New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-03-11
A ooLoRED MAN ON TIE RACE ISSUE
THE. QUESTION OF CONSTITUTIONAL cITzEs
SHIP INVOLVED.

SHIP INVOLVED.
70 ths Edffor Of Ths TrfbSns.
Sir: There r. q class Of men endeAvoring to poison
tho minds OF friends Of q republican form OF govern
ment against the negro as citizen While no irehd
Of the Republic desires 10 be hostile 10 feowotEens
dwelling IN other sections OF our land, those who
have the highest and uest interest Of the nation and
country az heart 90 not desire 10 be parties to
compromise with men who declare that they arc op-
posed 10 majority rule
wbeu mon like Mr. Grady OF SThs Atlanta Con
stituhon,s voicing the acknowledged political Senh-
ment Of the South, boldly assert their dissemination
70 sbr4dge tho rights of American citizens, and an
intention to coo TO It that nothing Like majority rulo
shan exist II seems TO me. and think 10 every fair
minded man, time for a courageous Administration,
staining souarely BY the Constitution, to inquire into
these pecullar political methods which so easily de-
pve any citizen or any class Of citizens OF our land
Of republican form Of government guaranteed by
the constitution.
These men base their political methods on their
fear of negro supremacy in the South, aud IA Their
writings and public utteranccs try 10 convince their
Northern feIowcltEens OF ths justice and humanity
OF their hostile attitude and un-Ameriehn action.
Like the South African ostrich, which buHes It's head
In the sand thinking thus escape its puruer. these
men, blinded by a prejudice which Is founded, as
Alexander Hamilton once said neither In reason
nor experience imagine that they can deceive some
Northern white man has met the negro again and
again in tho class and lecture rooms Of Harvard and
Yale and other Northern colleges and has long since
ceased 10 base superiority on tho color Of the skin.
Before the War tho strongest Southern argument
advanced against the abolition Of slavery I" The
negro can't take care OF himself II set free no will
become pauper."
Twenty-Five years have proven this 10 be false Some
declared that set free, the negro would become sn
sioa nj fula gko xuhIf
indlscrmInately and mercIlessly
The fact is that during the last twenty-five years
the savagery has been on the other side.
While the negro has advanced q por cent edaes
honalIy, his white brother Of the South, who fears
so dreadfuly his political supremacy has advanced
only per cent snce the War Now, u ls generally
conceded by intelligent and honest that the negro
can master The arts and sciences, aud will compare
an average favorably with his Caucasian brother
But what confronts is the political situation
in the South, whers even q white man stands no
better chance, II no happens not to vote the right
ticket. than tho negro.
Tho mistake that IS generally made in the discussion
Of the political problem Of tho South is that ton
much is made OF tho negro as negro,
II Is not purely n race question. II Is a con
stituh0na question, 10 how far tie Federal Gov
eminent can and will protect its citizens without
regard TO color. Every man who Is a citizen
not only has the right TO VOTE but also 70 have that
vote counted In the Northern States the votes Of
large and sometimes Ignorant foreign population who
have become citizens must be counted. Yet Southern
are allowed 30 dlsranchlse million men on tho
assumed ground OF their inferonty and unftness to
enjoy what the Constitution plainly confers upon
them, and the flag for which these men fought can
not, or has not, protected them In the exercise Of
their political rights
When these men, smsrting under these po-
tlcal disabilities. make up their minds 10 leave these
States at present in tho State Of North Carolina,
measures are at once Instituted by the powers that
be to prevent their departure. Yet Senator Morgan,
Of Alabama, and mon Of his stamp and callbre, pro
tend that the negro in their respective States no
good" They moan, of course, as a citizen As
common laborer underclass can take the place OF
the black man in all the South land but political
slavery is about as CALLING was physical bondage
and, In my opinion. the Harrison Administration. with
Senate and House, have supreme opportunity, In
spirit of love and patriotism 20 give TO the politically
enslaved South n second Emancipation, In securing
to every American citizen DO he white or black rich
Sttdtion AS one who was born IN the south. who
loves tenderly her sunny aides and her soft genial
possibilities. il all men can only DO FREQ there %
exercise their c.SstitutioDaI rights as ctEensi rs
his country Il her liberties were imporiiled, trust
among many other important matters 10 mako y
possible for % vote IN the South and have that
New-Havon. Conn. Feb. 1s, 1880.
MARINE CONFERENCE DELEGATES.
70 ne Adffor Of Tbs TrsbAne
Sir One OF tbs last oGcia acts OF PRECEDENT Cisye-
land was snub 10 the American ship-owners. Among
the seven delegates whom he appoints to tho Inter
national Marine Congress, the only identified WIN
the mercantile shipping interests arr Clement ",
Grlscom, president, and Captain John W. shachio
the port captain Of tho Inmsn Steamship Linz, an
English corporation. True, our shipping Interests