Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1889-10-31

ulrOWs Ddck an answer INTO lilc ldcts Vi
our Southern brethren who are never
tired of asserting that the prejudice a.
gainst the negro is greater in the North
than at the South, who declare that the
color line is higher and broader here
than among themselves. What South
ern college with reputation among
Southern people corresponding to that
of Harvard at the North, would confer
similar honors upon a negro? A color
ed man could find no place in such an
institution. lie would not be allowed
to come in the way Of such honors.-
The presence Of colored men in Harv-
ard college is a standing rebuke to such
as, North or South, refuse to allow
their children to attend the same school
with colored children. 1t is a rebuke
to that feeling Of caste that grows up in
older communities and we apprehend is
stronger in the vicinity Of Harvard than
in any other part of the country. II is
an answer to those who affirm that the
negro can be nothing and do nothing
A single instance like this may not
prove the superiority of the negro race,
but who knows but that with similar
advantages and surroundings the aver
age negro may not be fully equal to the
average white man. Instances like the
one under consideration point in this
direction. Ii is an encouragement to
the colored race. II virtually says to
the colored man, do the best that you
can, make the most of yourself, and
you shall not be totally ignored, you
may compete with white men for the
honors of social and civil life. We do
not say that the class of 81 did any
thing that it ought not to have done
as a matter Of simple justice, but it has
been so rare for the negro TO secure ev-
en- this that the present instance COM
mands attention. The act stands as a
marked precedent, one that should ear
ry with it great weight. There viii be
hotels that would rather entertain vag-
abond whites than honest negroes. ItI
viii doubtless happen that some poor
immigrant just in from the bogs of Ire
land viii take his ragged children from
the public schools because negro child
rem are allowed to enter these temples
Of learning. But this act viii do much
to clear the way for the admission of
the negro to all the rights and privileges
Of citizens. This color prejudice is a
senseless prejudice. No honest man
can justify its existence. 1t ought to
melt away like frost in June. 1t ought
never to have existed. 1t doubtless be-
longs to slavery as one of its incidental
evils. Ii is not SO strange that the
South should come under its influence
as that the North should indulge it,
But it does not exist at the North to
any such extent as the people Of the
South suppose. Besides, we claim to
be law-abiding, we do not trample con-
stituiional rights under foot to crafty |
our prejudices. There may be rare in
stances where this is done, but it is not
the tone of Northern society. We do 1
not hunt down negroes with shotguns
to prevent their voting, or fiji the land
with the cry of women and children,
the victims Of best citizen regulators.-
We do not hang white men in efligy or
drive them out of communities because
they employ men with drop of negro
blood in their veins. There exists am
Dng our young men, as the incident at
Harvard proves, desire to see fair
play. We are glad to see honors fall
IN worthy place.