Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1883-12-18

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IL wasa Democrat--a Democra, nj,
hau Voied many times in conventio
lor Jefferson Davis as his choice "a
president OF the United States Ter
benjamin +. lintler.
Possessed win this knowledge mn.
imoued with a conviction that by th
cultivation of friendly political reia
tons with the Southern wbiIa mo,
The greatest good could be an,.nm
pllshed for the betterment of the con
ditlon OF our race, ] have always re
fused to join the Northern carpei-hag,
ger In his crusade against the conser.
vative white man OF the South botb
ms II member of the Louisiana legisla.
ture and AS private citizen since /
came to Texas.
Conceal it as we may, it is truth
al the same, that the oolored people--
lihose OF the North as well AZ those of
the South-are welded To the civil
rights bill not so much for the reason
that they fear their civil rights will be
abridged by reason of the law having
been nullified by the decision of the
supreme court, but it Is because of the
iact that they have cherished a vague
nope that this civil-ris hts bill would
some day become a stepping stone by
which they could reach social equality
with the whites.
And whatever opposition has been
manifested, IN the past, to this late
law, by the Southern white man, was
occasioned, | am satisfied, not on ac-
count of the fact that they did not
wish to yield to its requirements, as
heretofore interpreted, but because of
vague dread that ii might some day
open the door TO enforced social equal
ty with the negro.
My own opinion is, that in social
life every man and woman has the
inalienable right to choose whatever
company they prefer, provided 1t is
agreeable To all concerned. But the
white or the colored man who would,
in social life, undertake to intrudc
himself into circles where he is not
welcome, is unworthy of any kind of
social recognition.
This is the unwritten law of all
old in years as TO have
become sanctiied by time. But so
long as such law remains upon our
statute books rs gives the least war
rant to any. one TO ignore this I'M
written compact, just so long will
there be some friction between races ,us
well as classes.
But | believe now, that inasmuch AS
this decision of the supreme court, on
the subject of the civil rights bill, has
had the effect OF eliminating from our
political status the bug-bear of social
it is scarcely possible that
any other barreir should arise TO pre-
vent such a political determination be-
tween the Southern white and the
Southern black man as will work to
the advancement of the interests of
both, and for the welfare of our section
Of country.
In the discussion of this question
have not attempted any
dissection or analysis of the abstract
IDEAS that governed the court in arriv-
ng at the decision which has been rem
Tered. Ii is bootess now to either
hiss or applaud. The question being
ettled, IL ceases to be of any further
interest to us, except rs n lesson 10 In
truct us in the direction of our future
duty.
1t is regarded by me rs only another
nile-post indicating, as other national
vents have done, that | am sill on
he political road that all pilgrims of
ur race should follow--the road that |
,ads us to the political determination
With those among whom wewere born !
nd raised-those who comprehend |
ur necessities, our capacities and our
spirations.
But to those of our race who are still
Joined to their political IDOLS" who
ropose to leave this road to follow
very iOniS .fdtutIs of political doctrine
who can dream of no Utopia but the
ne fashioned for Us the Republicans
f the North, | will PROFOUND one
uestion: Why is ii that what you
ave been taught by Republicans 10
elieve was the very citadel of your
lost sacred rights, as n people, has
cen surrendered by u Republican SUI
RENE court-composed of nine mem
ers-with but one dissenting voice, |
nd that voice the only one represent
ne the much-abused South?
III. Carter, colored man of Nicks-
urg. Miss, addressed a eommunica-
ion short time age TO General Ben
amin +. Butler, asking for advice as
0 what would he the better course Tor
he colored people TO pursue at TINS
lncture of our political affairs.
III his reply Gen. Butler, among
Their things, said: Vote Tor the oest
nan, whose life and conduct you know
veil and who has shown thereby their
esire that equal justice and equal
tights shall come to all men under the
aw. If candidate for office, whom
,ou can trust, i. in favor of the ednca-
ion of your children, the equal taxa
ion of your property and the proteec-
ion of Your person 10y law, vote for
i'm. whatever he may be called polit,,