The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-02-10
The following is a comparison Of the Gems
The Color Line Again.
EDITORS OF THE VIRGINIAN:-


l have been steadily watching matters In the
State, politically, ever since the presi ential cleo
ton, anu resolved heretofore to say nothing
until had something to say, and as there
nave been two calls issued for c0ipred
ventions one to meet III Petersburg, March
i+th, next, and the other to be held in Rich
mond, February 22nd think the Time has come for
an African Republican to express his opinion.
will talk very Aain; in fact, will handle my sub
Ject WI, hout gloves.
From the Iltchmond Wing of January 81, 1 have
received the remarkable Intelligence "a large
mass meeting of The Republicans held" and
they spoke out in meettng!' They denounced tne
chairman Of the Republican Executive Committee,
mas white skin on his face, lives in Virginia, and
holds one OF those delectable, enyious Things,
government office.
They also went so far as to state that these white
ohlceholders have never done anything to relieve
the suffering condition of the cOoreu in Viz
Sin1a This places the colored people OF Virginia
i'll the position Of mere beggarS, and m- keS them
appear in the eyes OF the country young birds
holding their mouths open, and waiting for some
good Republican oillcehJiuer to I'LL them. II the
cplored people of Virginia want to be relieved from
their suffering condition, let them in full faith
with the ,0hose Republican party of STATE; not
with the committee OF colOred gentlemen Who desire
to have u r,t,4u convention 10 meet in Petersburg
and vino, III their great desire for office, place,
power, appointed themselves las delegates to that
convention" nor yet with the committee which de-
sires to meet in secret African couclave in the city
OF Richmond on Washington's birthday.
To be plain, the nple fact that colored COM
m1ttees, claiming to be- good Republicans, are cali
Ing Tor state conventions to meet at different Cities
and different dates, shows that any action out
sue VI the regularly authorized Republican COM
mittee Will tend only to strife in the kepubIi
can party. 1t also shows that the cUEured people
themselves are not Ill harmony this question,
IL they are, why these two selfappointed, bastard
committees, each calling for a convention2
L want a coiored convention, but don't want 1t 10
Z gu If 0ne desire to hear OF convention
of the Republican party Virginia. that it may CON
slider the needs and best interests every inhabi-
tant OF the state, without regard race color, or
previous condition Of servitude but certainly do
not wish to hear of Il convention calling itself
publican, In which there are none but black men,
and they acting Independently of the regularly
authorized committee of the Republican party.
1t seems to me tina the COlored man nghf The
white man betterin his presence than out OF IT, Il he
must light him; therefore, II l want to tell the
white man that he has wronged me, don't want to
go off and hold convention in which there WIN DC
white men, but Want to tell him his face that
ne has wronsed me, and have sense enous1 ant.
manhood enough to tell him of 1t A eolored con
venti"n does not even smell of any good resuts
the colored people Of Virginia, and II. thu white
epublicans were to call for white Republican
cnnventton these same colored gentfemen, who
nave SO much sympathy for the colored people,
would send up howl that the white Republicans had
drawn the color line!
Well TO be fair, what Is for the goose must
| be sauce for the gander," and my dear coored
leaders, If leaders they be, in error There are
some colored men who have dreamed of an Office
80 long that they have almost adopted the thought
OF as their nightmare, and the thought has nearly
rode ham to- nnfh