Morning journal and courier., 1883-10-18
Thursday. October IS, 1888.
SOME INTERPRETING oPIoIovs

It IS interesting to see how some of the
 most prominent colored men in the country regard the decision against the constitution aiity of the Civil Rights bill.
 Hon. Frederick Douglass thinks issis step
 backward, and that it's moral effect will be
 mischievous. Mir. Douglass says the 6ecis- ion seems to be concession to a prejudice
 which belongs to an extinct civilization, and places the American people and government far in the rear of the civilized nations of Europe and America, for nowhere In Europe, and nowhere outside of the United States, can any man be excluded from 6 hotel or steamboat cabin, or place of amusement or instruction, simply on account of his color or race. Even in Brazil the only distinction between men arises from the fact that one is a slave and the other a freeman. colored freeman has everywhere the same rights in that country as white freeman. The same condition exists in Mexico, Canada and other countries. It is one of the marked contra dictions and inconsistencies and absurdities that, while it Is not offended at the presence of 8 colored man anywhere as servant or slave, it is ever enrsgsd at the presence of 8 Colored man as gentleman and as an equal citizen.
 Hon. John M. Laneston, United States minister to Hayti, who helped prepare the law which has been nullifed by the decision, cannot see the wisdom of the court in mak- ing such decision. He says Mr. Summer had been ready to sing Harvest Home, be-. neving that everything necessary to the pro. tection of the negro in his newly acquired rights had been accomplished. But show ed him cart loads of law that were hostile to us. The result was the Civil Rights law. While this law gave to the oolored people no rights that they did not possess before it's passage, it was that direct legislation neces- sary to carry into effect the Fourteenth amendment, and fully authorized by the fifth section of that article, which declares ssCon- gress shall have power to enforce by sppro- priate legislation the provisions of this arti- cle" These provisions make us citizens of the United States, and prohibit the States from abridging our privileges or immunities, or denying to us the equal protection of the laws. Nov there are two ways in which a State can abridge the rights of it's citizens by direct legislation, which places in the hands of railroad companies. hotel keepers, etc, the power to deny us those privileges and immunities that are enjoyed by the white race, or by judicial decisions which are in effect laws to accomplish the same results It was to prevent just such discrimination that the Civil Rights bill was drawn and pushed until it became law. In ratifyinR kba kkn that Congress should provide the means to make the article effective, and the act of March l, 1875, was simply the exercise of that power by Congress- Nothing more nothing less.
 Professor Richard T. Greener, who has always showed good sense in talking about the rights and wrongs of his race, says: The duty of the colored race is now 6 positive one. In the light of this decision every col to demand the fullest protection of the law, both as man and as an American citizen. The colored people of this country will never forget that the one justice of the Supreme court who stood up and dissented on human itarian and legal grounds against this unjust decision came from Q southern State, and is . native of Kentucky. The protest Of the colored race against this decision will proba- ply not amount to much, but the Auglo- Saxon race respects pluck, and the civiliza- tion of the age cannot be turned backward even by the Supreme court of the United States.
 It is natural that these gentlemen and those for whom they speak should feel that the de- cision is an sDjust and disheartening one. But it is made and must stand. It may fairly be questioned whether the Civil Rights act gave the negroes as a class any privileges they would not have got without it. and it is also very doubtful that any amount of law would much improve their condition. On tbe other hand it is not probable. now that the Civil Rights aot has been nallifed, that they will be discriminated against any more than they have been. If there ia nobody else to look after their welfare the politicians who want their votes will do it. And they arc constantly getting better able to take care Of themselves. 3 aa