Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-11-27
The Race Question: Striking View from
COlOred Man.

The Race Question: Striking View from |
COlOred Man.
The following remarkable and able letter |
to the New York World is from Florida |
colored man who has been successful in his |
and is highly respected by all |
who know him. IL is the most notable con- |
tribution on the race question that has
emauated from the black man, and coming, |
as it does, on the heels of the republican |
crushing defeat in the late elections, is |
deeply significant. We therefore give it
the whole limit of our editorial space as a
treat to our readers:
"While the situation at the South may
not be altogether such as we would wish,
there is nothing in it that could possibly
Justify the retaiatory measures ADVISED py
a gathering of colored preachers at Wash
ington, D. G, on October 20. There are
al ways two sides to q lestion, and until
the llored race learns by hard and sad ex-
perience where their true interests lie there
will ever be unnecessary local troubles and
disturbances in every Southern State be-
tween the two races, aud no power under
the sun can by force prevent it.
The situation down here needs no soiu-
ton. for it is not problem. There is moth
ing wrapped up in mystery, DOR is there an
unknown something to be found in order t"
solve the question Of our present surround
ipgs. The most ignorant, as we'll as the
most intelligent, understand the situation
perfectly, and each element seems determin-
ed to pursue its own hue of policy as the
surest meaus of keeping an undisturb7d
condition of affai in these States.
There are three distinct causes of irrita
ton and dis urbance at the South, These
are political, social and moral, and the first
issf etar sourcs of evil than all 9th ers
c. Oh. There can be no satisfactory
as,ment, no permanent peace between
; two races at the south until the negro
abandous politics and bids farewell to poll
teal glory in these States.
A persistent effort on the part of the ne
gro to attain that which he never can attain
will inevitably lead to-a conflict, the hor-
rors of which are unimaginable. 1t is
foregone conclusion that the colored ele-
mem can never become ruli ASS in any
of these southern States, stter how
much they may predominant [, -um bers in
white communities. Every II ;, teal leader
of the face knows this to be Heundeniable
fact. Ii is this relentless Il Ia stency on
the part of the one race to be byId the re-
lentless persistency on the pa,o the other
to prevent it from being-ar prevent 1t
they will at all c0st-that causes all the
trouble. 1t is no use to deny these facts; it
would rather be wise if We would recognize
them in time to avert the evils that must
follow every futile attempt in this direction.
Is is unreasonable for the people of the
north to expect that of the people of the
south which they themselves do not accord
the negro. | say it is unreasonable for any
people to expect the wealth, intelligence and
refinement of community to yield pas
siye obedience and become submissive to
the domination of its igornant and more
illterate class, and SO long as there is a
persistency in this direction, encouraged BY
unprincipied politicians for sinister motives,
so long will there be serious conflicts be-
tween the two elements. / repeat again as
my honest conviction that the negro must
abandon politics for time and strip him
self of all delusive and visionary ideas Of
political honor and preferment in these
States and turn his attention to those indus
trial pursuits that mark the prosperity and
Irog ressiveness of every other race around
him
There is no prejudice here against the
negro pursuing his own substantial hap
piness in any legitimate calling. There is
no avenue of industry shut against him in
the south. There is no desire on the part
Of the people to keep him down, but they
have rather, in every instance, sho@u
Sympathy aud feeling that ought to be com
merded. These faDatical leaders, pretend
ed preachers and politicians up north who
are trying to incite conti'ct between the
races by advising retaliatory measures
against outrages in the south are of all men
the greatest enemies of the coloFed race.
For the few crumbs that fall from the ad
mnistration table they seem to be willing to
damn the whole ne 70 race. IL is one thing
to sit up north and howl for blood and at
tempt to incite crime and murder, but it is
quite another thing to cOme down here and
iuaugurate the proceedings they advise.
Whatever may be the dsadvau cages un-
der which the neg coes labor in these South
ern States, they are brought about by nat
ural causes, and can never, no, never, be
remedied by force. These disadvantages,
often, are IN fact more imaginary Than
real. l would venture to say that there are
fifty advantages in favor of the race bec0m-
ing prosperous aud happy where there is
one to their detrimeut. Outside of politics
what disadvantage does the coored man Ia
boz under in these States defy any man
to chow me single unreasonable dsadvan
tage he is subjected to throughout the
broad extent of this Southern land Ibat any
people would not be subjected to who keep
tuShSolNeb pDul lul uSJouu6Hb upOu iub1O
progressive and thrifty race. Show me an
honest, upright, industrious coiored man in
any Southern community, aud | will show
you man who has no complaint to make
as 20 bis treatment in that community. Nm
colored man can say truthfully that he is
debarred from entering into any legitimate
business that a white man may engage in,
on account of his race and color. On the
contrary, thousands are assisted and en-
couraged in every honest calling they have
ever put their hands to. The field is be
fore them, and in common they have the
same chances and opportunities, By frugal
ity, patient industry and economy, to be-
come prosperous and happy that their
white neighbors have
II ali the Southern States there has been
every effort made for the colored mans
improvement and advancement to higher
plane Of citizenship. Public schools are
open 10 every school district in every couu-
ty for his and his children's benefit the ex-
pense of which is borne by another race
without murmur. The whites freely give
~ all religious and charitable undertakings;
public charity is never denied to any one
deserving it. No c0lored person is abso-
lutely excluded from any place of amuse
ment if he or they desire to attend and oe-
cupy the places assigned them. On every
street railway in every southern city the
colored man is admitted without any obiec-
tion. Railroad companies from the Poto-
mac to the Rio Grande, have tried in every
possible way to satisfy the two conflicting
elements by placing frst-class coaches up
On their lines for the special accommodation
OF these two distinct classes, giving each
The same advantage of time, etc., because
,hers is social distinction made in this ar
rangement, and because the colored man, it
seems, is not allowed to sit where he is an
noyed aud looked upon with contempt, be
is restless, peevish, and sometimes mourns,
and is very unhappy.
II is ih restessness and discontentment