New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-12-04
postpone the assumption of the whole burden
THE RIGHTS OF THE NEGRO.

THE RIGHTS OF THE NEGRO.
! The colored people did not intrude themselves
| upon us: they were brought here in chains and
! held in the communities where they are now
/ chiefly found by cruel slave code. Happily for
| both races they are now free. They have from
/ a standpoint of ignorance and poverty, which was
! our shame not theirs, made remarkable advances
| in education and in the acquisition Of property
| They have, as a people, shown themselves 10 be
friendly and faithful toward the white race, under
temptations of tremendous strength. They have
| their representatives in the National cemeteries
/ where a grateful Government has gathered the
ashes of those who died in its defence They
! have furnished 10 regular Army regiments
/ That have wen high praise from their command
/ ing officers for courage and solderly qualities
| and for fidelity to the Enlistment oath. In civil
life they are now the toiers Of their communities
making their full contribution TO the widening
streams of prosperity which these communities
/ are receiving Their sudden withdrawal would
stop production and bring disorder into the house
| hold as well the shop. Generally they do not
desire To quit their homes, and their employers
resent the interference OF the emigration agents
! who seek 10 stimulate such desire.
But Notwithstanding all this, in many parts
| of our country where the c0lOred population is
! large the people of that race are, by various
devices deprived of any effective exercise OF their
political rights and of many of their civil rights
The wrong does not eXpend Itself upon those whose
votes suppressed. Every constituency III the
Il has been The hope of every patriot that 2
sense Of justice and Of respect for the law "ouId
work a gradual cure OF these llagrant eNliS.
Surely, no one suppCses that the present can ne
accepted rs permanent condition. ii IL Is sal j..
| that these communities must work ont this prob
lem for themselves, have q right 10 ask whether
they are work upon II 10 they su@@eSu 'hN
solution? When and under what condiiiChs IS
the black MAJ 10 have free ballot "hcll IS
he i'll fact to have those full civil rights Whlcn
| have 80 long been his in law when IS 'lao
equality of influence which our form OF poIern-
ment was intended to secure TO the electors 10 ne
| restored This generation should courageousy
face these grave questions, and not leave them as
| n heritage of woe to the next The consultation
! should proceed with candor, calmness, ana great
patio nee: upon the lines of Justice and humanity,
| not of prejudice and cruelty. No question III our
country be at rest except upon the hFm DdSc Vi
! Justice and Of the law.
! earnestly invoke the attention of Congress 10
| the cOnside ration Of such measures Witlh lbS
well-defned constitutional powers as VIII secure
70 all our people free exercise of the right OF
suffrage and every other civil right under Sle
Constitution and laws of the United STATES NO
evil however depiOrabc, can Justify the assump,
ton either on the part of the Executive or or
Con gress of powers not granted; but poth VIII
be highly blamable If all the powers an'ed are
not wisely but firmly used TO correct these evils,
The power take the whole direction ana control
Of the election of members OF the House OF Repre-
sentatives is clearly given to the General Govern
ment partial and qualified supervision OF
these elections is provided for by law, and IN
nv opinion this law may be 30 strengthened and
/ G.
than can he attained by a law taking all the
proce sses of such election into Federal control
The colored man should be protected in all of his
relations to the Federal Government, whether a.
litigant, Juror or witness in courts, an
eleotor for members Of CongrcS.. or as peaceful
traveller upon our interstate railways
THE MERCHANT MARINE
There is nothing more Justly humating 10 the !
national pride and nothing more hurtful 10 tho +
national prosperity than the inferiority Of our /
merchant marine compared with that of other
nations whose general resources, wealth, and sea-
coast lines do not suggest any reason for their |
supremacy on the sea. 1t was not always So and |
our people are agreed, think. that it shall not
continue 10 be so. II is not possible IN tins com
municatiOn TO discuss the causes of the decay /
of our shipping interests or the differing methods |
by which II Is proposed 10 restore ihehl. Inc |
statement of a few Northumberland facts and |
some general suggestions al 10 legislation Is all
than is practicable That the great steamship /
lines sailing under the flags OF England, France, /
Germany, Spain, and Italy, and engaged IN |
foreign commerce, were promoted and have since /
been and now are literally aided by grants II !
public money in one form another, Is generally /
known That the American lines OF steam ships /
have been abandoned by US TO an unequal con-
Test with the aided lines OF other nations until !
they have been Withdrawn, or, III the lew cases |
where they still maintained, are subject 70 |
serious disadvantages, IS matter Of common khOwl- |
edge.
TIE present situation is such that travellers and |
rncr,hand Use find Liverpool often necessary In |
trrmcdiate port between New DIRK and some OF /
the South American capitals. The fact that some
Of the delegates from South American states 10 |
the Conference of American Nations now IN
session AT Washington, reached our shores by re-
vesine that line of travel, is very conclusive OF
the need Of such conference, ana very sug- !
on>tiye ms 10 the first and most necessary step |
in the direction of fuller and more beneficial
intercourse with nations that are now our neigh
bors upon the lines of latitude bul NOT upon 'he
lines of established commercial intercourse
| recommend that such appropriations De maze
for ocean mail service, IN American st"iinssnil'99
between our ports and those OF central ana SCUM
America China Japan, and the important lslandS
in both OF the great oceans, as VIII ne IlpcI"Ay
rcmunerative for the service rendered. anu aS
will encourage the establishment ana ih soile II'
degree cdualiZe the chances OF American SuedH-
shin lines in the COMPETITIONS when theN must |
meet That the American States lying SCUM OF
Will cordially cooperate IN esIaon I'LL "in
maintaining such lines OF steamships 10 'ncIi Pii"-
cipal ports do not doubt -, -
We should also make provision Tor naVhi re-
serve TO cons ST of such merchant SHIPS OF AielcP
construction and OF "A SPECIFIED tOhhdee anu aI"ru
the will consent 10 place at the use o. the
Government. in case of need. rs arIleu cruls'IS.
England has adopted this policy, ana rs result
can now, upon necessity. al once pace upon npa
naval list some Of the fastest steamships III tnr
world proper supervision OF lhe in'n
Of such vessels would make their conVerSo" i"'o
] am an advocate of economy in our National
expenditures, but 1t i DISus, OF terlhs ~ in o
this word describe policy that wlthhom> an "
irhdtuie Tor tie purpose of extending our ~,
commerce. The enlargement and lmpfoVScnono e ~
our merchant marine. the development % " '" "ro
tFnt body OF trained american scameh' u- ~
notion OF RAPID and regular mail comm l,c" '.,
between The ports Of other countries ana oIl vi'
anu tle adaptation Of large and sWlIt am, l
steamships 10 naval uses in time OF war arr pun
nc purposes OF the highest concern. Inc ehIhr1 ="
participation of our people i'm the carrying uhu', ,
me new ana increased markets that VIII pc ofcncI
for The products Of our farms and factOilcS' Hi"
the fuller and better employment OF our ncchicS,
which VIII result from liberal promotion VI 9.i
foreign commerce. insure the widest possible ull- a
fusion OF benefit 10 all the States and 10 an or
people. Everything is most proptions 1Of me
nIeScut lnamgmrdtIOn OF Il lLcral nnd nrOgIc-hlNc