Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-04-10

In Plain BLACK and white"
In former issue we expressed our salts
faction with an article by Mr. George W. Ca
BILE, in the Century for January, entitled 1.-THE
Freedman's Case in Equity" It seemed to
indicate a growing desire on the part Of
southern men to do justice to the colored
race, or at least to face the race question
squarely, on the grounds OF equity rather
than Of prejudice. II anything could tend to
deepen this impression, il would be the reply
to Mr.. Gable, by Henry W. Grady of Atlanta,
Ga, in the April Century.
Mr.. Grady, who is the editor.in chief of
the Atlanta Constitution, one Of the leading
papers Of the South, assumes the part of an
advocate of the more conservative, and, as be
declares, more popular sentiment among in.
teligent southern people The rejoinder
which he makes is as suggestive of the change
which has come over the South as was the
original article which it criticises. We have
been told, and Mr.. Grady repeats the charge,
that Mr.. Cable does not represent the real at
titude of the southern people. 1t becomes
of interest to see how wide is the difference
existing between them.
That which to a northern reader was most
significant in Mr.. Cables article was the tone
in which it was written. There was no trace
of the old sectionalism. The argument was
dispassionste, and based upon the broadcast
principles. Turning TO Mr.. Gradys rejoin-
der, we find the same tone adopted. There
is no attempt at reviving dead issues, there
is no contempt expressed for the colored PEG.
pie the argument is based simply on the
fact that they are a different race, which can
not amslgamste with the whites.
Mr.. Cable frankly accepted all the results
of the war. The abolition of slavery he de-
clared was blessing the citizenship of the
black man is An accomplished fact, and be
must be protected in his political rights, and
the South must give itself to the pressing
work of educating all her citizens, without re-
gard to color. These have been the most
important points at issue between the North
and the South in past years, and upon each
of these points Mr.. Grady speaks as decidedly
as does Mr.. Cable. OF the abolition of slav-
cry he says: For this all men are thankful,
even those who, because of the personal in
justice and violence of the means by which
it was brought about, opposed it's accomplish.
ment." In regard to negro suffrage: "The
North demanded it the South expected it ;
all acquiesced in it; and, wise or unwise, it
will stand" So also be recognizes the need
of better education for both races.
The issue, instead Of covering, as it once
did, every relation between the two races, is
narrowed down to a single point. Mr.. Grady
thus states il: Here the issue with Mr.. Ca
bic is made up. He denounces any assort-
ment of the races as unjust, and demands
that white and black shall intermingle every
where. The South replies that the assort-
ment Of races is wise and proper, and stands
upon the platform of equal accommodations
for each race, but separate"
There is here, it will be seen, a real differ
ence Of opinion; but it is a very small one
compared with that which once separated the
avowed friend of the negro from the conser-
vative opinion of the South. "Ten years ago, "
says Mr.. Grady, nothing was settled. There
were frequent collisions and constant Rppre-
tensions. The whites we're suspicious and
the blacks restless So simple a thing as a
negro taking ride in the cars or going to see
play was fraught with possible danger. The
larger sffairs-school church and court
were held in allegiance. Now all is changed.
The era of doubt and mistrust is succeeded
by the era of confidence and good will"
The only question which the svowed cham
pion of the conservative element of the South
cares to discuss is whether special places
shall be assigned to the different races when
they meet in public. The very terms in
which the question is stated show the change
from the time of slavery, when it was taken
for granted that the negro had no rights
which the white was bound to respect. The
idea is discaimed that the negro should be
given inferior accommodations on account of
his color. ION the railroads, as elsewhere,
the solution of the problem is equal advAn-
tages for the same money-equal in comfort,
safety and exclusiveness-but separate"
We doubt whether this solution is the final
one, but we must admit that, if Mr.. Grady
means literally all that he says, he cannot be
accused of ignoring altogether the question
of equity. If the people of the South really
try to establish perfect equality in aocommo-
dations, and at the same time enjoy complete
exclusiyeness, they must be willing to pay
well for the luxury of race instinct" 1t in
wolves the duplicating Of every grade of pas
senger cars, as well as of railway waiting
rooms, theatres, sehool-houses, and all public
buildings.
In the meantime Mr.. Grady has no valid
excuse to offer for such cases of injustice as
Mr.. Gable cites, where respectable colored
people were forced TO accept accommodations
which were not equal in comfort, safety or
exclusiveness" to those provided for their
white felow-citizens.
In spite of the difference of opinion exhib-
tied, we cannot but look upon the points on
which these two southern writers agree as
more significant than those on which they
come in conflict. Both accept frankly all the
results of the war both accept the negro as
permanent factor in the political life of the
South, who can neither be ignored nor crush
ed both express the faith that there is enough
intelligence and sense of justice among men
of both races to settle all veIed questions upon
the principles Of justice. We need only re-
produce the closing sentences OF Mr.. Grady's
article to show how similar his outlook is to
that OF his antagonist
Let no one imagine, from what is here
said, that the South is careless Of the opinion
or regardless of the counsel Of the outside
world. On the contrary, while maintaining
firmly position she believes to be essential,
she appreciates heartily the value Of general
sympathy and confidence. With an earnest
ness that is little less than pathetic, shs be-
speaks the patience and the impartial judg-
ment Of all concerned. Surely her situation
should command this, rather than Indifference
or antagonism. In poverty and defeat--with
her cities destroyed, her felds deaolated. her
labor disorganized, her homes In ruins, her
families scattered, and the ranks OF her sons
deoimated-in the face Of universal rejudice,
famed by the storm OF war into hostility and
hatred-under the shadow OF this sorrow and
this disadvantage, she turned bravely TO CON
front problem that would have taxed 70 the