St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-02-16
RACE INEQUALITY.


Although of an opposite political faith |
have been deeply interested in your editorial
discussions of the race problem. But it
strikes me that you entirely ignore Mr.. JET
PERSONS famous axiom. "All men are born
free and equal and which has been made
the foundation stone of our political fnstitu-
lions. Your arguments seem to be predicat-
ed on the inequality of mankind. How can
you reconcile this with the Christian faith, or
with the theory of republican government?
Please enlighten me in your next Sundays
issue j. T. S
Minneapolis, Feb. ~.
In the first place, Mr.. JEFFERSON is
not responsible for the axiom quoted.
1t is RoUSSEAU'S, from whom Mr.. JET
FERsoN borrowed part of it and in
serted in the immortal declaration. If
he had used it all it would have been
lie on the face of it, for at that time
Mr.. JEFFERSON was himself the owner
of a score or two of individuals who
were born in slavery. And the part of
RouSSeauism that he did use, affirming
human equality, is as far from the
truth as the part he rejected. There is
no fact more patent or more potent
and unequal. AS matter of fact, alb
Stract equality is visible in none of the
works of creation. Inequality is writ
ten in broad lines ON the whole face of
nature. Inanimate creation presents an
endless variety. One star differeth from
another star in glory, and the planets,
orbs and spheres scattered in marvel
Gus profusion through their azure fields
have each and all their separate, dis
tinguishing characteristics The great
globe which we inhabit presents one
vast panoramic view of change and
diversity. The mind grows dizzy in at
tempt &c grasp an idea of that Omnipo-
tence capable of producing measure
less universe, and yet. with detailed ac-
curacy, creating no two things OF exact
equality. And auimal life is full of the
same wonderful lesson. The inequali-
ties of the human race are more striking
because of mans various endowments.
Just think of the countless throng of
human beings who have peopled this
earth, and of the millions who now in
habit ii, and we get some idea of
the versatility of the creative power
when we remember that no two per-
sons were ever alike IN mere physical
conformation, and no two were ever en-
dOwed the same Intellectually. In the
face of such overwhelming testimony of
diversity and dissimilarity why should
we be called upon to give assent to the
false doctrine of belief in the inherent
equality of man? Such doctrine is not
taught i'll the Scriptures, nor is it taught
in the Declaration of independence in
that perverted sense which modern
politico-economlstS employ. Race dis
tinctionS are too we'll defined to be
ignored in the construction of our polit-
zeal systems. The Anglo-SaXon- race
has justly won the proud distinction of
being the dominating race of the world,
for its trophies exist in every depart
! ment of human thought and &C
ton. Is it for the mock philanthropist
and spurious reformer to convince the
enlightened world that this race shall
be recognized only as equal to those
who have stood still, or whose foot
prints point backward toward ignorance
and original barbarism? In the eStab-
lishment of governments shall the pre-
! dominant race of the earth abjure and
| annihilate the eternal distinctions
/ which were decreed from the beginning
of time between the superior and infe-
| rior races?
There is an equality. however, which
can be maintained. and which should be
the prominent idea in all forms of re-
publican government. Its the equality
| of opportunity-a phrase which to our
mind seems to furnish complete def
milton of the limited and sole capacity
of laws to place men in just relations to
each other. When this equality of op-
portuuity is recognized and established,
| governments have exhausted their
powers in the direction of race homo
] geneity.