The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1890-01-23

sent a few propositions and call his
attention to few of his inconsistent
cies.
In the first place, the writer in The
Bee appears in the new role of lexico-
grapher, and treats us to refreshing
definition of the word "prejudice." He
says that prejudice is all index of
narrow, uneducated mind, incapable
OF looking at question except from
one standpoint, generally an intensely
personal one while Mr.. Webster as
sures us that prejudice is " an opinion
or decision of mind formed without
due examination pre-judgment, etc. !"
From which we see that the fact of a
minds being prejudiced is no evidence
of lack of ability to judge correctly.
, The most learned and gifted are often
the most intolerantly prejudiced, SO
The Bees proposition that a preju-
diced mind is necessarily an ignorant
one is false hypothesis. An argument
based :pon such an assumption is like
attempting to prove that stream is
shallow because it flows in a narrow
channel.
That the people of the South are
opposed to the social equality of the
whites and blacks and will never rec
ognize the claims of the latter to be
admitted to private circles on such
footing, no one will or wishes to deny.
Opposition and prejudice, however, ARE
two entirely different words, and it is
possible to oppose a thing on reason
| able grounds and general principles as
we'll as through self-interest, narrow
mindedness and ignorance. 1t is
notably the brightest minds of the
South, those who have studied the
question in all its aspects, who realize
the true magnitude of the impending
evil and are sounding the needed warn
ing. 1t is presumable that those who
have lived in the South and are thor
oughly acquainted with the habits,
tastes, disposition and capabilities of
the race, are in better position to
observe, investigate and arrive at a
proper understanding of the subject,
than the speculative theorist of the
North, who has as little. practical
knowledge Of the negro, as he really
exists, as child has of hippotamus
after looking at one through the cage
bars of a travelling menagarie. If there
is prejudice at all on either side, facts
and reason would go to prove that it is
on the side of the enlightened North
rather than of the ignorant South.
The Bee says: "God made and
can tolerate the colored race, but the
editors of the Constitution cannot
tolerate white person who takes din
ner with negro" Yes, God made
the negro and can tolerate him. He
made the chimpanzee and gorilla also,
and can tolerate them. Not that l
would icsult our ebon brother by a
comparison SO offensive. 1 simply
follow The Bees example and go
long way for an illustration. God
made the colored race but He made it
as it is, seperate and distinct and alto
gether different from the white, just as
he made one star to differ from another
in glory,gems to differ in luster, flowers
in beauty, animals in form and intel
llgence, and so on ad ininitum. He
has made different orders and grades
of creation, III every kingdom, family
and species and in this instance, to
guard against any possible mistake, in
preparing the original clay, He took
the precaution to give it different
hue SO that there could be no possible
danger of getting the parcels mixed.
The Bee acts upon the presumption
that this process was accidental and is
trying to circumvent the designs of
the Almighty. The fact is, there is no
question of federation in it. Every
thing is right and proper in its place.
The African is as much a distinct
branch of the human race, as much
part of the great whole in the sum Of
created things,as the American, Arctic,
Australian, lIongolian or Caucasian.
He is doubtless link in the chain OF
progressive evolution is happy, useful
and acceptable in his particular sphere.
But nature has drawn line of de
narration between the African and
Caucasion races, and the social gulf
that separates the two can never be
spanned until science proves, that, as
a race, the former is in every respect
the equal of the latter When the
North demonstrates this fact the South
will lay aside its Ignorance, narrow
mindedness and prejudice" and fall
willing convert to the new faith.
7he Bee refers to the Constitution
criticism of Mr.. Cable as ga tyran-
nous social prejudice, and claims that
every individual is entitled to his likes
and dislikes and to exercise his own
pleasure in the choice of his associates.
This is exactly what the people of the
South think, but The Bee is evidently
not willing to allow them this privilege,
since it would compel them to open
their doors to an alien race, with whom
they have nothing in common, and
which threatens the very foundation
! stones of their social fabric. | fail 10
see how it is any more tvrannous for the