The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-10-10
vIRGINIAls .lBBsT CITIZENS. .

VIRGINTA'S BEST CITIZENS
The gathering Of an excited and armed
crowd of Richmond's chest citizens to pro-
tect from further violation the sacred social
customs which had been transgressed by the
admission Of a negro into the body of one of
their theaters, was an absurd spectacle to pre-
sent to the eyes of civilized world. Angels
might weep over it, because angels are not
supposed to have any sense of humor; but the
ordinary unetherealzed human mind-exist
ing north Of Virginia-wi!l view it as very
funny affair. The people of Richmond meet
Che colored population on the familiar terms
Of business AMI domestic life, but when it
comes to tolerating their presence in public
assembly the line is drawn. The chest citi-
zens' might be contaminated in some mys-
3erious and dreadful manner should a
negro sit in his church pew or in
a neighboring chair at theater.
To guard against such defilement, therefore,
no negro, however we'll dressed, clearly or
respectable he may be, is permitted either to
seek salvation or amusement in any public ed
ifce unless be will consent to take back
seat, and one next to the roof at that IF the
warlike demonstrations after the black knight
Of Labor from New York had penetrated the
Iacred precincts may be taken as an
indication, the penalty for the in
fraction of such rule is death. The presump
iuous Knight escaped with his life, but there
IS no telling what might have happened had
he attempted to enter the white mans par
quette again. Fortunately however, the Of
tensive Knight sought amusement elsewhere
that evening, probably because he thought it
hardly worth while to invest any money in a
that if colored man entered the house he
would ring down the curtain instantly. By
This iudicious action he not only saved his
Swn bones but also removed all dan
ger of infection from any chest
citizens who dared to attend and
isk his presence. It is true that
1t the performance which the colored person
from New York did witness his only neigh
Oors were fellow-Knights from his own city,
who were presumably contasion- proof, and
that so far as known no noble Virginian actu
ally suffered anything worse than mental
bangs by reason of his reckless and criminal
disregard Of social rules. 1t might, under the
circumstances, have been considered wise to
.aise no disturbance over the matter. Inas-
much as the New York knight would soon
return home, and as the best citizens quietly
warned Of their danger, could eschew thea
GERS during his visit, policy of silence would 4
have been diplomatic. The Democratic party
Of the South is just posing friend of
the negro, and violently denies the statement
Of men like Mr. Cable, who declare that no
man with African blood in his veins has jus
lice meted out to him III that
region. To have refrained from
any notice Of the Northern negro
who might be assumed to be ignorant of these
customs would have given some weight to
their claims; would at least have kept weap-
on out of the hands Of their opponents But
this the best citizens could not do. Frantic
with fear lest the entrance of one mem
Der of the despised race into the halls hitherto
exclusively their own should open the way for
others to follow, they assembled in a mob,
3eadv to commit murder, if necessary, in de-
Tense OF their narrow and antiquated c,istoms.
By so doing they have destroyed their claims
of regard for the ex-slave, have antagonized
Knights Of Labor, and have made themselves
ridiculous in the eyes of the world Twenty
years ago i. took great general, backed by
an army, 70 make Richmond capitulate, bat
now it is stampeded by single black man.
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