Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-10-12
pOWpERLY'S LETTER.
r,rsySrs HIS VIEWS on THE
hh socIhr-YQuALITy QUESTION.
islam Of the General Assembly aud oil
,As colored Members Thereof with
References 10 Richmond, &C.

'f.r rs>D'nsiblc ioi klN'' NV't ~ guy
..,...r. if - bot proper that should I've
,-..ts. ia speak to ~ large an audience
I...t which listened 10 those who nave
'..,.i. miscon,irUcd, aud distorted the
t..rl ,bc dCa intended 20 be conveyed
rr,ranccs Of October an, when
~.t. FrCil introduced mc to the meet
t....1tHl Boa The Aim0ry. | stated 10
r0.nie that u was 20 my request
a., vr. FrfoN. o representative 81 the
l. --r.. iutrq,r ed me: II was
,o ne 70 make The selection
dd 81 alter mature de-
'.'r.s-n sn3 careful Thought. have
- ol heard an Argument since thea
I't '...r1 ..u.c me 10 DO differently to-
vs. ,rti.. have seen Gt 20 decide what
S..-t iy .,lcctng this man 10 introduce
-t tr,y have asserted that my action
h' .'I. r,.sracd in She light al an attack
~" A.. vs. o.. social equality. A part
" ,.. ,r,>> a. lhc South has attacked 10
81 .,lir.G6ahc manner a man who, un-
.. f.c md Constitution Of hi, coun-
D .i,.t.i smother man. and a citizen OF
u'',.. r,pu i.c. 10 perform public
ir - public place. la &C.
,S.,.i.l.ir- bis introduction I referred
rfGrIicc which existed against
,Y.c,i.-.d nan. II previous 10 that day
49, ans Hauhis thSt prejudice existed
49,. t-.c ..n removed 10y the hlsty and
"" ...r.ic action Of those who were so
s.i b, see aa insult where none wa. IN
tended.
N,.,le object in selecting a colored man
.ir,-,lu.c To-, was 10 encourage and help
Unfit l., race from a bondage worse
49, Which held him IN chains twenty five
..-. ,.---Vlg.. mental slavery. desired
.,rrrl., upon the minds ~ white and
ilrL Mat the same result followed action
l.n. fHd ~ labor. whether that action
49,. IN ihe part Of Caucasian or negro
i1,r Two years ago, IN an address
Lt:,,-,I m this city, / said 70
a. rr5rle 81 Richmond: "You stand
e.. =. faces with o >tcru, living reality: 2
,..r1r>.tlItv which cannot be avoided or
rtl,l TIE negro question j. As promi-
r.,,.,.5ry 4- ever IL was. The first prop0-
.,..,t1.f .rp, lis iu the flce i this: Tie
-, j. fr,,: he j. here, and he Is here 10
- lI,i.t citizen. and must learn u
,,.r,.-C h,. own adGrs. His labor and
a., ~ ttr white man viii be thrown
-, tte u.r4Dt side by side, and no
imam t,r can detect a difference be-
tv.fo ~. article manufactured 10y the
~ mechanic and that manufactured by
A.. rlii, mechanic Both claim an equal
.r.rs q tbc protection afforded TO
tm.ri.,u Llos. and both mechanics
,-~.f LAX their differences or fall
,rsv ID the slave labor now being
,r.,.,rt..l % tli. country" Twas not criti-
f'ar saving 'hst, aud yet it was Is Sus'
r.,tale u criticism a, my words on Octo-
l.r th. ..d not refer to social equality,
f.rtna- cannr; le regulated by law. The
s.rcfty q t't lrc,iu" circle cannot be IN
,.J.d ly those who are not welcome.
T,,rv mn DIS tnt ri-Lt to say who shall
ort,r ielsfa hi, roof; Who shall occupy
ns,m. bod. private CONVEYANCE, or such
o.herrsc. r> uc is master OF. | reserve
frrt..I Do, Ii.ht o. ,ay who ] Will or
Vrroi ...u,,ltc WIKI, that right belongs
every other mag. J have no wish 10 H.
ti.I, Vt. tLat right.
ylE-oNN Il.LErY ASD SOCIAL EQUALITY.
