New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-03-27
The RiChmOnders.

An invitation ID Slsit lilt LAX l4ts vi AAAeH
nond, Va, was gladly accepted b. one Of
he associated editors Of this journal last
week, where he spent most agreeable and
profitable time. l.
The Davenport House was the place Of our
To find our people taking
root in the soil through business is always
pleasant, and when they conduct business
like other people, it is exceedingly eucourag-
ing. We have few really good hotels in any
Of the cities of the Union, partly because
there are not travellers enough of our race to
support such establishments, and partly be-
cause it is hard to keep a good hotel. Ii fl ,
hotel be good, Our people grumble at the
prices, and If it be bad, with low prices, they !
grumble at the landlord. But Mr.. and Mrs. |
Davenport have managed, by tact and appli- |
cation to business, and through obliging dis /
positions, to keep really good hotel at
moderate rates Of board. We commend it TO
our friends.
A conference was held on the evening OF
our arrival, in the interest o! the New Ma
IIoNAL ERA, at which most Of the leading
colored citizens of Richmond were present.
Nearly all the members of the Legislature
belonging to our race, the leading employees
of the custom house and post Office, and
large number Of the business men were pres
ent, TO the number Of about forty. 1t was
gratifying 10 observe the unanlmity Of senti-
ment in respect to the necessity OF having
some one journal which should devote itself
to the discussion Of those questions which
for the present, and that through no fault OF
our own, peculiarly affect us. ON this sub
ject some crude views have gained ground.
1t is thought by some that il we do not men
ton the word color, that there will be no
colored people, and that if We pretend that
the inhabitants of the Union are all one color,
that colored people will be treated as though
it were so. The fallacy in this view lies just
here: namely, in the belief that men can
ever gain anything by pretense. The only
way to break down color distinctions, is for
the weaker color to keep up distinctions till
the stronger color finds out that it must con-
ciliate the whole Of that color before it can
win one belonging to it. But as long as we
can be drawn off from our interests, one by
one, under the thin sham that, though our
white friends may be white, yet we must not
be colored, though every fashionable hotel,
every theater, every church, every counting
house, on the other side, by their proscrip-
ton, proves we are colored, we shall be play
ing the part of the ostrich which hides its
head while it leaves its hinder parts to be
kicked.
A strong endorsement was given to the
New NATIONAL ERA as doing much
needed and highly appreciated worn in the
way Of education, reform, and advancement
among our people. After satisfactory arrange
ments were made the results Of the confer
ence were made known to the leading Repub-
lcan officials of the city, and we had the
pleasure Of pleasant interviews with DR..
Mills, the Collector of the port; Col. Parker,
| the United States Marshal, and Col. Rush
| Burgess, the Collector Of Internal Revenue,
each of whom showed their interest in our
work by subscribing literally toward the cir
culation of the New NATIONAL ERA. These
gentlemen are deseryedly held in high esteem
BY those who are associated with them in
their respective offices.
| A rousing demonstration was given in the
First Colored Baptist church-that old church
around which clings SO many historic Incl
dents. From it went forth in the olden time
many poor old slave with the praises of
God on the lips while anguish devoursd the
soul; and from it in the last days Of the Con-
! G.. h.. 1aSr1 ny
among the Shareholders when they saw the
Gordon of fire closing around that was to
melt the shackles from the limbs of every
slave. At this old centre Of piety and social
activity we spoke TO three thousand people.
The subject was Educational Agencies"
and seemed to create no little interest, as
many things were stated and dwclt upon
not generally known among our people re-
specting colleges, trades, and politics. We
spoke again the next evening at Rev. DIR.
VIM. Troy's church, to two thousand more.
At each meeting the NEW NATIONAL ERA
| found new friends and subscribers.
The business men ofcOlOr were interviewed
the next day with very satisfactory results.
There are numbers of such in Richmond
The colored men are seen on the right side
Of the c0unter-behind it. Here are to be
found tobacco factories, groceries, stables,
and other honorable businesses conducted by
colored men, and their number is increasing
Altogether We are thankful to the Richmond
ers for their hospitality and general kindness,
and feel refreshed by our trip. We have been
invited to speak on the Goth of April-anni-
versary ratification Of the fifteenth amend
ment-and think we will do it. What South
ern city speaks next:'