Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1892-01-04
Senarate Cars
ditor of the Alexandria Gazette i:

To the editor of the Alexandria Gazette:
A ettes In your paper day or two sgo,
protesting against separate conveyences for
negroes attracted my attention by its one
sided tone. Will you accept few thoughts
and Incidents bearing on t6e other eide
The southern paopie have suffered and
borne much ulcomplalDiUgly si0os the var
taxation without representation sganst
which our foreiathers fought and won indie.
pendencs and liberty, foreign rule end In
Justice, end we all know that southern gep-
tiemen and ladies also have, without ez-
ception, been kind s0d geneEous even 20
permit negroes in their employ TO vote
against them and work against their in ;er-
es;s other Wise without resentment, o priVi-
ie9e they have not had 10 ell sections of th e
United States.
7 could cite many Incidents to prove this,
but cen only In short letter like this re-
miud;your readers that the department OF
the negroes toward white people, to sag
nothing of the ingratitude for many kind-
nesses, ia not always polite even as respect
full and a1abidlng as white people are re-
CURED so be, seeming 20 believe that when
they are requested or ordered to depor;
themselves according to law or rules laid
down by railroads end society that it is be
cause they sre negroes and discrimination
against them. This is partly the result OF
Ignorance bus white know or ought TO know
better.
Tho negroes ss race SO far have behaved re-.
ma rkably well in their sudden change Of condi.
ton, batter than some of the educated white peo-
pie, but it does not seem rs if where We oniy ask
eu0sl rights with the negro that il can justly be
called "treason." The solution OF all this is easy
if this was free country and we dsred TO tell
the truth always. a few months ago took -
street car in Washington at the same Tins . COL
ored man did who once belonged in my family.
It bsd not been long since both he and mother,
8 faithful old woman had called to see me III this
city and left loaded with iavors. He knew me
and bowed, but he took the only vacant seat in
the car and he SEW stand all the way from
Seventh street wharf 10 Pennsylvania sveSue.
General Grant owned slaves uatil they were
freed for him. Many Southeiners freed their
slaves voluntarily. Some were sent to Liberia st
their request and their masters had 10 send mon
ey to bring them back when they lived what tn
slaves scorned and called free niger lie. The
first public meeting protesting sgsinst the spread
OF slavery FROM the North to the south WAS held
in this city and General George Washington pre-
sided These are few of many historical! facts
These things SAVIOR somewhat of Truth and the
other size OF the question, out do not solve the
problem before Us, because most or the negroes
are ignorant and none are so blind as those VINO
will not eee. 1t is, though, serious subject AMI
should be haLdlea patiently aud impartially.
liz should be observed that the better class OF
negroes do not Join their political leaders In this
protest; many of them have learned that those
who give taem bread are their best friends, even
though wnen voting time comes they forget all
about ~. HsrIison's snub3 and discrimination
against them il schools and otherwise In Tbs
North.
n he revolution is rot over" and patriots
sLou d Use above Tho ums ii poltici and MAN.
mon only by doing go can wo save o1s country.
Yes, Dy al means let us hsss peace, IL is lime,'
both in deed and Rofd. VIRGINIA LADY.