Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1886-03-27
Entered at the postotlice at Accomac
6. H.. Va. as second-claSS matter.


Representative colored Virgin
,ans called recently on the Presi
dent of the United States. An adj
Dire IS as will be seen by reference
to our columns was read-accOmpa
MED by letters from Gov. Lee and
Hon. John S. Barbour. The object
of their visit as expressed in their
address, being "tO foster a spirit OF
confidence and mutual co operation
between the white and colored peo-
pie of the State" and the
fact that they thought it proper
to secure for their address the
endorsement of representative
White men of Virginia would seem
to indicate, that some of the color
ed people of Virginia are begin
ming to realize in what direction
their true interest lie. The decla-
ration contained III the address
"that none should in the future
mass our people upon the prelu-
dices of the past to obtain office
and power" is especially signiti-
cant. That they have determined
no longer to be driven sas so many
dumb beast to the ShambleS, at the
bidding of every defamer OF Viz
cinia. who through them would Sc
cure positions which for want OF
merit has been denied them else
where, suggests that they have be-
gun to think for themselves and
arc beginning to look to those who
can best give them that SubStan
tial aid. which will best promote
the interest of their race. They
have been q loug time awakening
to the fact, that race antagonlsm
does not pay and that if persisted
in, they as the weaker race would
have to go to the wall. They
have been a long time in coming tc
the conclusion that false leaders
have been using them for the
loaves and fishes it gave them, and
to the detriment of the colored race
They have been a long time open
ing their eyes to the fact, that they
in common with the rest OF man
kind must rely chiefly on tbell
own efforts for their advancement
and that they had need to guard
against designing men, whose
friendship for them ended, when
they could no longer use them
--.---t,now-that the visions OF ''forty
ing from theirview and that great
er fallacy. that they were to be the
perpetual wards of the nation is
being disrel'ed and they come ask
ing the opportunity to work out
their own destiny. they need and
should have the aid and encour-
agement Of every man in Virginia:
and President Cleveland but voiced
the sentiments of most VirginianS,
when he said he was earnestly
anxious for the success of any
measures to improve the condition
of the colored people ofYirginia.-
For them the Southern people have
an affection, which those who live
beyond their borders can never
properly appreciate and the color
ed people have but to show that
"unwillingness to mass themselves
against them' as they have done
in the. past and to antagonize their
interests, to ssecure that improve
ment in tie condition OF their race"
which will be mutually beneficial.
Having an identity of interest
they should not be at war with
each other and will not be, if wise
connsels, teaching the colored man
that discretion which is born Of
wisdom,enables HIM to comprehend
the extent Of the rights Which be.
longs to him and checks any en-
croachments beyond its limits.