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Story
October 14, 1922
The Gazette
Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio
What is this article about?
W.E.B. DuBois defends his comments on Lincoln's birth by quoting the president's 1858 racist views on racial equality from a Charleston, Ill., speech, and contrasting them with his later actions: freeing slaves in 1863 and supporting Black suffrage in 1864.
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OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
DUBOIS ON LINCOLN. AGAIN!
The Martyred President Was Opposed to Social and Political Equality in 1858, but Changed, Later on.
Washington, D. C.—In an effort to satisfy his many critics because he made the historically correct statement in a recent issue of the Crisis that Abraham Lincoln was of illegitimate birth, Editor Wm. E. B. DuBois has the following to say of particular interest to our people relative to America's greatest historical figure:
Do my colored friends, says DuBois, really believe the picture would be fairer and finer if we forgot Lincoln's unfortunate speech at Charleston, Ill., in 1858? I commend that speech to the editors who have been having hysterics.
Abraham Lincoln said:
"I will say, then, that I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races—that I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of making voters or jurors of Negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold office, nor to intermarry with white people; and I will say in addition to this that there is a physical difference between the white and black races which I believe will forever forbid the two races living together on terms of social and political equality. And inasmuch as they cannot, so long as they do remain together there must be the position of superior and inferior, and I, as much as any other man, am in favor of having the superior position assigned to the white race."
This was Lincoln's word in 1858. Five years later he declared that black slaves "are and henceforth shall be free." And in 1864 he was writing to Hahn of Louisiana in favor of Negro suffrage.
The Martyred President Was Opposed to Social and Political Equality in 1858, but Changed, Later on.
Washington, D. C.—In an effort to satisfy his many critics because he made the historically correct statement in a recent issue of the Crisis that Abraham Lincoln was of illegitimate birth, Editor Wm. E. B. DuBois has the following to say of particular interest to our people relative to America's greatest historical figure:
Do my colored friends, says DuBois, really believe the picture would be fairer and finer if we forgot Lincoln's unfortunate speech at Charleston, Ill., in 1858? I commend that speech to the editors who have been having hysterics.
Abraham Lincoln said:
"I will say, then, that I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races—that I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of making voters or jurors of Negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold office, nor to intermarry with white people; and I will say in addition to this that there is a physical difference between the white and black races which I believe will forever forbid the two races living together on terms of social and political equality. And inasmuch as they cannot, so long as they do remain together there must be the position of superior and inferior, and I, as much as any other man, am in favor of having the superior position assigned to the white race."
This was Lincoln's word in 1858. Five years later he declared that black slaves "are and henceforth shall be free." And in 1864 he was writing to Hahn of Louisiana in favor of Negro suffrage.
What sub-type of article is it?
Biography
Historical Event
What themes does it cover?
Justice
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Lincoln Speech
Racial Equality
Emancipation
Negro Suffrage
Dubois Defense
What entities or persons were involved?
Abraham Lincoln
Wm. E. B. Dubois
Hahn
Where did it happen?
Washington, D. C.
Story Details
Key Persons
Abraham Lincoln
Wm. E. B. Dubois
Hahn
Location
Washington, D. C.
Event Date
1858, 1863, 1864
Story Details
DuBois addresses critics by quoting Lincoln's 1858 speech opposing social and political equality for Black people, contrasting it with Lincoln's 1863 Emancipation Proclamation freeing slaves and his 1864 support for Negro suffrage in Louisiana.