Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1883-10-25
THE CIVIL RIGHTS DECISION.
Fred Douglass Gives His Reflection on
the Subject.

I
fishes interviews with Fredericl
Douglass, Mr.. John M. Langstol
and Prof. Richard =. Greener Oh
| the civil rights decision. In reply
| to what he thought Of the decision
Mr.. Douglass said:
cit is rather disheartening, and |
regard it as step backward. JUS
tice Harlan takes the ground that
The intention of the fourteenth and
fifteenth amendment was to pro-
hibit any discrimination in civil
rights on account of race, previous
condition, &c. | do not think it
would be consistent for me to say
anything now, although the prompt
ing is strong. The moral effect of
the decision will certainly be mis-
cheyous. The country was going
along smoothly, and the uniication
of the people was promised. :, At the
close Of the war, and in view Of the
services rendered by colored citizens,
there was disposition ON the part
Of the loyal people of the country
to concede to them complete citis
zenship and equal civil rights in the
use of all public conveyances aud
institutions, and [ regard the decis-
ion, as far | understand it, as a part
of the general reaction naturally
following the increased friendship
between the North and South,
which comes Of the dying out Of the
old controversy on the subject of
slavery. Nearly all the concessions
that the colored people have res
ceived have been the result of the
antagonism of the two sections, and
as that antagonisn yanishes have
expected a partial return Of tie old
ideas and usuages which preceded
the war. Ten years ago | told the
colored people that as they had
gained everything from the enmits
growing out Of the attempted disso-
luton of the Union between the
people of the South and those Of the
| North, it behooved them to inquire
what they were likely to lose by the
friendship Of the two sections. The
decision, take it, is in the direction
and interest Of the old Calhoun doe
trine of State ghts as against Fed
eral authority. do not, however.
despair of the ultimate return of the
liberal spirit toward the colored
people which prevailed Immediately
after the war. l think the decision
in this case has resulted largely
from confounding social with civil
rights-things which are entil ely
distinct. There is no such thing as
social equality resulting from living
in the same city with other people
walking on the same street with
other people, riding on the same
car, buying goods at the same store
or being fed and sheltered at the
same hotel. Men may be in all
these positions in civil relations, and
yet socially be rs wide apart as the
poles OF the moral universe.
whether so intended or not, the
decision of the court seems to be {
concession to a preiudice which be-
longs to an extinct institution, and
places American people and govern
ment far in the rear Of the CIVILIZED
nations Of Europe and Of America
j for nowhere in Europe, and nowhere
outside of the United States, can any
man be excluded from hotel OF
steamboat cabin, or any place OF
amusement or Instruction, simply
on account of his color or race
Eyen in Brazil the only distinction
between men arises from the fact
that one is slaye and the other a
a freeman. A colored freeman has
everywhere the same rights in that
country as white freeman. The
same condition exists in Mexico
Canada and other countries. 1t is
one of the marked contradictions
and Inconsistencies and atsurdities
of this prejudice that, while it is not
offended at the presence of Il coiored
man anywhere as servant or 4
slaye, it is ever enraged at the
presence of colored man as Il gen
tleman as an equal citizen. [ haye
said thst do not despair on account
this decision. 1t is contrary to the
Declaration Of independence, con-
trary to the spirit of christianity
contrary to the spirit of the age,
and, as think, in violation of the
fourteenth and fifteenth amend
ments, and tends directly to make
the colored people of the country an
aggrieved class, ahd to weakening
that spirit Of patiotism which the
nation may need for its protection
in some perilous hour of need
How The Brooklyn Bridge Pays Out
The receipts of the Brooklyn
| bridge during the nineteen weeks
| since it opening to trayel have heen
$69, 1888, and the expenditures $751;
41S. The average revenue FROM
foot passengers and vehicles for the
| nineteen weeks ending October 4,
was trihe less than $500 daily:
that from the cars for the seven
day that they have been in use was
1862. This shows daily passing
of II, $40 people, while there have
been, on the average, 26,000 per-
sons daily crossing on foot. Con
sideriug the vexatious uncertainties
in the cars, the New York Times
regards this as a considerable show
ing.
f,y,3Id,,o,. f., Hxt,;&