Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1883-11-07
O. indicates majority only.
THE CIVIL RIGHTS BILL.

The Civil Rights Bill is dead. The cell
ebrated measure which Charles Sumner
originated, championed, and pleaded for
with his dying breath, is as lifeless and
impotent as the remains of its renowned
author The recent decision of the Su-
preme Court of the United States declares
it unconstitutional and sweeps it into
oblivion. As law we shall never hear
of it again, or care long to keep it in our
memories But that bill was more than
law, more than common legislative en-
actment. 1t was a shield which Sumner
forged for the protection of the freedmen;
and now that he is dead, and this bill no
longer protects the objects of his love
and dearest efforts, it can stand, and will
stand for centuries, as monument of his
fidelity to the colored people and their
rights. To this the liberated slaves and
their descendants can ever point as proof
of the interest which one of the most
heroic souls that ever lived took in their
welfare and in their civil rights. The
Civil Rights Bill is dead law, nnllity
as statute but it is bright and endur
ing monument to the mighty genius and
statesman who gave it name and a place
in our history.
But this famous bill promises to be
more than a monument to Summers de-
termination to establish civil equality.
It now bids fair to be also monument
of the folly of the very people whom this
great statesman sought to benefit. We
call Sumner great statesman. He was.
And the glory of his name will not be
dimmed by misconstruction of the con-
stitution, which he was led into by his
zeal in the cause of equality and right.
It was not Summers intention to miscon-
strue the constitution, or to violate it
either in letter or spirit. Such was not
the character or disposition of the man
nor would such an act be at all in accord
with his lofty patriotism and devotion to
Republican principles. The colored peo-
pie cannot cite Sumner as an authority
for their fierce attack upon the Supreme
Court. On them alone will rest the onus
of attacking and ridiculing court which
has obeyed its oath and determined the
validity of the bill under the constitution
which it and we are sworn to support.
Many of the negroes, instigated by dema-
gogues who wish to ALLEVIATE them from
the Republican party and to secure their
votes, are holding indignation meetings
to express their disapproval of the deci-
sion. They are angry at the court they
blame the Republican party, which has
done all for them that has been done in
short, they are highly incensed because
our federal constitution was not miscen-
strued and strained in order to make them
pet of the law and to rob the states of q
right guaranteed to them from the be
ginning Now, if there be any class who
ought especially to thank God for our
constitution, it ia the negroes in our
states. Of all men they ought to be the
last to complain of keeping within its
terms. When they were in bondage. in q
condition which began before q constitu-
ton was conceived of, millions of money
and thousands of lives were given in
order that that constitution might be pre-
served. It was preserved, and that pre-
servation has secured to the black man in