Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-11-02
EQUAL RIGHTS.
A Co!ored Mans Opinion OF ths
Recent Decision
OF the Supreme Court Intelligent Colorsd
People Do Not Condemn It-Geo. 90
HolIingsrs Opinions.

In its VARIED population, Wheeling mum.
bers many intelligent colored men, men
who have acquired very tolerab!e educa-
tions and who do their own thinking.
These are the men who have been guiding
opinion on the recent Civil Rights bill de-
cision and who desired a meeting Of their
race to discuss and explain that decision.
The REGISTER contained the exclusive ac-
count of the meeting on Monday night and
yesterday one of its reporters had con-
versation with Rev. George W. Hollinger
on the subject. George is one Of the
foremost colored men in town and his
opinions have great weight with his
the question Of civil rights, in general, and
the recent decision in particular. The
proposed meeting, he says, is not for the
purpose of expressing indignation, as was
currently reported, but was for explains
ton and discussion. His position was in
correctly stated. He believes the decision
declaring the bill unconstitutional was cor,
rect ana he is glad Of it, feeling that good
citizenship and intelligence, and not legis-
colored race may claim equality.
The convention of colored men at Louis.
Vile declared against the civil rights bill, i"
he said. Il was member OF the commit.
tee ON resolutions, which prepared the ex.
pressed sentiment of the convention, and
lie civil rights bill was declared dead
letter"
Are your view shared by the co!ored
people generally?
"By the intelligent among them, yes.
We are perfectly content with the law as it
stands. At present We ale placed before
the law OH exactly the same footing 80 the
white race, and there is where We should
Re. Ii is clear question Of deserts. No
law can force an ignorant colored man TO
an equality with an intelligent white, and
10 power can grind down the mau, colored
or White, who has the ability aud inte!li
gence to rise. The colored race doesn't
need and doesn't want the protection OF
special law. Time and patience alone can
remove prejudice, and to them 1t must be
left
The idea prevalent among the intelligent
colored people is that the civil rights bill
forced them into one class, and that the
lowest that it branded them as inferior
ard then compelled whites to receive them
as EQUALS. Now that II has been declared
unci institutional the brand has been eifaced
and deserving people may rise on their
erits. Intelligence and wealth, :hey say,
are the key to the situation, and these,
once acquired, will bring them in contact
with the world and its leading fac
tors and OF them demand the re.
srect that cannot be withheld. Equal
rights will only come on their merits and
will regulate themselves. 1t is believed,
then, that the decision will not initiate
egainst the interests Of the colored people,
bnt will, on the other hand, work out good.
1hs committee, appointed on Monday
night, has not yet had a satisfactory meet
ing, but when it finds suitable hail, the
amendment will be duly made. |; is the
intention to throw open the doors and let
ell who wish be present. Some OF the ora
tors may be rough diamonds, but they
express themselves clearly and emphtti.
cally, if not with elegant diction and the
talking will be we'll worth listening TO.