Year: 1875

probably be solution Of the problem to this


extent The Democrats of the South would


treat them with at least as much considera-


ton and respect rs the Democratic leaders Of
the North trent their Irish constituency.
They would get some Of the minor Offices
and subordinate plhces, and they would be
treated with much more social consideration
than they can ever hope to receive so long IS
they ere ar7ayed as race in combined polti-
cal hostility against the great mass Of the
Southern whites. They would be mere vot-


ing machines, it is true, but the condition


would have it's compensations for them.


Certainly 1t would be a relief to the Repub-


Gcan party Of the North to have the fenrful


responsibility Of maintaining peace in the


South thus shifted from its shoulders to that


of its opponents. Another good that woull


flow from this fusion Of the black with tho


white race would be that it would Iced in


short time to division Of the whites into


two political parties, just as they are


divided in the North. Each Of these white


factionsvould electioneer for the co1ored vote,


Just as the native Democratic and Republican


politicians electioneer for the foreign vote,


and the blacks would be petted, hattered,


protected, and defended in their civil and po. .
itical rights by both Of the white parties.


But the hope is that the Civl-Rights bill


will release the blacks from the constrnirt Of


either joining the Democrats OF adopting the


policy OF revenge. We cannot, however, b4


too sanguine in this matter. We must re-
member that, after the 4th of March, the Ad
ninistration will be under very pronounced
restraint by Democratic Congress. Though
the Federal Courts and the machinery Of the
Executive will still be in the hands
of the Republican party to enforce
the provisions Of the Civu-Rights law,
the House Of Representatives, which holds
the purse, can seriously impede its op-
eration with the exclusive control Of appro-
priations. We would not, therefore, have
the blacks place too much faith in the virtue
Of the Civl-Rights bill as q panacea for all
their ills. Indeed, it is not well that they
should rely upon legislation exclusively for
recognition Of their social Claims Their
own actions will, in spite Of all legis-
lation, have moro influence over their
relations with the whites and with each
other than everything else. To the extent
that these relations are ruthlessly invaded by
the whites, so that the civic privileges Of the
colored people are abridged, we hope TINT
the new law may be passed and ngid1y En-
forced The purely social distinctions, how
ever, must depend upon the personal conduct
of the blacks themselves and the progress
they are able to make in their departure
from late condition Of servitude and pni-
versal Ignorance. Indeed, the remark of
Judge HoAR in the House, pending the dis
cussion Of the bill, very fairly characterizcs
its probable influence, when he said that 10
did not believe that much good or much ham
would come from it, but that it ought to be
passed as sort of Declaration Of Iudepend-
ence. 1t is in this spirit that the Senate
should take it up in its present shape, and
with its sanction make it law.