New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-10-25
CIVIL RIGHTS IN THE SOUTH.

There never was any fear that the disappear
ancc of the Civil Rights law from the statute
book would bring any hardship to the colOred
people in the North. The right to equal use OF
public conveyances was the only practical phase
of the question here, and that is probably freely
conceded to them on every railroad The con-
sequences of the decision in the South were
open to more doubt. There again the only
practical question seems to be that of equal
facilities for travelling, for the cOlOred people
in the South have shown themselves as little
disposed as those in the North to force them
selves into restaurants, hotels and the best
seats in theatres, intended for whites exclu-
sivcly. Some interesting indications have
already been given of Southern sentiment upon
the future treatment of the cOlOred race.
II is evident from these that the Democratic
politicians and newspapers are anxious to be on
good terms with the blacks, with a view to get
ting their votes, if possible. There is little ex-
ultation over the decision as a triumph over
despised race, but, on the contrary, there are
profrlsc promises that their legal rights shall be
carefully respected. Senators Hampton and
Butler, of South Carolina, and Senator Brown,
of Georgia talk in this way, urging that every
ter his condition, and expressing the greatest
frcndliness for the race. The tone OF the lead
ing Southern newspapers is still stronger IN the
same key. The atlanta Constitution says:
II now bchooyc4 the South TO show to the world that
she il capable ~ doing the negro fullest and amplcst
Justice without the fear Of any impending statute lho
places apart for him IN the theatre and In the railroad
cars should every way good those occupied by
a.. ,.,t tIta .afup mn Ill
be u, a. secure from the intrusion Of boterous persons,
and kept I'm ccanly and neat manner In short,
the grand opportunity Is afforded the South to show
that she T. rs magnanmous she proved herself to be
Courageous She will demonstrate, we have no DOUBT
that while could have been driven by dure's
into doing what clearly wrong that she VIII not be
tempted by the removal Of all restraint into doing any
thing that Is less than right
These words are quoted approyingly by The
Charleston NcrS and Courier The Macon
Telegraph says;
Everything will move along Just II did before. and
the solution Of the great problem will be- lr to time
and the operation of the laws Of nature free from the
vicious aud Obstructive interference OF Government
The negro will receive ample Justice from the whites OF
the SOUTH and whatever point in the scale Of human
ity he II capable of advancing he will he allowed To
struggle up unhindcrcd.
The Aer- Orleans Times Democrat says:
This decision Of the Supreme Court viii rid the country
Of very troublesome question which has kept alive race
prejudice and feeling without being Of the slightest adj
vantage To the negro for whose benefit 1t was nominaly
passed.
The Charleston Ne,rs and Courier, again dis
cussing the subject, says
There f. no need to squnt at social equality. For the
lasting welfare OF whites and blacks alike that must be
avoided and rcpudatcd Short OF that, the Democrats
fl the South can assure the colored people every priv
egc and right that is reasonable and Just IL VIII be
bappy event for South Carolina IL the white people shall
seize the golden opportunity and bind the whites ana
blacks together the bonds OF common Interest III tho
honor the peace aud tho prosperity Of the state BY
leralty tempered with wisdom, tho coorllnc, In pol
tc can be- ublitcrntod ia tho South Desirable as this
+. elsewhere II IA moro desirable in South Carolina.
where the most sagacious have been unable to hhd
means Of security far in the future The means appear
10 be giyon us OF ending our troubles ana making
the state safe for a generation 10 come.
The AHgusta Chronicle, with more of the tone
of the bourbon, halls the decision ~ triumph
for State Rights, and tells the colorcd people to
trust 10 q" the fairness and generosity OF the
people among whom they reside" 1he hch-
1nopd Sta 2 shows some excitement, inSlnuatng
that the decision was timed for its effect upon
the elections, and raising cry of alarm Mt the
idea that Il Malone majority in the Virginia
Legislature, if elected, will pass Civil Rights
law more stringent than the Federal act.
These citations fairly represent all varieties OF
opinion, but Il large majority OF the newspa-
pcrs adopt highly conciliatory tone. In
Georgia the policy of the leading railroads, ac-
cording to Senator Brown will be to keep the
races in separate cars. Governor Ireland urges
the same course in Texas, but the vicc-preSi-
dent of the international Railroad decides that
business will not Justify it, The colorcd people
will De restricted to certain seats.
While there viii bc regret to see such diStnc-
tions rc-cstablshcd, we shall look to see them
disappear, in course of years before a growth
in libcrality of sentiment, just rs they did IN
the North. For the rest, the colored people
shonld remember that so far as their rights as
citizens can he protected by Federal law, they
are quite as we'll of as they were before tho
decision of the Supreme Court. And it may
mark an improvement in their condition that
the leaders of Democratic sentiment ut the
South profess such an anxiety to be friends with