The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1905-07-01
The Ethics of Social Life.

4
the Coliax Chronicle has from time to
time uttered, we note n discussion OI
the ''social problem" between the
Shreveport Journal and the Mont
gomery (Ala.) Journal, in which the
gist of this question is very sensibly
and neatly put by the editor of the
first-named journal. He says:
"Granting just rights to all men is
n question of ethics. and one upon
which boasted civilization has it's
foundation. These rights do not in
c'ude social recognition.
"Andfurther. social association and
social comningiiDg are two very,
very different things. These two the
esteemed contemporary c0nfOunds,
| as do all or nearly all these heated
writer's. who have discovered within
the past few years what their IN theirs
never dreamed Old social danger
from the negro.
The matter OF social equality Is one
OF taste, inclination and personal de-
termination. No southern gentle
man ever desired or ever INDUCED in
that character Ofequality with others
than his own selection, and certainly
with no low caste race.
''COmmingling I'm public crowd
has no more connection with social
equality than the moon has with the
earth. We all c0mmingle with men OF
NIL shades Of color and character. men
we would no more dream Of inviting
To social intercourse than we would
dream Of ;issassinating our families.
1.-The danger lies In the extreme
view at the ''nlgger issue"-such as
our contemporary. unwfttingiy per-
hapsexpresses-tha real social rights
will I've submerged I'm an attempt to
make all white men social equals;
that Is to say. tn set up law, even
OF public opinion, that no white man
has the right to say what white men
he shall invite as his social equals"
The Journals conclusion, that it is
not possible to make all white men
social equals, drives right to the mar
row of the "nigger equality" PROPOSE
ton. which some people profess to
fear. Such contention is foolish tri-
fling with the subject, and tsfrequent
and incorporate suggestion is the
only danger that the discussion is
likely to provoke. just SO long us
intelligent and virtuous men ind wo-
men will not commingle with the ig-
norant. vicious and depraved. just 80
long will the line Of demarkation be-
tween the two he observed. The
Christian standard of separa ton is
bound to control, or the entire fabric
of orr civilization falls to the ground.
The negro, being OF an inferior race
and OF low order of intelligence and
integrity, naturally takes his place al
the foot of the social class, and his
status is fixed by the immutable laws
of God. just us is the status Of the ig-
norant and vicious of the white race.
If u negro, by virture of honesty
and integrity, redeems himself from
his unfortunate low estate, he wins a
certain and sure amount of respect
from the higher social circle. But
there ever remains somewhatngainst
him-"the Ethiopian cannot change
his skin" And this same indefinable
something" draws the line against
the vicious of the white race as surely
as it does against the negro.
Depraved white men and women re
form from the lower walks of life, and
they are taken kindly by the hand,
congratulated upon their change for
the better, and bid to go and sin no
more. But do the fathers and moth
ers Of the land take these people into
the bosom of their families, and treat
them rs socinl equals and fit associ-
ntes for their boys and girls? Nay,
verilyl With kindly words and finan-
cial aid they may be liberal and free,
but the Kindness ends at the threshold
Of the home. The faint is there, and
so long as it may exist or the memory
Of it continue, just so long will the
barrier remain fixed and mistaken
On this law of divine and social ethics
our Southern homes rest secure from
all assault.