Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-10-14
Mr.. PowderIy's Letter Sheds No Light
on the Subject DisoUsssd-IItsO Din-
feB ON Social Equaiity-fhs south
ron's Opinion of the Negro.
KICIINOND, UcIODtf TO, IooO.


TO the Editor Of the Dispatch:
Tread Mr.. Powcerly's letter in the Dis
| match OF Yesterday with curiosity to fine
out how he would more clearly define hi
| position on the "social " question than hC
| did in his address at the ArmOry. | an
not disappointed in the letter. In hi
Armory address he illustrated his faith
and made "aciions speak louder than
words" and he declared that this was hi,
deliberate purpose in selecting Terrell.
WHAT MR.. POwDEaLY REALLY BELIEVES.
|. lie believes in social equality between
the white and black race in this country.
He believes that negroes should be admitted
TO all our churches, theatres, restaurants,
and sit side by side with our wives and
daughters.
2. He is himself willing 10 eat and lodge
with negroes, and thinks that all persons in
the South should do the same.
3. He Processes to believe that the white
and negro are socially equals. Logically
he must believe that they should intermarry
at will.
WHAT WE OF THE SOUTH AND THE KNIGHTS
OF LABUE OF THE SOUTH BELIEVE.
/. We believe that the negro Is inferior
TO the white man anatomically, morally. in
tcllcctually, cutaneouSIy, phonographically,
and that, God having made him so, he is
rot to blame for it.
2. We believe it is the sacred duly Of
every race to maintain its integrity. and to
resist to the death any attempt to he reduced
TO a lower level; that national extinction l.
better Than permanent natural dcgrIdIli1u.
3. We believe that a people who will con-
sent TO this degradation is unworthy OF
liberty and will not long enjoy it.
4. We believe (as you say in your able
editorial to-day that those whom God in
His wisdom has 50 widely put a,uudcr let
no man in his folly attempt to bring to-
gcther.
8. We believe that the time will neUer
come when the whites OF the South VIII
submit to social equality with the negro.
II has always been the opinion Of white
men III the Southland OF the intelligent
negro, tOo-that when white man puts
himself on level with the negro he is
"meaDer than negro"
6. Finally, we not only believe, but we
kROlr, that while the negro was forced on
US by the North, we have doEe more TO ele-
yate and moraliZe him than all the mission
aries OF all the Churches in ChriStendOm
put together; that thousands, and we hope
millions, have been taught religion DIETER
than letters, and have gOneto Heaven. We
do not deny that the negro has done much
for US.
In my letter in the Dispatch last week |
said Mr.. Powderly was a phlanthropist
but not Philosopher" | am very sorry
to say I find he is Onc-ideI" man.
did not suppose there was 4 Sabbath-schOol
scholar of twelve years old in the North
who did not know that the white and col.
ored people In the South occupied different
churches and places OF amusement. For
u man claiming to be 4 leader in great re-
form movement and yet ignorant OF the
manners and customs" Of bis own coun-
Try is something new under the sun.
have always been in favor OF eleyating
the working classes, and have proved il 10y
my works, but fear Mr.. POwderlv is not
the "right man in the right place" ] re-
commend that he come and reside in the
South six months. This would dispel all
his crude theories. \. II. {.