The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-10-01
TUESDAY NOVEMBER A, 1877
..A prsGusrING ApMnxTuRE.,

Our strong dislike for " disgusting adj
OF all sorts and descriptions,
even to disgusting editorial headline,
has prevented an earlier notice by us OF an
article which appeared in the Sunday morn
ing Enquirer, bearing the above caption,
and having its most disgusting feature in
the tone and general character OF what
was edtorially dished up for the Conserva-
tive palate of that morning. The article
related to the meeting held at Assembly
Hall on Friday night last, where two
thirds of the audience, at least, were white
citizens of Richmond. and mot to
speak disparagingly) standing intellec-
tually. morally, and socially as
high as the editors of our contemporary,
or the Sunday readers of that self-laudated
journal. If it is SO exceedingly offensive
to the fastidious gentlemen conducting
that paper to see few negroes respect
fully occupying side seats in political
meeting in Richmond, for the purpose OF
hearing and being instructed in the great
(and to them vltaD political questions Of
the day, sohen, we would like to inquire,
did this fastidiousness of taste first origi-
nate, and what 'sdisgusting admixtures"
gave rise to 1t? Was it when the late
highly-esteemed and honored VIM. ID.
mcfarland, Colonel Marmaduke johnson,
and the still existing r. L. Daniel, to say
nothing of host of equally honorable and
shining Conservative lights, called meet
ing Of the colored people of Richmond at
the Theatre in 1866 or '67, introducing
them for the first time into the dress-cir-
Gle of that peculiarly aristocratic institu-
ton, and there beseeehingly, if not pit
eously, imploring them Qor extrem ly COM
mendable ends) to remember the kind re-
lations which had always existed between
the two races as master and slave, and
claiming, as the most distinguishing title
to their love and devotion, that they (the
white leaders of the meeting) had drawn
their first DEMONSTRATING nourishmeEt from
The same dusky bosoms with themselves
Those who were present at that mos
extraordinary meeting, extraordinarily helc
in the Richmond Theatre. will never Jorge
the imploring and eloquent appeals OF Colo
mel johnson, who, in the most affecting Zoo
disgusting manner, spoke Of the deep ant
abiding affection which he cherished for hi
colored nanny" from whose breast hi
imbibed the sustenance of his infancy; no
will they forget the equally moving ant
pathetic arguments Of other gentlemen adj
dressing the meeting, which was composed
almost entirely of negroes, who filled tn
Theatre from dome to parquette. 1t doe
not appear that either these gentlemen, o.
the editors--of The Enquirer at that time
regarded their personal contact with tn
negro as resulting, or likely to result, in
"disgusting admixture," political, socia
or otherwise, by reason OF the meeting
referred to. Nor does it appear that an
aristocratic noses in Richmond were espe
cially turned up at the negroes occupying
the dress-circle of the Theatre, which ha'
before been devoted to the exclusive use Q
the elie--the white elHe-of our city
If this sort of thing is a "disgust
ing admixture," who inaugurate
and recognized it as a necessary an
legitimate consequence of the revo
luton which had been brought abou
by dragging the state into rebellion
This was before the adoption of the -Four
teenlh and Fifteenth amendments, an
was, therefore, in every respect a voluntar.
act and if similar meeting, but on
more largely white, be so culpable an
disgusting now, as these self.righteou
Pharisees would have us believe, by wha
sorcery has the leopard's spots and tn
Ethiop's skin been changed? "We blushe
in witnessing this exhibition" says Til
Enquirer; yes, but no blush suff'used it
cheek while inditing willtul misrepreser
tation of the meeting, such as was publshe
by it the next day No blush martle
its lace or that Of its party at tn
Cheating, ballot-box stuffing and smashin
which has been systematically practced
this city, and elsewhere, since the advent {
the Conservative party to power in tn
state. No blush has crinsoned Conservativ
counteuances at the political tricks, MOCK
cries, tcrgiversations, and inconsstencie
which have marked their course as Demo
Gratis, True Republicans, Grant Republ
cans, Conservatives, and any and every
thing to beat their opponents; humbl
cringing before the doors of Congress, an
imploring mercy of the national executiy
to save them from the consequence
of their disloyalty and generi
bad faith as citizens! No, no these thing
were honorable and worthy Of Virgin
chivalry. To persecute the poor down
trodden negro to deprive him of the right
which they have solemnly guaranteed
him; to punish every misdemeanor {
which he may be convicted at the hands {
prejudlced and partial jury by coniins
ment in the peniientiary, and brand hir