The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1884-02-15
A BISHOPS VIEWS.

brated his golden weddings and thu
occasion was taken advantage Of by
the Atlanta Constitution to "inter
view" the distinguished divine upoI
various matters Of political char
aeter. We reproduce portion OF
his remarks upon two questions
upon which he was solicited to
speak-the negroes and the Nor
mons. The opinion of bishop is no
more valuable than that of a lays
man upon any subject outside of
church doctrine; indeed, the lay
mans would ordinarily be accorded
the preference among men Of aver
age intelligence, as being practical
rather than theoretical, and as bssed
upon actual knowledge instead OF
upon imaginary facts. AS to the
negroes the bishop said:
think they are entitled to elementary
education the same rs the whites from
the hands OF the State. It is tn. duty of
the church 10 improve the colored min
istry, but rather by theological lrsining
than by literary education. In my jLd E
ment higher education, so-cslled, would
be positive calamity to the negroes. Ii
won d increase the Fiction between the
aces. producing endless strife. mischief
and turbulence. Negroess ought to be
taught that the respect Of the
white race can only be at
tsined by good character and con.
duct. Their well-doing and we'll. being
all right minded citizens desire and
would rejoice in. Agriculture and all
mechanical pursuits are open to them,
snd in them they might find lucrative
employment. In these dire ctjons they
might support their families, get pro-
perty and become valuable citizens. II
negroes we're educated. intermarriage in
time would breed trouble, but of this l
see no tendency now. Ny conviction is
that negroes have no right Ill juries, leg
islatures or in public Office. Right in
wolves character and qualification.
The appointment OF sny colored man
20 Office by the government is an
insult to the southern people, and pro-
vokes conflict and dissatisfaction, wheD,
il left as they ought to he, In their pst-
ursl sphere, there would be quiet and
good order. The whites can never
tsmely and without protest submit to the
intrusion OK colored men into places Of
trust and profit and responsibility. There
never can be stability and good order
except when intelligence and virtue pre-
side and direct the affairs of the country.
The negro ought to be protected in 81
his rights OF property by the righteous
administration of the laws. He is en-
titled to respect and kind consideration
IN al his pursuits and wants, while he
himself is indust ious and upright and
we'll behaved.
This is fair, frank, manly and
honest, and is withal intelligent
Bishop Pierce is familiar with the
subject; he is acquainted with all
the facts; he knows the negro race,
its capabilities and its powers; he
understands the nature Of the coli
cred man, because he has lived with
him, and seen him in all spheres of
life; he also 10 familiar with southern
whites, their habits, tendencies,
prejudiees and their inner natures.
Understanding the matters thor
ough}y IS he does he is posi-
tive in his belief that II
10 impossible for the two
races te mix, mingle and fraternizs
socially, Intellectually or politi'
calty, in the way that the Republic
esn party eel ont to make them
frstssniza- They sfs distinct rsces.
Designed by Providence to oeeapy
different spheres in life, and ncikhe,
legislative enactmeats Ror the
wishes Of fanatic men can change
the purposes OF the Maker. The
eolored race is inferier, hes always
been so and will so continue
to the end Of tune If it shall
&c long remain the eolored
race. It has splaee to fill; that
place is not as the slave Of the
white, nor yet his equal and COM
panion; but position below him
IS we reckon social, intellectual and
political grades. 1t doesn't alter the
facts that now,and then a negro dis.
plays marked intelligence and shows
wonderful capabilities, coming tt
the front with the great ones of the
white race, any more than the facts
are changed by the circumstances
that so many Of the whites are in.
ferior to the blacks IN all that is
elevsting, ennobling.and commenda-
bic. The races are so distinct in the
places that they do and will occupy
as they are different ia the color OF
their skins. Hence, Bishop Pierce
is eminentIy correct in his social and
political diagnosis as given above