New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-06-25

their neglect.
| Equal RIaHTs."
RICHMOND, Va, June %, 1874.
| To the Editor Of the Nso National Era:
| Hope is not wholly extnguished among
the colored people here, Notwithstanding the
delay of Congressional action on the civil
rights bill.
| 1t would be, to say the least, a dangerous
omission if Congress should adjourn without
favorable and decisive action on that just and
humane law. There is growing purpose on
the part of the colored people to refuse to
support the Republican party, in the event of
the failure of that party to protect them in
the enjoyment Of their civil rights. Though
powerful influences to the contrary are at
work it is more than probable that the next
nominee for Congress from this District will
be supported only on condition Of his willing
ness to aid the passage OF that bill. This is
the sentiment of a large number Of voters.
Our leaders may be more temperate and
reasonable" in their conditions and de-
mands.
Some who are known asplrants for the
place have forestalled success by their oppo-
sition to civil rights but the influence and
power which these gentlemen WELD may
overcome such objections and enlist on their
side the popular men of the party. Indeed.
there is remarkable facility among the party
leaders here to discern what is true policy in
a given state of facts, and to mark the exact
boundary between rashness and prudence,
between safety and danger.
This has led to some very ridiculous con-
sequences. 1t has been our misfortune
through their guidance, to concede so much
that when the time came to make firm and
positive demand, we were without the neces-
sary moral strength to enforce our claims.
We have been fed on political milk SO long
that we are huge political babies. 1t tries a
mans patience severely to hear intelligent
citizens talk about waiting for time to brin
the enjoyment of civil rights. They are not
willing to run counter to public sentiment in
this mater. They are disposed to be indul-
gent toward this prejudice. Harmony
"peace" and "mutual good feeling" are the
phrases under the deluson Of which they
consent to endure the insolent assertion Of
the white mans superiority.
A few weeks ago there appeared in your
paper letter advocating the position assumed
by Rev. w. B. Derrick on the mixed school
question. l am informed that that gentle.
man has been misunderstood, fate not I'M
| 10 oh no fnll
is the version which is now generally accept.
ed. Rev. Derrick said he was opposed tc
non prosc,iptive schools unless Congress
would guarantee a system of schools wher
Gas consequence of the passage of the bill
those in the State would be discontinued
His great object is to preserve the school
system, and as the white people threaten t.
destroy it if the bill becomes law, he de-
sires to have security against that calamity
Rather than have no schools, he would hav,
separate schools.
The best that can be sal of this is hi.
fears are father to the thought. He sacri
fees great principle to a contingency. But
, laying aside the preference he expresses
!. how does he know that the school system
!. will be abolished if the bill passes Is h
willing to abandon the position and necessa
ry right because few enraged Southern edi
. tors threaten and predict the destruction Q
common schools: We have not forgotten
similar threats when the Fifteenth Amend
y ment was being passed. Why, there wa
. to be general dissolution Of Southern soci
ETY., a community of offended nostrils,a gran
:, collapse of commerce, travel and social inter
4 course, "a wreck Of matter and a crush {
:. worlds" when negroes began to ride in al
= the. street cars in Richmond. Yet thes
changes have come, and no man is hur
4 Any one acquainted with these people woul
never hesitate in matter of justice on az
count of their clustering declarations an
>. impotent curses.
But Rev. Derrick is afraid. lie is drive
. from the high ground of Christian love an
:, civil Justice by the anathemas of men VIII
!, excel all created beings in the noble art
Dragging.
- sBy the Apostle Paul, shadows tonight
;. Have struck more terror to the soul of Richal
70 Than can the substance OF ten thousan
is soldiers"
'e My candid opinion is that Rev. Derrie
l. uttered this opinion not because he thougl
y, it lust or expedient, not because he was col
D. cerned about the welfare of the colored pc,
m pie, not because he expected to be followe
or praised or quoted, but because it appeart
novel to him. He did not think about Il
"a matter with any purpose of reaching tt
m truth. He did not even inquire whether
IN not Congress could do any such thing
T guarantee a system of free schools in ca
the State should refuse to sustain them. IT
e. controlling motive in the matter was pu
no noyelty-a love of sensation and sensation
be things-a weak vanity to be regarded as G
n. centric and above the common mode
: thought. Happily for the stability Of hum
u, character, there are only few such men o
Id of Bedlam, and they are not followed exec
is by their wives and servants.
50 The only danger that may be apprehend
from them is in the position they sometin
~ occupy, from which their utterances may
ia received as expressive of public scntimel
IS, by those who are unacquainted with tn
lly idiosyncracies. b.