N, critic, have forgotten that personal
H,rfy and social equality stand side by
Side. They would deny me the right 10
NIX, uN own stlC ton "a, L. which OF the
s.,cmhled representatives, should perform
certain duty. Had / selected the c)lorcd
man 10 introduce Governor Lee 1t would
have teen quite luotler thing. IL Is, per-
lsp,. unfortunate that our coming was at a
time when political excitement ran high,
and al thing served - excuses for those
VINO wished 90 use them. When heard
nat there Wa a likelihood Of trouble be-
csu.c Mr.. Ttr.c.l ATTENDED a place Of
amusement asked OF him not 20 subject
himself toiu,ult 10y going where be was not
welcome. ur Lid me that be had no in
itnrou ~ a. $50 going TO that or any other
plsr, where /. presence would give Use TO
comment. Un;ii that time l did not know
thai cel1r,d mcn ere denied admittance 10
theatre, Iu Goa, city.
AWoED 90 Tue CRITIC.
While | have no wi>l to interfere with
tie social relation. which exist between the
ra.,. % TIE south, have strong desire
a. &c tltiIack man educated. southern
labor. rtglrd'c,s Of color, must learn 10
rad auG write. southern heap labor Is
mole a menace 10 tAc American tOiler than
tie Chinese. aud this labor must be eiu-
Gated. VII Uy critics show me how the
Law. - social equality will be harmed by
educating the ha X mn - that he may
know how O. conduct himself a, gentle.
NAM Will they explain how knowledge
OF DE law, ~ li. country will cause man
T. yiOlat, the iaNs u social equality. VIII
C. % in cool, Gi>pa-si0nate manner cN-
3. in 10 me whether an education viii not
elevate The moral standard Of the calored
nan. aud VIII they TIL me that such a
Ting b, not necessary.
STARVATION WAGES.
W.T. IL ac explained to me whether the
ia.k nan should continue 20 work for
starvation wages: With % many able
D 81 in IA hD "a
rtku0w enough 10 ask Tor living wages,
Gi-uot hard % GUESS that while this race
continue, TO increase in numbers and isnO-
rance prosperity will not even knock at the
door, much les enter the home OF the
southern lab0rer. aud that country that has
~ Abundance IL lll.fcd, Inbred hborers i
uo', nor cannot be. prosperous one. W I'll
my critics stop long enough 70 tel me why
toe United STATE, senate allowed q colOred
m.u 20 Introduce before the Nice-Pfe>ident
Of tie United states measures for the bene-
81 4 hi, state: Were the laws OF social
equality outraged when the House OF Rep
u-cutatiyc, permitted colored men to take
selt. iu i't WHY did not other southern
rope cn'aiNc- leave and return 10 their
home, when that was done;
I'VE CoLoEfD DELEGATES WILL NOT N
~ ALs
Thee ned be TO further cause for
saul. The col0red representatives 70 this
Convention will not inirudc whore they
aIcuat wanted, and the time-hOnored laws
o. social equality will De allowed to slum-
ltT Oh uudi-iuTbcd
We have not done n thing since coming
o. ri, city that j, not countcnanccd 10y tue
LH. and Constitution OF our country, ana
in ddtTOnce 10 the wishes OF those who
I'g1id The laws Of social equality as supe.
l.,r % The aw, o. God aud man, we Will
uH', while here, avail Ourselye, OF all oil
ilo., night. ard privileges which belong
o. Us. The equality Of American citizen
ship 3. all that we insist on, and that equal-
o. Must not be tramplcd upon.
A. 10 HOSPITALITY.
Now "a word o. 10 hospitality: We arc
l'r, under no invitation from any one.
We came Of our own free will and accord,
and a.e paying our own way; therefore,
wtuluUs insults a. those offered by Few
Li,ltievOus meddlcTs are not In order,
and DO not admit OF defence. even though
enu 10 behalf 81 the laws Of social equali-
a.. 1 DO not hold the people OF Richmond
rspOnsihie for The ID action OF q lew who
slw menace In Cur every action. The
iie-tmCut received a, the hands OF the citl-
ztn. generally has been most cordial. III,
curing our stay, any representative shail
conduct himself in an unbecOming manner,
be alonc will be held responsible for his
action.