Editorial: The Republicans and the Doctrine of Negro Equality (8/28/1860)

New York Times archives - Times Machine ^ | 8/28/1860

[Homer_J_Simpson]

The Columbia (S.C.) Guardian, in reply to our comments on the disunion letter of Mr. BOYCE, insists that that gentlemen is quite correct in asserting that "the vital principle of the Republican party is negro equality," -- meaning thereby the political equality of negroes and whites. We have denied this and we deny it again. There are men in the Northern States who uphold and advocate that doctrine, -- but they are few in number and are not increasing. The Republican party, as such, has never been committed to it, nor have those among them who accept it as abstractly and theoretically true, ever sought to give it practical effect. No political party ever acts up to the extreme of its theoretical faith. There are obstacles to be overcome in the practical working of political institutions, -- just as in that of mechanical inventions; -- and they can no more be disregarded in the one case than in the other. It is not easy to disprove by argument the right of women to vote, fill high offices, and hold a position of perfect political equality with men; -- but the practical objections to carrying those opinions into practice are so palpable and so cogent, that no attempt is ever made to do so.

If the Republicans hold to this principle some evidence of the fact must be found in their declarations or their acts. Will the Guardian point us to either? Will it produce any authentic exposition of Republican principles in which this doctrine of negro equality is set forth? They quoted at Chicago, says the Guardian, that clause of the Declaration of Independence which asserts that "all men are created equal," and they must have meant to include blacks as well as whites.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Free Republic University, Department of History presents U.S. History, 1855-1860: Seminar and Discussion Forum
Bleeding Kansas, Dred Scott, Lincoln-Douglas, Harper’s Ferry, the election of 1860, secession – all the events leading up to the Civil War, as seen through news reports of the time and later historical accounts

First session: November 21, 2015. Last date to add: Sometime in the future.
Reading: Self-assigned. Recommendations made and welcomed.

Posting history, in reverse order

To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by reply or freepmail.

Link to previous New York Times thread

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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[Homer_J_Simpson]

Editorial: The Republicans and the Doctrine of Negro Equality – 2
An Important Discovery – 2-3
A Social Evil-Blubbering for Spilt Milk – 3
Stump Candidates for the Presidency – 3
Missing – 3
Base Ball: Eureka of Newark vs Enterprise of Brooklyn, Excelsior of South Brooklyn vs. Knickerbocker of New York – 3
New-Jersey – 3