Daily globe., 1883-10-29
CD5IMENTS.

CDMMENTS.
Passing Matters and Ihings-Zhe l'rohib5-
ton 0aestion-?he Cic1 Rights Decision
--T7te Disgra cefut Conduct of the Orange
men in Ireland.
Mr.. Editor: AS this great world of ours
moves forward upon its onward, would that
We might add upward course, we scarcely
find time to do more than note as they pass
in review before US, the matters of interest
that transpire in our midst and too often
we but read the surface of things, and are
consequently led to form psuerfciaI, and
perhaps at times even unjust, or at least
untrue, judgments Of passing events. Wien
We add to this the we'll known fact of t5e
wonderful prejudice, we may be enabled
to account at least partially for the won
derfui skill displayed by correspondent
in the GLOBE OF the past week in inter
preting in favor of prohibitory legislation
the letters of the governor OF Maine, which
he quotes for the benoGt of your readers,
ana the consolation OF the advocates of
prohibition, as the grand pgua-
cea for all imaginable ills of this miser2-
BILE life. In the letter in question, yoar
correspondent quotes the said governor -
proving the complete success OF prohi5i-
tory laws in preventing the sale and use Of
intoxicating liqnors, by ths statement Of
the very encouraging fact that liquor can
be obtained with very little difficulty in
only some twenty of the larger cities and
towns Of the state, besides humber OF
smaller towns and villages. This is GER
tainly encouraging news TO those who hive
toiled and labored for the passing of pro
hibition laws, under the impression that
the sale OF intoxicating liquors would oy
this means be at least reduced within
very circumscribed limits; and we confess
| that we would scarcely object to the move
ment here, if really it amounts practically
to no more than the governor Of Maine
claims for it 10 that state. But we fail to
see wherein it proves prohibition to be a
sure preventive Of the general sale OF Eq-
uor.
One of the passing events alluded to
above is the recent decision of the supreme
court of these United States with regard to
the legality OF the civil rights bill; a deci-
sion well worthy of attention of the read
ers of the GLOBE, bat which should not be
commented upon without such study, lest
We again fall into the error of the Prohi-
! bition man, and draw conclusions scarcely
in accord with the spirit and teaching OF
the decision itself.
As an illustration of the grave injustice
that may be so easily done to judge by
hasty criticism, We may recall the
we'll known case of the late Chief Justice
Taney, whose defense in connection with
the celebrated Dred-Scott decision we are
glad to see has been again taken up IN a
recent number Of the Cesatl,rg Magaa l.e
by couple of correspond
ents. Those who have given themselves
the trouble OF examining That decision,
have seen at once the absur6ity, not to sey
gross injustice done to Mr.. TaneT by rep
resenting him az laying DOM the doctrine
that the negro had 10 rights which TIC
white man was bound 10 respect. Els rec
:isHde as & judge end his keen realization
o. the binding nature Of his oath OF office,
obliged him 20 state that which was f. ct
in The practical dealings of our ancestors
with tie unfortunate negro, however that
teaching might humiliate him as man
and IN American citizen; and, to use the
words of our mutual friend Of the North
q0estern Chronicle, 'we challenge contra
diction" to the statement that both rs a
man and as a citizen Chief Justice Taney
always proved himself an unswefvinE and
q consistent friend and benefaciOr CT the
colored man. He did SO by reIaasing
all his own slaves of his own
free will; by providing for the wants Of
many Of them after that liberation; and
~ = 81, ul rd ~,
private life, and his many expressions OF
sympathy with them in their negle cted
coudition, and defense of their rights in
his conversation with others. Whai ever
of wrong there may have been in the Dred
Scott decision must be laid to the charge
OF the laws of the land, and not to the &C.
count of the conscientious interpreter Of
those laws. Never wGs this country served
by more trustworthy official, or our So
preme bench honored by more honora-
BILE or conscientious supreme justice.
Speaking of prejudice might very east
ly lead Us across the vastly deep to the
beautiful but oesolate Emerald Isle where
the wondrous power of that passion vas
never perhaps more forcibiy illustrated
than by the disgraceful antics of the Or
angemep of that unhappy land, in connea-
tion with the crusade now being couGact-
ed in Ulster by the leeders OF the National
league. Said leaders go into that province
upon whas appears to US in this coantry o
very commonplace mission, and one Of
every day occurrence here, viz: TO meet
their admirers in convention assembled,
and discuss the political topics of the day,
and carry on their campaign in prepara-
tiop for ths aDuroachinp election Very
good, you will say, what of that? Very
good, say we also; but very diff
ferently do the Orangemen look upon the
matter. They are shrewd enough to re-
alize that their existence depends upon
their ability to blind their dupes to the
present state of affairs in the old sod, and
keep up a system Of terrorism such as
would not be tolerated in this country for
moment. They therefore have recourse
to tactics we'll worthy OF such cause, and
calling together the roughs and hoodlums
of the surrounding towns, they go to the
place of the league meeting that has been