The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1886-10-15
THE COLOR LINE.
Mr.. Powderiy's Open Letter on the Race
Question: Reply to His Southern Crit

Question: Reply to His Southern Crit
les.
RICHMOND, Va, Oct 12-In consequence
of questions which have been raised by the
presence here of Farrell and other colored
delegates to the General Assembly, Mr..
Powderly has written letter to explain
why he selected Delegate Farrell to intro
duce him, His critics, he says, have seen
fit to assert that his action was an insult
and an attack upon the laws of social equal
ity. He continues.
MY sole object in selecting colored man to
introduce me was to encourage and help to up
lift his race from bondage worse than that
which held him in chains twenty-five years ago,
viz: Mental slavery. 1 desired to impress
upon the minds of white and black that
the same result followed action in the
field of labor whether that action was
on the part of Caucasian or negro Ia
bor Two years ago, in an address delivered
. in this city, I said to the people of Richmond:
You stand face to face with stern, living
reality, a responsibility which can not be
avoided or shirhed. The negro question is as
prominent to-day as it ever was. The first propo-
sition that stares US in the face is this: The
negro is free, he is here and he is going to stay
He is citizen and must learn to manage his
own affairs. His labor and that of the white
man will be thrown upon the market
side by side, and no human eye can detect a
difference between the article manufactured by
the black mechanic and that manufactured by
the white mechanic. Both claim an equal
share of the protection afforded to American
labor, and both mechanics must sink their diff
ferences or else fall prey to the slave labor
now being imported to this country.
Il was not criticised Tor saying that, and yet
it was susceptible of criticism my words
or October4. 1 did not refer to social equality,
for that can not be regulated by law. The sane
tity of the fireside circle not be invaded by
those who are not welcome. Every man has
the right to say who shall enter beneath his
roof, who shall occupy the same bed, pri-
vate conveyance, or such other place as he
is master of. / reserve for myself the
right to say whom will or will not associate
with; that right belongs to every other man. 1
have no wish to interfere with that right My
critics have forgotten that personal liberty and
social equality stand side by side They would
deny me the right to make my own selection as
to which of the assembled representatives
should perform certain duty. Had selected
the colored man to introduce Governor Lee it
would have been quite another thing. 1t
is perhaps unfortunate that our COM
ing was at time when political
excitement ran high and all things served as
excuses for those who wished to use them.
! When l heard that there was likelihood of
trouble because Mr. Farrell attended place of
amusement, asked of him not to subject him
self to insult by going where he was not vel
come. He told me that he had no intention Of
again going to that or any other place where his
presence would give rise to comment. Until
that time did not know that colored men were
denied admittance to theaters in this city.
while have no wish to interfere with the
social relations which exist between the races
in the South have strong desire to see the
black man educated. Southern labor, regard
less of its color, must learn to read and write
Southern cheap labor is more a menace to the
American toiler than the Chinese, and this
labor must be educated. Will my
critics show me how the laws of
social equality will be harmed by
educating the black man so that he may know
how to conduct himself as gentleman? Will
they explain how knowledge of the laws Of
his country will cause man to violate the laws
of social equality? Will they, in a cool, dispas-
sionate manner, explain to me whether an ed
ucation will not elevate the moral standard of
the colored man, and will they tell me that
such thing is not necessary? Will it be
explained to me whether the black man
should continue to work for starvation wages
with so many able-bodied colored men in the
South who do not know enough to ask for liv-
ing wages? 1t is not hard to guess that while
this continues to increase in numbers prospect
enter the home of the Southern laborer, and
that country which has an abundance of ill-fed,
Inbred laborers is not nor can not be a pros
porous one.
viii the critics stop long enough to tell me
why the United States Senate allowed col
ored man to introduce before the Presi-
dent of the United States measures for the
benefit of his State? Were the laws of social
equality outraged when the House of Repre-
,fof{ry
in it? Why did not other Southern Representa-
tives leave and return to their homes
when that was done? There need
be no further cause for alarm; the colored rep
resentatives to this convention will not intrude
where they are not wanted, and the time-hon-
ored laws on social equality will be allowed to
slumber along undisturbed. We have not done
a thing since coming to this city that is not
countenanced by the laws and constitution of
our country and in Difference to the wishes of
those who regard the laws of social equality as
superior to the laws of God and man we will
not, while here, avail ourselves of all of those
rights and privileges which belong to us. The
equality of American citizenship is all that we
insist on, and that equality must not be
trampled upon.
Nov, word as to hospitality. We are here
under no invitation from any one. We came
of our own free will and accord, and are pay
Ai6 Jul oNh way tLOICIOIOs SuCu RTdGulGOuS
insults as those offered by few mischievous
meddlers are not in order, and do not
admit of defense, even though given in
behalf of the laws of social equality. I
do not hold the people Of Richmond respon-
sible for the ill-action of a few who saw a
menace in our every action. The treatment re-
ceived at the hands of the citizens generally has
been most cordial. If during our stay any rep
resentative shall conduct himself in an unbe-
coming manner he alone will be held response
BILE for his action. To the convention I say
let no member surrender an iota of intel
lectual freedom because of any clamor. Hold
fast to that which is true and right. The tri-
umph of noise over reason is but transient.
Our principles will be better known, if not to-
day, they may be tomorrow They can bide
their time, and will some day have the world
for an audience. In the field of labor and Amer
lean citizenship we recognize no line of race,
creed, politics or color. The demagogue may
distort for purpose the words of others, and
for time the noise of the vocal boss may 81
lence reason, but that which is right and true
will become known when the former has passed
to rest and the sound of the latters voice has
forever died away. Then it will be known that
the intelligent, educated man is better qualified
TO discern the difference between right and
privilege and the unwritten law Of social equali-
ty will be more rigidlyobserved than it is to-day"
Good Crops.
WASHINGTON Dot 10-Tp tho Oofobo,. ,-e