The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-04-18
socrlI RIGHTS OF NEGROES.
Anecdotes Illustrating the Spirit OF '"'
Older Colorcd People.

.,.o,o,cs Illustrating the Spirit OF the
Older Colored People.
The advocates of negro equality, as it seems
20 me. overlook the very object at when 'n''
are aiming. viz the rights Of the negro
No one has tenderer regard for the rae
than many of the whites VINO were o"rl o.
bred among them. IL Is whoAy lnlpDs'I a
for a stranger to understand the relation pc
tween us. am sure my old nurse stu Nv
inc i'm Richmond feels. as do. real pity loI
tLe child that has never had NANNY
and the fact of my heartfelt attachment 10 w
race makes me sensitive of their ieehh%s AZ"
considerate OF their rights; Sc
IL is commonly supposed by the people ~
the North that the negro is yearning Tor 'oclal
equality, while. in truth. he not only does no.
desire H. but feels an ineXpresslOlo cohIethP0
for the whites that would force themselves
upon him. To give you some instances. H.,
A few years ago a white teacher rom 'n9
North came to take charge Of q colorcd school
in orr neirhhorhood. Cur former cook,
Betsey. was one of the first 10 be calico Oh "S
what did she say to You. Betseyf' asked
my sister the next time they met
Hi. chile she come IN mighty iaihlil"r aiu
tick her seat in my cheer Mrs. Banks. she
say. / wants YOU 10 undcr5tan' dat / don't
visit you rs my 'ferior at all. considers you
in eyy way Jest rs good as me-
Dat is. MHssis.' | say. jest rs good. an
a gret sight better; cause ! ken Nsit whUe-
folk in dc very bes' families whar you
dyarsn't set your foot
why. Betscv how could you be 50 rude 20
your visitor" asked my sister amused
We'll. chile. | know that she wan 30 lazy
70 come here and put herself right down WIZ
We nig-crs.'
Such was Bctsey's honest opinion Of her Wis
itor and of any other white person holding
the same views.
Nor did ma educated gentleman Of color
make "A better impression on his brethren IN
Amelia lie informed them that his purpose
in coming 20 the South was. not 20 MAKE
money. hut 10 teach and enghtcn them. that
compa. 81 N for their ignorance alone had IN
duced HIM 90 abandon profitable position AT
the North. and that therefore he asked theH
respectful attention 20 what he had % say.
Il couldn't help IT, SON. said Cook Betsey
20 me. IN reporting the affair, but got
right up in de church an | say, Well. MI.
You Is got more larnin' an me- cause You
ken read and write. but one thing you ain
Farm yet. ken tell You, and dat is manners.
Cord knows ef | is ignyant. tain for him to
tell me SO. an dat 90 my facc.'
Phube. another dear old servant of ours:
had charge of my mctherle-s nephew and
niece when they were young children, soon
after the war They would spend the greater
part of each day al her house. provided she
and William. her husband. were alone but
let any strange negro happen 10 come IN. and
the children were driven of.
"Ans.n she would say 10 my sister de all
right wild me al William dvar alons but
when desc here randezyous' niggers come m
de chillun got 10 90. ! Dukes an J buses
ont % my house Jest a. same As de was dorgs.
Git out | say, AN 60 long 10 de white folk:
you ain got no business out here wild dc mig
gers An honey, tits de truth, desc here
"a IL
folk"
As soon as my nephew was old enough.
Phpbe. though specially devoted 10 the enid.
insisted upon hi. going III 10 Richmond %
school. lis DE wors thing IN de worl.
she would urge. for any white chile 10 grow
up wid ngGers'
This feeling of the old slave negroes in
Virginia was due II might be thought, 10
their former condition, but. strange - say.
the free-born West Indian negroes entertained
the same views. ! was once one OF party or
SOutherners that boarded with a negro IN -.
Georges Bermuda. our host was a free
bOrd. respectable man: but though IN every
way attentive To his guests he avoided our
society and this. with the same sort of
delicate reserve that our old family servants
at home were accustomed 10 show toward
strangers.
Captain Watkins of Nassau was another
free born negro with whom | was associated.
He WAS first 0ur Captain. on his own charter
ed schooner, and aftcrward our pilot on the
Robert T.. Lee In each of these positions
his manner was the same. When we We're his
passengers he set Us apart, giving up his
quarters for our better accommodation. and
declining in spite OF our repeated invitations,
to take his meals with us.
When he came % Us n pilot we again urged
him tO sit at our table till our Captain. IN de
ference to the old mans feelings, had to give
him private meals.
As matter Of curiosity. have often asked
the question whether the Northern advocates
of negro equality would favor the intermar-
rage Of their daughters with the blacks. and
never in one instance have | heard the aiiir-
native Yet social equality implies nothing
less than this miscegenation, which. however,
acceptable 10 the whites, would be thoroughly
distasteful 10 the negro.
What the future may effect 1t is impossible
20 say: but 10 force upon the negro in his
present condition. what he neither asks for
nor Is fitted 20 enjoy, seems 10 me an insolent
violation Of the rights Of our colored fellow
citizens.-Rev. John b. Tebb, in New York
Independent.