The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1886-05-06

matter assumed such encouraging propOr-
tions the General Assembly of the state.
voted unanimously Ill favor Of the Blair
bill when the pulse of the State was felt
on this matter. Besides this there is no
burning of school houses, but Judging from
our OWN work (and this is true IN other
portions fpr the State} there is much sub
stantial aid given toward the advancement
Of plans for negro education. Under the
present Administration no disposition has
been shown, on the part of the State. 10
do less now or III the future than was done
IN the past. If the respective State treas
uries could be replenished by National ap-
preparation, the South would leap into
new life and the whole>countrv would be
agreeably conscious Of rs significant pul
Sat.On.
In the effect upon questions invoking
labor, trade and other branches of politi-
cal economies, there has not been much
change for the better. Lahos is not at a
premium mortgage system IN still keeps
the honest workIngman's nose to the
grindstone. The enormous interest (some-
times % to 40 per cent paid on the nee
essarieS Of life provisions, lothiDg, pro-
vender, fertilizers, etc. advanc ad by uler-
chants too often brings the tenant in debt
at the end OF the year. Still there are
some who prosper even with these great
disadvantages. But towards the softening
of relations between the whites and blacks
there has been but little change from the
condition of things under the Repub
llcan Administration Then no eating
house would serve meals to COlOred pas
sengers except at the kitchen. On one
occasion, | remember, Bishop Hood, of
this State, and the writer We're ordered
out of a large dining room in the Western
ri or ,1u
dared to offer or attempt to eat in the
same room (not at the same table, with
white men. This was late in the evening
and We had not tasted a mOrSel since
morning. Again, the Southern bound train
from Washington stops at Danvillo, Va,
for breakfast. Prior to Mr.. Cleveland's S
Administration the writer frequently took
breakfast in the regular dining room; but
under the present Administration colored
passengers are now invited to the kitchen.
They can go there or so without a meal
This Is the great calling phase of the col
ored traveller in North Carolina and in the
whole South One may travel first class,
and even in the same sleeper, for hundreds
OF miles, with white passengers; but how
ever hungry you may be the colored pas
senger cannot stop at the stations and
take his meals as other passengers. Such
was nay bitter experience recently. From
San Francisco to New Orleans | took nv
meals regularly. This was even true in
Texas but the reason is this eating
houses are under control of the owners
and managers of the Southern Pacific Rail
way Co., and all honor to these men: they
know no difference because of race OF color
in their accommodation fer the travelling
public. But from New Orleans to Sails
bury | was compelled to take lunches in
the buffet car the whole distance simply
because | was colored. To have colored
men, not to speak of ladies, travel days
without the ordinary comforts Of travel is
not only cruel but is humiliating beyond
description.
| did hope that Mr.. Cleveland'S Admin
istration would change things in this re
spect The more thoughtful men of the
. race are not seeking Office nor political pre-
ferment of any kind, nor social equality,
but they do ask and demand the recogni-
tion of their manhood and the concession
of the comforts of travel when they pay
for them.
In February, 1885, between two and
three O'Clock in the morning | was forced
in the killing cold at railroad station in
| Georgia while other passengers were per
mitted to sit by a cheerful fire to await
| the arrival of the next train which came
and all because was little darker than
! the others. The negro servant, however,
could sit by that fire the Hvelong night,
/ but a colored lady passenger must not dare
/ to venture in. This inhuman treatment
is the great annoyance and embarrassment
to the negro who is SO unfortunate as to
be compelled to travel. Ispeak out of my
own experience and know what | say to
be true. AS first class accommodations in
the case in North Carolina were received
under the Republican Administration we
may be allowed to hopo that if the first
year of Mr.. Cleveland's Administration
| did not open first class dining rooms tC
first class passengers of color that the re
naming three years may have this resul,
and no act that will be hailed with greater
satisfaction BY thas class of the travelling
public in the whole South.
/ J. c. PRICE.