Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1891-12-14
Separate Cars

To the Editor OF the alexandria Gazette:
Having been reader of The GAZETTE for
some years 1 have observed is fairness In
according hearing to both sides OF ques-
,iou. 5sa for this reason that / have conf.
dence IN asking portion OF its valuable
apsce fcv &C na remarks upon this au'j ject OF
esnarate cats for coored people In Virginia.
Il Ia fact to be admitted as well ss de-
ploreG that 10 many instaoces colored peo-
pie are the actors In scenes In pubic ccn-
vsyerces not pleasant to look upon. Su>h
Unheeomlbg conduct es urccuth and bois-
tsrous remarks, joetllrg ard aggressive as.
sartioCs are sources OF annoyance TO white
passengers end Of ohegrin to ell right think.
log colored people. The only encourage
meat is offered 10 the fact ttss there Is
lsrge and growing percentage ct oolnred
peop,e who avoid these evidenc OF lgnor-
ance snd bad mapDers. l. Is to this class
thrt the use of tral1s ie O necessity and they
will feel moat keenIy the operation OF law
which declares them unworthy free choice
10 the use of public conveyance. IL Ia
pleaded that in seeking to purge public
travel of such ecenes, 6 law should not be
enacted that will pat the ban of ou,casts
upon this well-beheved portion OF the color
ed race. And for tte unooutb, who sre our
brothers, 1t Ia asked that they ba not
despaired Of, bus be given farther oppor-
tunity 10 see the error OF their Wsys.
1t does not follow because We have ser-
arate churches, schools and hotels, that We
should have separate cara. Churches,
schools and hotels are social organizations.
Railroads are public oonyenenoes. Ole
may ride from New York to San Ffanoisco
without intercourse or annoyance to any
one. In churches, etc, this is impossible.
TheD. the colored people want separste
churches, etc; but they do not want separ-
ate cars. Again, there is 20 law enforcing
separate churches, etc. Pablo opinion
among both races has determine the sepsr-
alton, and public opinion Is sufficient In
,his csee.
The colored people OF Virginia are happy
and contented The proposed Law is a
menace to that happips,s ,ss and conteptment
The law will be OF but little advantage 10
The white people. and u 1t renders the col
o!ed people unhappy aud disseminated. 1t ia
msnifesty unwlse to enact It,; for 5 ate
should seek the happiness OF all her people.
Politics has been the bane OF our people.
They are teginn'ng to ind this out, and i.
s becoming harder aud harder for the po-
itica managers to rally them. They are
turning their attention to betteripg theIr
surroundings. Their preachers end leaders
are urging them In this direction. This law
will force them into politics again AID this
against their best interests.
The practical effects OF the proposed law
aa applied to Alexandria will not be advsI-
tageous. II puts additional expense upon
the rsilrcsd companies and will not increase
tbeir income one cent. II will diminish
thelr income, for many colored people will
ceasc travelling. It Is possible that having
suSiecied the railroads to expense and d.
uinished their revenue they will cut Alex
sadris off 10 the local improvements che 80
eorely uesds. Then, many oolore1 people
will leave and those the city can least eford
to lose. They do not want 10 leave. for the
South contai1g their beat white friends; but.
sbsll the legislature, which was elected with
20 reference to this important question, pat
the whole State into the attitude OF un-
frlend,iness to the negro? We hope, we
trust, we pray that this may not come upon
us. N. L.