New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-16


only find expression in religious phrase. 10 MN
Christianity meant not only eternal salvation, Dut
redemption from earthly bondage also; ing
Christ was to MIN not only Messiah but Jehovah
as well,-the special Delyercr OF his race Ills
belief that Jubilee was coming TO bis people never
faltered because his faith in God was so strong.
He had only to believe and wait. 80 he served
as faithfully while tie feet Of the berating eglonS
echoed through the land as when the patrollers
guarded all the highways OF the SoUth, appeanhS
neither to the knife nor the torch the instruments
by which barbarsm invariably seeks TO right us
wrongs. ,,, , 80
Added to the testimony of his physical ana re-
ligious character come the patent facts OF his
twenty-four years of even a restricted freedom 10
show how far the American negro is removed from
his barbaric prototype, and how near oI ne WAS
approached in aspiration TO the best CHRISTIAN
civilization. With peoples as with lndlVlduaIs
character is to be judged not merely Dv what Is
accomplished, but also by the purpose lnaica'ed,
not alone by what is done, but somewhat by the
desire to do. The fIeedmans hrst ace
an instrument for accomplishing the nd
Grafton of his race Two hundred and twenty
five thousand of them enlisted in the Army OF the
Union, and their losses III battle were decidedly
above the average of Its white corps during the
period of their service. Coming naked from the
womb OF slavery, the race asked neither recon-
pense for the past nor favor for the future lnere
was not only no legislation granting
them special privilege, favor or eXemp-
ton. but none was ever sought chance
TO work, "a white mans chance for SELF
support and education, was all the negro
asked Of civilization, the only dowry he de-
handed with his freedom. His first act of citi-
lenship was 10 marry the woman slavery ony
allowed him to take up with For that prlVi-
lege civilization taxed his poverty 81 His next
impulse to organize church, build school
house, and then begin the struggle for home.
Are these the tendencies OF barDarlan-thc IN.
dices OF racial inferOrty?
But as a citizen, are told he was failure.
To what extent? IN wpat dire Gisnharr ihas
the duties of citizenship was to nave been eN-
pectsd Slavery permitted him to gain neither
knowledge nor experience. but uid M ne maniies.
any moral or racial incapaclty? Did he show
any desire 10 use the power bestowed upon him
10 iniure others? Did he Shed any mans bloodf
Did he deprive any man OF his right or debar any
one of equal privilege ON the contrary, he opened
the ballot-bOX to the pOOr-white," whom the
rich STAKEHOLDER had excluded; he abolished
property qualifications for the Juror; he estao-
1shed an equation between poll and property tax,
which showed desire to avoid due share
of political burdens; did not ask a DIVISION OF
property, or even such security for independence
as sem-barbarouS Russia gave TO her freed seris:
lie introduced the public school where IL had
never before existed and abolished penal system
! whose barbarity would have shocked the civil.
iZatiOn of the seventeenth century; he gave equal
rights to all; endangered no mans life by his
control, and debarred 10 man Of his right I'M
justly.
THE CLAIM OF WHITE SUPERIORITY DENIED
Put we are told, he plundered the resources
of the States he controlled" Softly, softly,
good friend If unwise, extravagant and
/
racial incapacity for self-government, what
shall be said of the white of the
South! They were wise; they were white they
are superior race; they had enjoyed unre-
stricted opportunity. They stalled their all upon
slavery with all its denominations and barDarities.
They confess now that it was fatally rulnous
policy Morally and economically it was leprous
in character Yet in its maintenance they squan-
dered the accumulations of centuries-the re-
sources of a New World! Think of the illimit-
able extent of the Confederate debt Think OF
the liabilities heaped upon every ole of the
Confederate States! Think pf the bhghting
load that rested on every mans estate! Think
of the gray hooking promises 10 pay, Whicn
no conceivable success could have maze more IMAM
ashes to the holders, and then answer whether
the squandering Of resources through ohWisc
legislation is a sufficient basis for the claim
OF racial incapacity The unwlsdOm OF the So
called niger governments Is as nothing to the
folly that gave the stOicd-up wealth OF genera
tons to feed the flame Of unhoiy war!
But there two things connected with the
brief civil history of this people when must nos
be forgotten IN estimating lner rdclal cnaIdcuer
and capacity. Ii IS common knowledge that the
negroes Just released from the BONDS OF slavery
| and charged by the American people with the
duties of national citizenship, were despolled or
tie electoral franchise under circumstances the
most eXaspcrating that can be conceived Murder
and the lash were the acknowledged Instruments
OF wholesale intimidation. The wrongs which
were perpetrated upon them were OF the most
brutal atrocious and cowaTdy character. Secret,
Inbound organizations deied the law with
mpunity. Their homes were invaded. their
churches burned, their persons mutiloted. their
lives imperilled, and thousands of them slain
by civilized white Christlans-by n race boastin8
of their superiority in order to compel them
10 relinquiSh the one privilege which had been
granted them in sole recompcnse for two centuries
and half Of toll Mark now the result Instead
OF appcaling to secret violence 10 avenCe secret
wrong. this inherently inferior race bowed
their necks 10 this new burden Of injustice. not
apathctic nor insensible, but waiting patiently
Tor that civilization which had charged them as
its first lesson 10 obey the law TO discover way
for the Teassertion and maintenance OF the rights
conferred upon them by the Republic they had
aided TO sustain. This fact is not 10 be attTib-
uted 10 cowardice. weakness. or instability, but
10 the fact that brutal and barbarous instincts
have given way 10 that subtle recognition OF
general relations and popular forces which we
call civilization. That this Is true is inc0n-
estaby shown by the fact that neither the apathy
OF their profeSsed political friends nor the bar.
barous violence of their enemies has proved
sufficient 10 swerve them. in any appreciate num-
bers from devotion 10 what they conceive to he in
promotion Of the liberty and rights Of their race.
They may be prevented from cndcavorlne 70 eNer-
else the elective franchise by violence or deferred
by the hopelesSness Of universal fraud. but even
after thirteen years of SubiugatOn neither bland
ishnents nor threats can induce them to CO.
operate with party which processes itself hostile
to their unrestricted exercise Of the rights OF
citizenship and the enjoyment Of political equality
by their race. They have made silent. peaceful
but unremitting protest against the wronSis .naey
have suffered. and by SO doing, have rebutted
most efTectually tie imputation of IAN ineradi-
cable tendency 10 barhariSm. 30
But is racial superiority ever )ustlncatlon
for the suborduation and control of another race
We have decided that it did not justify slavery
individual subiection that IS Is It suilclent en-
cuse for collective Subsection or political dis
armament and forcible control? If this question
is decided in the affirmative, we have then to
| consider whether the American negro has manl'
fested such racial inferorty" or innate ten
dency to baybarism,8 and whether the South
crn white man has exhibited such UNI
rivalled 0ualties rs citizen. such free
dn, from degrading tendencies such .
matchlcss and exalted civilization, as juStiies tho
American people in abandoning 10 his absolute
nolitical control race manitcStlng the qualities
and tendencies that the American negro has DIS
played TO perpetuate whose enslayement he lately
dared and sacrificed So much. and whose perpetual
suhicctiou he defantlV asserts his purpose 10