The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1889-11-21
Sound Sentiments.


educated colored lawyer, who has achiev
ed success and distinction in his profess
sion in Florida, where he resides. We
ask for the letter a careful reading:
1t is unreasonable for the people of the
North to expect that Of the people OF the
South which they themselves do not ac-
cord the negro. | say it is unreasonable
for any people to expect the wealth, in
telligence and refinement of commun-
ity to yield passive obedience and become
submissive to the domination of its igno-
norant and more illiterate class, and SO
long as there is persistency in this di
rection, encouraged by unprincipled
politicians for sinister motives. SO long
will there be serious conflicts between
the two elements. | repeat again as my
honest conviction, that the negro must
abandon politics for time and strip
himself of all delusive, visionary ideas of
political honor and preferment in these
States, and turn his attention to those
industrial pursuits that make the pros
perity and progressiveness of every 9th
er race around him.
There is no prejudice here against the
negro in pursuing his own substantial
happiness in any legitimate calling
There is no avenue of industry shut
desire on the part of the people to keep
him down, but they have rather, in every,
instance, shown sympathy and feeling:
that ought to be commended. Those.
fanatical leaders, pretended preachers.
and politicians up North who are trvingi
to incite a conflict between the races by!
advising retaliatory measures against;
outrages in the South are of all men the
greatest enemies of the colored race. For:
the few crumbs that fall from the adj
ministration table they seem to be will
ling to damn the who'e negro race. It.
is one thing to sit up North and howl for.
blood and attempt to inciue crime and
murder, but it is quite another thing to.
come down here and inaugurate the pro:
ceedings they advise.
Whatever may be the disadvantages
under which the negroes labor IN these,
Southern States they are brought about
by natural causes. and can never, no.
never, be remedied by force. These dis
advantages. SO often spoken OF. are more
imaginary than real. | would venture
to say that there are fifty advantages in
favor of the race becoming prosperous
and happy where there is one to their
detriment. Outside of politics what dis
advantage does the colored man labor
under in these States? | defy any man
to show NE a single unreasonable disad-
vantage he is subjected to through
out the broad extent of this South
ern land that any other people would
not be subjected to who keep then
selves poor and dependent upon a
more progressive and thrifty race. Show
me an honest, upright, industrious col
ored man III any Southern community.
and | will show you man who has no
complaints to make as to his treatment
in that community No colored man can
say truthfully that he is prevented and
debarred from entering into any legiti-
mate business that a white man may en-
gage in on account of his race or color.
On the contrary, thousands are assisted
and encouraged in every honest calling
they have ever pnt their hands to The
field is before them and in common they
have the same chances and opportunities
through frugality, patient industry and
enonomy, to become prosperous and hap
DIV that their white neighbors have.
In all the Southern States there has
been every effort made for the colored
mans improvement and advancement to
a higher plane of citizenship. Public
schools are open in every school district
for his and his chiIdren's benefit, the
expense of which is borne by another
without a murmur. The whites freely
give to all religious and charitable un-
dertakings; public charity is never de-
MED to any one deserving it. No col
ored person is absolutely excluded from
any place of amusement if he or they
desire to ate I'D and occupy the places
assigned them. On every street rail
way. in every Southern city the colored
man is freely admitted without any OBJ
ieet or Railroad companies, from the
Potomac to the Rio tirande, have tried
in every possible way to satisfy the two
conflicting elements by placing first class
coaches upon their lines for the special
accommodation Of those two distinct
classes. giving each the same advantage
Of time etc, but because there is social
distinction made in this arrangement.
and because the colored man, it seems, is
not allowed to sit where he is annoyed
snd looked upon with contempt, he is
restless, peevish. and sometimes mourns
and is very unhappy.
1t is this restlessness and discomfort
ment and longing desire to force that
which he never can force from which
springs all the social trouble between
these two elements at the south. Let
the colored man turn from all of his i'm
aginary social happiness of mingling
with another race of people, who show
in every conceivable way that they do
not wish his company, and get to work
in earnest in acquiring the more perma-
r,, IL things Of 1ifo anI