Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-12-27
TRUMPET TONES FROM THE SOUTH.

Very different is the sensation indeed
to turn from the partisan distortion of Mr..
Watterson to the brave and manly expos-
ton Of the Southern question by Geo. W.
Cable, of Louisiana. one of the most brill
liant literary lights of recent years, him
self born Southern, the son and grandson
of Shareholders. man whose every inspi-
ration has been of Southern sentiment.
But here is a mind capable of shaking off
the shackles of prejudice and considering
the South as it is. His paper on ''The
Freedman's Case in Equity" appears in
the January Century, 1t is one of the most
remarkable social and political papers of
the era, and should be read by every lover
Of free institutions in the length and
breadth of the land Nothing more clear
cut, incisive, sincere and truthful has sped
from the pen on this v-xed subject. We
can but merely glance at the points made by
Mr.. Cable, leaving it to the reader to
picture as wildly as he can the graceful
vigor and the irresistible force of the areu-
ment, fortified as ii is by irrefutable proofs,
and pointing out the gentle remedy which
IS to cure all ills of the Southern question.
In brief, he shows that the slave was
| dragged to America mere savage slavery
brought him into contact with civilization,
and out of that he passed to freedom, to
citizenship and into political ascendency
His course has not been, therefore,
retrogressive. An amended Constitu-
ton held him up in his newly-acquired
political rights, but only as Constitution
can, for every element of material support
and guidance has been wanting. The Gov
eminent failing in Il misguided reconstruc-
ton policy, threw the whole matter over
to the Southern States. Here it is no lon
ger main issue, but a group of questions
to be settled by each State separately.
Slavery having been the cornerstone Of
| the social structure, with freedom
an antagonism between the equities of the
new citizen, and social preiudices too
deeply rooted to be upturned in 4 moment
The laws for the freedmen were forced
into the State codes, and as a result there
| has arisen a system of vicious eyasions
" r'iinous 10 public and private morals and
| iiberty-a virtual sufIocation of the prin-
cipIes Of human equity which the unwel-
come DEGREES do little more than shadow
forth But in some districts, it is fair 70
say, they have received much practical
acceptance Now, what are the sentiments,
asks this skilled analysist, that underlie
these attitudes? Foremost is the ingrained
sentiment that the negro is of necessity an
alien. He came a british, unclean cap
tive, hut the changes to result from con-
tact with superb race of masters was not
taken into account. The mingling of his
blood with the white worked no change in
the sentiment Through all the attrition
and change the old notion held fast-the old
sentiment was behind Even when endowed
with freedom, taxpayer, the educator of
his own children, ne was still an alien,
and for returning to his home was cast
into prison as felon.. But these were the
acts OF sincere Cod-fearing people, The
forefathers of this people shed their blood
for the principle Of mans equality and
their inalienabIe right to life, liberty and
property, but in good conscience adhered
to the conviction that the negro was IN
alterably an alien.
That hold broken, The whole Southern
social fabric would 90 to wreck. To Sc
cure it, therefore, the South fell back upon
q the assumption of God-given instinct,
noble7 than reason, and which it was an
insult to freeman to ask him to prove on
logical grounds" But this was not
enough, for the alien sought freedom, and
the slave caste could not be intrusted with
any power that could be withheld. So
the perpetual alien was made a perpetual
mental. ard to this hour Cable clearly
proves, The chief ann al the dominant
South Is 70 keep him q mental.
Strange as it may appear, while this
was held as to his bodily service, the mas
tiers of the South fatty broke the shame
full laws that stood between their slaves
and the Bible" and concerned themselves
about the spiritual welfare of the alien
and mental. This condition perpetuated
the vices that cling to servility and dense
! ignorance, and SO j, was assumed that the