insisted that his en-
ployes should vote for the candidates of mis-
choice, and threatened them with dismissal
in case of refusal. They were astonished at
learning from the federal court that the laws
passed by Congress to protect citizens in
their rights applied to colored men only,
and that there was no recourse for white
men, and no punishment for those who at
tempted to intimidate them. No punish
ment was therefore visited upon the en-
ployer who dictated the ticket to be voted by
his employees. Not even reproof was ut
tered, but the plaintiffs were admonished to
have more sense than to presume TO have
rights equal to the Colored people OF. the
Union.
Probably 10 such extraordinary decision
has ever been rendered in a civilized coun-
try. Yet it seems to be based upon liberal
Interpretation of the constitutional provis-
ions and the laws made in conformity to it,
No successful appeal can be had except to
the source of all power in this country, the
Congress of the United States, and such ap-
peal has been taken. It is not, perhaps, too
much to ask of the government of the United
States that the white population of the coun-
try be placed upon an equality with the
colored people as to their political rights.
This the disfranchised citizens of Elgin have
asked through petition to Congress. The
petition recites:
Your petitioners are of the opinion that the
fifteenth amendment was adopted for the pur-
pose of putting all citizens of the United States
upon political equality, and of guaranteeing
to all the equal protection of its laws, and that
under said amendment laboring white man
is, and ought to be entitled to the same pro-
lection in the United States COURTS as an Afri-
can, Monaghan, mulatto, quadroon, or other
colored person of whatever descent or race.
But as both the circuit and district courts of
the United States for the northern district of
Illinois are of the opinion that the United States
courts have no jurisdiction under said section
5,507 in cases where white tailoring men have
been threatened or intimidated by their en-
ployers, we would therefore respectfully petit
ton that said section 5,507 of the revised
statutes be so amended as to place white labor
ing men on an equality in the United States
courts with their now more favored colored fell
low citizens, as we believe that the laws of
Congress should be the same for the white as
for the colored men, and that all persons,
whether colored or white, should stand equally
before the laws of Congress-, as well as the laws
of the States; and that no discrimination
should be made against white laboring men by
the United States courts because of the race.
There seems to be no question but the
white citizens of the United States have
grievance. Under the decision referred to,
they are relegated to condition approach
ing serfdom, and have no redress in the
courts or under the laws of the land. The
only class of people protected by those laws
are the men who were lately slaves of the
whites, and who are in minority of one
to ten of the entire population. 1t would
not be unbecoming in Congress to pass such
laws as may be necessary to assure white
men of protection against intimidation at
the polls. They are entitled to some con-
sideration at the hands of the American
Congress, and should have it.
The Cincinnati council has refused to