New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-06-11
District Of Columbia.

To M' EIiior orMe M,o National Fra:
Your Richmond (Va.) correspondent,
'Equa: Rights" in your last issue, sounded
the right note in saying that the security of
civil rights depends mainly on the action of
the colored voters of the South in the next
campaign. IL requires but the slightest OBJ
scrvatiOn to discern that if the bill is defeated
in the House this session, it will be by an
alliance of certain Southern Republican Rep
rcscntativcs with the Democrats. In the
late vote to take the Civil Rights Bill from
the Speakers table, this is partly evidenced
by the votes Of Sener, Smith, and Thomas
against taking up this bill, all these gentle
men being from large colorcd constitu-
cncies.
They arc all candidates for denomination
and reelection, and the colorcd people of
their respective districts would prove false if
these gentlemen receive Endorsement by
denomination and reelection. All resolutions,
speeches, or petitions for civil rights 90 for
naught if they support such men or take up
others who do not sec the imperative neces.
sity for doing away with all discrimination
based on color i'll common carriers, inns,
public places of amusement, entertainment,
and instruction, in schools and colleges.
There are doubts, however, whether the
proper rcbukc will be administered to these
men so long as their colorcd cmissaries, in
tho person of special agents of the Post
Office Department, custom-house, and inter-
nal revenue employees, arc more willing to
serve their masters as pot-hOusc politicians
than inclined to perform the manlier service
of arorsing their fellow-citiZens to demand
that the institutions of our country shall be
in keeping with that idea of political and
civil equality which is at once the theory as
well as the basis of our Government.
One significant fact connected with the
progress of the great political struggle end
ing in citizenship, is that no right, no privi-
lege, no immunity has come before the people
demanded and were ready for it. This is
equally true as regards civil rights the rrin-
ciplc involved will not triumph until people
are in earnest, and show themselves above
mere personal ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.
The scathing criticism by Mr.. w. c. Roane,
of the position of Rev. w. Il. Derrick on the
school question, should be warming to other
,Ju,lases in our midst. In this connection,
would ask, Is Mr.. Derrick, an unnaturalized
British subject, as he boasts Of himself, quail.
fled by sympathy or identity of interests, tC
instruct, or to advise the colored people Of
Virginia as to the privileges and immunities
of 1merican citizenship?
Your correspondent, equal Rights" puts
great many colorcd men of that State in 4
false light with regard to the appointment OF
r. w. Hughes as Judge of the L. S. District
Court.
II. W. Hughes was mol the choice of all the
delegation that waited on the President dur
ing the sessions of the Civil Rights COnvcn.
ton held here last winter. A large number
was opposed to him on account of his bitter
and unqualified opposition to Civil Rights
Bill. The spokesman of the delegation re.
fused to advocate his claims for this position
and it was Mr.. W. II. Lester, of Richmond
II. was the choice of all the colored people O
Virginia, and nothing would please then
more than his appointment. That afternoon
Mr.. II. was appointed.
On the return Of the delegation to the con
vention, one of these men, J. A. T., who
clamorcd so strongly for Judge Hughes, a
the same time knowing his uncompromisin2
opposition to civil rights, availed himself o
the first opportunity to deliver a strong spcccl
in favor of the Civil Rights Bill as it came
from the hands Of Mr.. Sumner.
1t is this Inconsistency, this treachery tt
principle, this subserviency to ring-masters
dwarfing manly independence, sitting ant
choking the aspirations of the masses which
as much as any one other cause, has KEEP
Virginia in the political back ground.
These colorcd men who do the white
washing, the kitchen work, and who, for 20
litical purposes, arc ready to serve stcl
hybrids as those referred to, should be he'll
up to public condemnation.
Let equal Rights" commence the wor
of exposure, and his efforts will be crowne'
J by success. G. j. W.