“A Strange Decision,” Democrat and Chronicle (Rochester, New York), May 20, 1896
The supreme court of the United States has decided that the law of Louisiana requiring the railroads of that state to provide separate cars for white and colored passengers is constitutional. The majority of the court seems to have reasoned by analogy, assuming that if the laws of congress requiring separate schools for the two races is constitutional, therefore the laws requiring separate cars likewise comes under the protection of the fundamental national law.
Justice Harlan’s vigorous dissent denouncing these laws as mischievous comes very much nearer the sentiment of the American people upon that question than the decision of the majority does. Justice Harlan says with entire truth that it would be just as reasonable for the states to pass laws requiring separate cars for Protestants and Catholics or for descendants of those of the Teutonic race and those of the Latin race.
The announcement of this decision will be received by thoughtful and fair-minded people with disapproval and regret. It is not in harmony with the principles of this republic or with the spirit of out time. It is a concession to one of the lowest and meanest prejudices to which the human mind is liable, the prejudice which draws a line between citizens and discriminates against people of a specified race and color. It puts the official stamp of the highest court in the country upon the miserable doctrine that several millions of American citizens are of an inferior race and unfit to mingle with citizens of other races.
The certain consequences of this decision will be to encourage Southern legislatures in passing other laws detrimental to the interests of the colored people of those states. Florida has a law which makes the teaching of white and colored children together in schools a crime. Under that law recently several Northern gentlemen and ladies constituting the faculty of an admirable Congregational school at Orange Park, an institution supported by the National Congregational Association, were arrested and held for trial. If there is any ground for the supreme court decision in the railroad case there seems to be no doubt that these black laws of the Southern states regarding schools would also be sustained by that tribunal. In that case the large educational interests of the religious denominations, chiefly supported by Northern contributions and unselfish services, would be seriously affected.
This question came before the Methodist General Conference on May 9th and strong resolutions condemning the Florida law were unanimously adopted without reference to a committee. In Georgia a short time ago an attempt was made to enact a similar law, but fortunately the public sentiment of that state appeared to be too enlightened to support the movement and the bill failed.
Source: Reprinted in Brook, Thomas, ed. Plessy V. Ferguson: A Brief History with Documents. Boston, MA: Bedford Books, 1997.
Document 5.1.5