The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1884-02-20
RACE PREJUDICE IL GOOD.
Cruel Wrongs Which Result from the
Commingling OF tho Blood OF tile
two Races Of People.
No Christian Has a Right to DIsre.
gard the Mandatory Requirement
Of the Scriptures.
ssocinte Reformed Presbutert1n.l

t.i3ocinte Reformed Presbytertnn.
The marriage OF Frederick Douglass to n
white woman OF respectable .porents has cal.
Ell out various comments. The most Common
remark, on The pnrt OF those who md In such
a union nothing 10 condemn. Is Tint being y.
matter OF individual preference and ~taste,,if
find 'fnuli. This is n very narrow view, for re:
lIgious Journals to take OF the matter, and II
Is fundamentally erroneous. Marriage, rom
a christian standpoint, Ia not mcre'ya matter
lions which ought 10 forbid tho bnnnS now
ever strong ard decided may be the prefer
ence OF tho parties. The Scriptures are clenr
and explicit In this matter. To marry only
In the Lord. Is not n mere suggestion or rec
concentration to christian prudence and ex-
pcdicncv. II IL positive. mandatory require.
ment. No christian has q right to disregard
Then, too, apart from NIL inspired indica.
ton, society, civilized society. Inns universally
recognized ard observed certain prohibitions
ind mental imhccility. hereditary disease
and intimate relationship OF consanguinity or
affinity. Domestic purity. the welfare OF the
Tint some things hesides preferences. he
rcckoned "a prerequisites to the formation of
this most important relationship, Race In
stinct, we verify believe: Points to anoi pine =
hsentiment' to seek to break down this bar
rier, this restriction with which nm Infinitely
wise Creator has fenced our most intimate as
| S0ClnLIO1S, IINCVtIlItS 1to NV wv D" ""'SA'
he crvstallized the essence OF that madness
which aims TO be more benevolent and phil
nnthropic than Christianity. It was NEGRO.
philism." The Independent is drcadfully az
fIctcd with 1t, aS is seen In the following ex'
I'VE shall be pleasantly surprised u the
newspapers edited nv colored men 40 NOT
trent somewhat colily Mr. Donglass's mar.
rage. They ought tn welcome II heartily. IL
is one OF the best things that could happen
for the race In America: A man whose color
IL marked, q man OF culture ana ABILITY. nhn
owe Of the first OF his race to achieve social
standing in the very capital OF his country
where he is known and honored. has taken 10
wife a worthy white woman. 1t IL misrcgenn'
tlnn In Washington. It IL an cxample which
will be followed. and which must bc followed
before the prejudice against color Will die out
as II has died out In some countries. Decency
of morals reouIrcs honest, sanctiled wpdlock
to take thr place OF thousands OF illegitimate
unions. VIZ arc heartily. glad that srch nm
event has tnken place. and the colored people
OF the country -certninly those VII" have also
white blood in their vcins-should.. for their
mothers sake and their daughters sake, be
~mr-slghtcd enough to see the meaning ana
the drift"
The law of God requires sanctifcd wedlock'
but the existence Of a greater. Is no jrstihca-
tion OF n lessor, evil. The policy OF righte
business Is not to substitute one evil inr nnotn.
er. but to eradicate both. TO level down n
splendid race In order to destroy race prrJu.
dice Ia To turn n barn to destroy, n rat-or ma
which Is errone0usly supposed 70 pc q rat
Race prejudice is cnod-we wish there we're
enough OF H. entirely to prevent the com.
mingling Of the blood OF the higher win maj
Of the lower rnrcs OF mon. The meaning OF
miscecenation IL n downward drill a fact SO
obvious that t. scarcely needs argu!ng-and
race prejudice Is nunded. and well founded,
on that fact. Tho negro rnce isa weak rnce
everywhere, md has hcen such IN az lts
known hisiorymis snd nntitmne y. The a. a ,ah
| prey uron them today ms u they were SC
! many black Sheppard their only def sr J:
!, distant England and America. They cnulf
not maintain n traffic In slaves OF any ONE,
American Indians! We say that IT is crne
!, wrong to his rostnrIty for u white person ff
: marry 81 nngro-nnd H. would be n wrong ne
less if there were social dis~iinctlons-and ~ y
almost MS great n wrong To big or her poster
~ for n negro to marry a while person. ING
mixed rnce Is not equal to either OF me orig,
nals-thcv nre weaker thar the wcaksr o. IN,
two. A thorough conlminGlinC ~ the hioot
OF the two races In America would take us n:
. n nation from a place among the highest o!
sp,enhid race and set us low among The low
eat. Shall we. as u people. have legs regarh 10
:. the physical symmetry and beauty and STAN
. ina. the intellectual vigor, courage: energy
| md kecnness OF our posterlty-'ess rrgnrn 10
them than we have for the excellence oI on
l horses? The negroes are an inferior race. nn
! Il does not follow that because they are wen
, the strong hive any right 10 empress or q
wrong them. They are human beings. emf
tied to MI human r~ighis-nnd manly macna
! nimity will concedc them their hunlnn r'gmt
. Nil the more because they are weak. IN
. white race In this country nre hound IN hon
or to doa!l they can for the elevation and nap
pIncss and prosperity of the colnred Iace,nm
they arc even more profoundly bound IN hnt!
i. and in honor 10 transmit pnrc Caurassiar
/ blood to their own postrrity.. No grehte
:. wrong would he possible for IFS to do 10 thos
, who nre to come after iS In America: thnn u
put Them mt nnturnl and mn irreparahle disad
, Vintage To the white nations Of Euronc. w
must he impartlally inst md kind t" all race
OF men. d. Them good md do them n" harm
md this not only TO all now living, hnL u
:. those who nrc 10 live after US. The rolnre'
race is fitted f"r ami can live In. and tnor
oughly enjoy. torrld climes that nre not on!
:. inin,ical. hut fatal. 10 while people. Derriv
, them OF their pure tropical blood and the.
are not httrd either for The cold we enjoy, no
! for the heat which they enjoy. Every rras'n
! nblc consideration Is against the position Q
e. the Independent on this subject.