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In conjunction with a current exhibition, the Brooklyn Historical Society blog is featuring a series of blog posts called “The Emancipation Proclamation: Americans Respond.” Learn more here.
Two days after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle took a dim view of Republican Abraham Lincoln’s leadership and of the impact that emancipation would have on the reunion of north and south.
The Eagle was founded in 1841. Like many newspapers of the early 19th century, the paper had no aspirations of objectivity. It aligned with one political party: the Democratic Party.
Editors of the Eagle lamented Lincoln's election in 1860, and upon the commencement of the Civil War, the newspaper criticized the U.S. government for driving southern states to secession. The accusation prompted a brief suspension of the paper's mailing privileges and the resignation of editor Henry McCloskey. The Eagle continued their condemnation of Lincoln's policies throughout the war.
The Eagle exemplified the racism that pervaded many newspapers in the 19th century. In the same issue as the above quote, the paper ran an article entitled "Rejoice, Ye Darkies, All," which condescendingly recorded the "queer doings of 'our colored brethren'" after hearing the news of the president's proclamation.
The Eagle reminds us that many white northerners disliked Lincoln's policies, loudly protested emancipation, and held deep prejudices against African Americans despite the fact that they lived in states where slavery had long been abolished .
Source: “The Proclamation: What is Thought of It,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle, January 3, 1863, 2.
Two days after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle took a dim view of Republican Abraham Lincoln’s leadership and of the impact that emancipation would have on the reunion of north and south.
“The truth is, the proclamation tends only to embitter the strife, and to render all but impossible a restoration of the Union. The chances of Union were remote enough without this additional element of bitterness; the prospect is now, we fear, all but hopeless.”
The Eagle was founded in 1841. Like many newspapers of the early 19th century, the paper had no aspirations of objectivity. It aligned with one political party: the Democratic Party.
Editors of the Eagle lamented Lincoln's election in 1860, and upon the commencement of the Civil War, the newspaper criticized the U.S. government for driving southern states to secession. The accusation prompted a brief suspension of the paper's mailing privileges and the resignation of editor Henry McCloskey. The Eagle continued their condemnation of Lincoln's policies throughout the war.
The Eagle exemplified the racism that pervaded many newspapers in the 19th century. In the same issue as the above quote, the paper ran an article entitled "Rejoice, Ye Darkies, All," which condescendingly recorded the "queer doings of 'our colored brethren'" after hearing the news of the president's proclamation.
The Eagle reminds us that many white northerners disliked Lincoln's policies, loudly protested emancipation, and held deep prejudices against African Americans despite the fact that they lived in states where slavery had long been abolished .
Source: “The Proclamation: What is Thought of It,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle, January 3, 1863, 2.
This blog post reflects the opinions of the author and does not necessarily represent the views of Brooklyn Public Library.
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