National Republican., 1883-10-16
INTERVIEWS.
NON. FREDERICK DOUGLASS

HON. FREDERICK DOUGLASS
was found at his residence on the heights
overlooking Anacostia, by REPUBLICAN, re-
porter last night In reply to the interroga-
tory, What do you think Of the civil rights
decision ~ he said
at is rather dsheartening and regard il
as a step backward. Justice Harlan takes
the ground that the intention of tho four
tetnth and fifteenth amendments was TO
prohibit 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 prompting is
strong. Tho moral effect of the decision
will certainly be mischevous. The country
was going along smoothly, and the unifcation
of the people was promised. As | understand,
the decision only applied to the states, and not
to the territories, District of Columbia, and
great water courses of the country.
"At the close of the war, and in view of
the services rendered by colored citizens,
there was q disposition on the part Of the
loyal people of the country to Concede to
them complete citizenship and equal civil
rights in the use of all public conveyances
and institutions, and | regard the decision,
as far as / understand ii, as part
Of the general reaction naturally
following the increased friendship be-
tween the north and the south, which comes
of the dying out of the old controversy on tho
subject of slavery. Nearly all the conces-
sions that the colorcd people have received
have been the result of the antagonism of
the two sections, and as that antagonism
vanishes l have expected partial return of
the old ideas and usages which pre-
ceded the war. Ten years ago |
told the ssscolored people that as
they had gained everything from the
enmity growing out of the attempted dissolu-
tion of the union between the people of the
IF thn hah
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 tho old Calhoun doctrine of
state rights as against federal authority.
do not, however, despair Of the ultimate re-
turn of the liberal spirit toward the colored
people which prevailed Immediately after the
war. think tho decision in this case has
resulted largely from confounding social with
civil rights. Things which are entirely dis
tinct. 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 as wide
apart as the poles of the moral universe.
Whether so intended or not the decision
of the court seems to be q concession to n
tion, and places the American people and
government far in the rear of the civilized
nations Of Europe and of America, for no
where in Europe, and nowhere outside of the
United States, can any man be excluded
from O hotel or steamboat cabin, or
simply on account of his color
or race. Even in Brazil the only
distinction between men arises from the
fact that one is slave and the other free
man. A colored freeman has everywhere the
same rights in that country as white free
man. The same condition exists in Mexico,
Canada, and other countries. 1t is one of the
marked contradictions and inconsistencies
and absurdities of this prejudice that, while
it is not offended at the presence of a col
ored man anywhere as n servant
or a slave, 1t is ever enraged at the presence
of oolored man as q gentleman and as an
equal citizen. / have said that l do not de-
spair on account of this decision. 1t is con-
trary to the declaration of independence,
contrary to the spirit of Christianity, con
trary to the spirit Of the age and
as think, in violation of the
fourteenth and fifteenth amendments
and tends directly to make the colored people
of the country an aggrieved class, and t.
Weakening that spirit of patriotism which
the nation may need for its protection in somt
perilous hour of need"
In concluding, Mr.. Douglass stated tina
he had not read the arguments in the case o.
the complete decision, and spoke of the de
cfsion as he had read 1t in the afternoon pa
pers.
HON. JOHN NJ. LANGsToN,
United States minister to Hayti, was fount
at his residence on College hill, near HowaEl
university. He had been busily engaged al
day experimenting some alterations abou
his pyemises and had heard nothing what
over of the decision. When he read tn
brief summary contained in slip from al
afternoon paper which the representative o
Tue REPUBLICAN handed him, he was deepl.
interested ut once. Whom he had CAREFUL.
perused it q second time, he said: what d
you wish me to sayY
Anything that you would caro- to hav
repeated rs your Impressions regarding th
action of the supreme court"
We'll, l am painfully surprised, and can
not see the wisdom of the court in nullifyin
this law Of congress, which had tho privi
lege Of preparing. In the winter Of 1874
was requested by Charles Summon to care
fully draw bill by which al citi
zeus should bo protected in equa
rights on railways and steamboats,
aud public convcyauces inns, licensed place
of public amusement, and public schools.
believe ! have the rough notes yet that wcr
used in the preparation Of this act of Marc
j, 1875. Mr.. Sumner had been ready to sin
Harvest Home believing that overythin
necessary to the protection of tho negro in hi
newly acquired rights had been accomplished
But l showed him cart loads of law tina
we're hostile to us. Tho result was the civ
rights law. While this law gave I
tho colored people no rights that the
did not possess before its passage, it wa
that direct legislation necessary to carr
into effect the fourteenth amendment
and fully authorized by the fifth scctio
of that article, which declares congress sha
have power to enforce by appropriate legsii
tion the provisions of this article" Thes
provisions made us citizons Of the Unite
States and prohibits the states from abridl
ing our privileges or immunities,
denying to us tho equal protection
the laws. Now thero are two ways
which state can abridge the rgh
OF its citizens by direct legislation, whic
places in the hands of railway companie
hotel keepers, &C., thep power to deny us tho
privileges and immunities that are enjoye
by the white race, or by judicial decision
which arc In effect laws to accomplish Il
same result. 1t was to prevent just sue
discrimination that the civil rights bi
was drawn and pushed until it b
camo law. In ratifying the fourteent
amendment the states agreed that congre
should provide tho means TO make the artic
effective, and the act of March /, 1875, WI
simply the exercise Of that power by congress
Nothing more nothing less"
'What win be the effect Of this decision
only this. As citizons We have the rigl