Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-08-28
A Mistake.

Judge RUSSELL, OF North Carolina, a
prominent Republican, is reported TO
have said recently that as rule the
South does not treat its colored people
with the same iberaiity and justice
which they receive in the North.
Judge RUSSELL lsbors under a misap-
prehension "a to the facts OF the case.
We contend that the negro is treated
with more liberslity and justice at the
South than he receives in the North.
What better evidence that such Is
the fact need anybody ask than
the refusal OF the negroes to 1--we
in the northern States =? 1t is worthy OF
remark that not half as many negroes
migrate annually from the South to the
North as the number OF whites who cross
the ocean to find a permanent residence
in this country. The immigration from
Ireland alone has averaged nearly one
hundred thousand souls annually for the
last fifty years. Now when We remem-
Der that near the line between what
are called the southern States and
what are called the northern States
the negro has only to GO few miles IN
order TO shake off the shackles OF south
ern citizenship and enjoy the boosted
northern citizenship, yet that this Is e1-
actv what the negro refuses to do, we
cannot but conclude that Judge Rus
sRLL is wrong. He has not studied the
subject.
Besides, the Irish, as we'll as other for
eigners, como to this country without
knowing beforehand where or from
whom they will be able to obtain en-
ployment. Not 80 with the negro. We
suppose that every negro now in Rich
mond could, if he would, obtain en-
ployment in New York city, and better
wages than he receives here. There are
not over fifteen thousand negroes here
who are fit to go into service. These
could easily find employment in New
York and its environs, but they prefer
TO live amongst the southern whites.
Why? 1t must be because they are
here treated with more OF what they re-
gard as "hberality and justice than their
brethren Of the same race enjoy In New
York.
No human being likes TO be an object
Of contempt, or, rather, subject OF con-
tempt. No human being likes to be re-
garded as absolutely unworthy Of any
sort of recognition. Every man likes to
be treated as if he filed at least a little
space in the world. And here, unless
we are greatly mistaken, is where the
northern people fail in their duty to the
negro. They treat him rs if he were OF
no more consequence than a dumb
animal. He feels lost in section where
he may come and 60 without exciting
anybody's curiosity enough to induce
the asking OF question as to who he Is,
where he came from, and what he Is
after. The smart negro who receives
$40 q month and board in Richmond,
could get, if he would try, $50 month
and board in New York. But all per
sons of his own race would be rigidly ex-
cluded from his company.
1t would be a happy day for this
country that should see the negro popu-
lation distributed ratably all over tine
land. II would end at once all agitation
in favor of the so-called civil rights of
the negro. 1t would remand him to his
proper place in the community. We
should never hear again Of the suppress
sion of the negro vote in the South; for
wherever there were white men-that is
all over the United Sales.--future would
be men who would yield to the same
feelings that obtain now amongst south
arm whites