Political Quotes

W.E.B. Du Bois: Fear, interest, and philanthropy united for a time in an effort which bade fair to suppress the trade; then the real…

On the record
Fear, interest, and philanthropy united for a time in an effort which bade fair to suppress the trade; then the real weakness of the constitutional compromise appeared, and the interests of the few overcame the fears and the humanity of the many.
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W.E.B. Du Bois

Editor's note · Context

Du Bois reflects on the complex interplay of fear, interest, and philanthropy in the struggle against the slave trade, highlighting the challenges of moral and political compromise.

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