Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-10-16
THE CIVIL. RIGHTS DECISION.
What is said About II.

THE LAW IN THIS DISTRICT USCHANJED.
The decision Of the supreme Court of the United
States yesterday that the civil rights act OF ls. is
unconstitutional, Is matter of national interest.
and has caused great deal OF talk among the
members of the bar and citizens here. Our courts
were recently occupied in trying charge brought
under this law against James w. Bell. a reStaura-
attracted considerable interest here and abroad.
WHAT DISTRICT ATTORNEY CoRKHIIL SAYS
District Attorney Corkhill said to a reporter of
THE STAR that the decision does not affect the Dis
trlct. and the prosecutions will go on as usual.
..The Bell case. he continued. ''is now pending in
the supreme Court OF the District, and will be
prosecuted without regard to this decision. The
court decided that the law was not applicable 10
lative power. But the District of Columbia aud the
territories have not. and Congress has that power
here, therefore the law is in force here"
''DO you think the decision will have any moral
effect here upon these cases?" asked the reporter.
81 don't Think said the district attorney, "the
decision will have any effect in this District at all
This District has been the experimental field for
all these questions and the cOlOred people are al
lowed 10 ride on the street cars and go to the thea
ence in the treatment accorded to white and col
Ored in this District at ALL The better class of col
ored people do not desire to make themselves OBJ.
the the churches " and ~ Other se' places. Sn Without Ut
reference to color: In my experience of four years
In the District there have been very few complaints
and those complaints have as a rule from very
common people. I never had complaint from a
theater;frOm respectable hotel or from first class
restaurant The uniform desire OF the citizens Of
Washington has been to accept the situation and
treat the colored people as entitled to the same
rights as white people COlOred men serve Oh iu-
res where they decide contested questions between
white people and between white and black; they
serve on the grand jury; they are members of the
bar. Practically no attention is paid to color. In
the four years have had but two or three COM
plants, and those complaints, In my own Judgment
gance on the part OF cOlOred men, imaginary
Sights. Ihave had one Or two cases against steam
boats, anG In every case am convinced that the
man making the complaint went for the purpose OF
making a case"
REGISTER BRUCE DISCOURAGED.
Register Bruce, who has just returned from the
Ohio campaign, was asked by a STAR reporter for
his opinion OF the civil rights decisions OF the SUI
preme Court. "It is a most unfortunate decisOn,r
was his reply, "and grieves me and thousands Of
Others very much. ! think its effect will be to
carry the country backwards fifteen years at least
1t does not reflect the sentiments of the people as
court decision ought to do, and it Is In my opinion
revival of Calhouns theory of state rights"
.'What will be its effect upon the colored racer"
''rhat l would not attempt to predict" was the
reply; reply but l do say that nothing has occurred
since the war to embarrass and discourage them so
mucn as the decision or yesterday"
MR.. JOHN +. COOK SAYS
he does not regard this decision in the light
as MI. r..DouglaSs-that it is step backward in the
progress of civilization. He does not think the
public sentiment any more antagonistic to the col
ored people than when the law was passed; on the
contrary, he thinks 1t has made progress. Nor does
he think the decision will In any manner be an In
jury to the cOored race, except, perhaps in locali
ties where ignorance prevails The standing NOR
ally and socially OF cOlOred men and women is to
be measured by their desire for education and men,
tai culture.
JUDGE SMELL SAYS THE DECISION WAS NOT A SUR
PRISE.
A representative of THE STAR asked Judpp Smell
at the Police Court, this morning, what would be
the result Of the decision In the District. ''That
decisiOn," answered the judge sis In the line of
great many decisions of the court and is not much
OF surprise to persons who have watched this law
since it was brought into contact with the courts
The decision don't affect the status OF the law in
this District and the territories
WHAT MR.. CAMPBELL CARRINGroN SAYS
Mr.. Campbell Darlington, the lawyer who de-
Tended Mr.. James W. Bell the restaurateur referred
to above, was seen by a STAR reporter. When
asked for his views of tne decision he replied The
first point that presents itself is this The supreme
the people OF our country entitled to that wise
decision. While, according to this decision, we are
bound by this law, the law is to all ntents and pur-
poses dead law here 1t Is a mockery upon law
and justice that the two hundred thousand citizens
OF the capital OF the nation should be denied the
same rights granted to the states and the decision
making this distinction being rendered In the said
District. Why, don't think you could get jury
In Gods land that would convict men under these
OF our District have settled all questions OF social
matters between themselves long ago. and, can
say, satisfactorily TO all parties concerned This
decision Will probably discourage men from coming
here from the states and raising this question in the
future"
VIEWS OF CoIoRED JoURNALIsT-THE THING TO BE
DONE ALL OVER AGAIN-ANOTHER CONSTITUTIONAL
AMENDMENT WANTED.
care the colored people going to do anything
about this civil rights decision?' asked STAR re-
porter Of Arthur ST. Clair Smith, the cclored Jour
naliSt.
''They are going to raise Tophet," said Mr..
.sWill they hold meet1ngs7"
eyes, said Mr.. Smith. ''We will have to do the
v d an beor SScl e IS @ tSa NAVE n TO St as IS
more In our favor now than before. but then we
have not the same interested strong leaders among
the whites as we had before-Sumner, Stevens,
Trumbull and Butler.'
"It will give chance for Butler to come to the
'YeS," said Mr.. Smith.
'Do you question the soundness of the decision?n
inquired THE STAR.
more intelligent colored men who understood the
law have always believed that it was not good
"How do you propose, then, to get new laws2 Do
you intend to secure laws In the states?"
'1hat would probably be the easiest way" said
Mr. Smith,, p but what we want is an amendment to
the Constitution. II the Thirteenth and Four
teenth amendments don't answer we want another.
The colored men, you see by recent events, are
independently anu D6llcVe CllilC the DaTTV
that wins their votes will be the party that will
guarantee them civil rights. 1t is going to be a
party question"
MEETING OF CoLoRED PEOPLE TO BE HELD NEXT
MONDAY NIGHT.
There was considerable feeling among the colored
men Of this city to-day over the decision of th6
court. A conference was held by number of them
to-day, and after consulting with Mr.. Frederick
Douglass it was decided to hold a meeting at Lin
coin Hall Monday night to express the views OF the
cOOred people OF the District OF Columbia and Of the
country in respect OF the recent decision Of the
Supreme Court on the civil rights bill. Mr.. Doug
lass In the conference advised that the meeting be
In no sense narrow or exclusive, that all be invited
names OF NJ. NJ. Holland, Prof. j. NJ. Gregory,
Prof. George W. Cooke and Louis H. Douglass
Among the speakers to be invited are Mr. Frederick
Douglass, Hon. A. G. Riddle Rev. DR.. Rankin. Col
r. g. IngersOll Mr.. Jen Chandler, Mr.. Shellabar-
ger, John F. Cook Rev. Dra Grimke and War1ng.
WHAT FRED. DOUGLASS SAID TO-DAY.
Mr. Douglass in speaking OF the civil rights deci.
sion to-day referred to putting the colored peo
pie again outside OF the law; placing them at the
mercy OF any white ruffian on steamboat or rail-
road, or restaurant, in a theater or other public
place who chose to Insult them
"What do the colored people propose to do?" asked
the reporter.
81 have been invited to speak Monday night"
said Mr.. Douglass, "and will reserve what have
to say for Monday night, If the meeting is held.
You see he observed, 'that there Is good deal of
excitement about It,"
Mr.. Douglass remarked that he had heard that