Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-03-23

socially We AZ race. are content win
the society OF our own people.
Now that Mr.. Teanoh. as q member
OF the legislative committee had right
TO call on the Governor OF Virginia with
the other members OF the committee,
officially, is not denied, but when he dis
covered that the reception ceased to be
purely formal and Official his good sense.
his appreciation OF the prophecies of
social intercourse. which. as Massachu-
sets legislator and as q well-bred man,
he should have understood, he should
have withdrawn. Why? Because he
knew that there existed nowhere in the
South social relations between whites
and blacks, Virginia not excepted.
Mr. Teamoh might have shown to his
committee and the Governor that he
was at least self-respecting, to the extent
OF being interested in learning OF the
condition OF his own race, rather than
by accepting social courtesies which at
best could not but be strained. Had
Mr. Teamoh respected the wishes and de-
sires Of the colored people OF Richmond
yea, OF the State OF Virginia and the
South: IL he desired to represent Us So
clally. he would have come to our
houses and partaken of our associations,
and have learned something of the con-
dillon Of the whites and blacks OF the
South. and made his visit among us a
blessing instead Of a curse and he would
have assisted his dOwn-trodden and OPP
messed race In their struggles 10 rise
amid the fires of prejudice and opprcs-
sion: and would have put out the fire
instead OF making IL hotter by stirring
the chunks Of prejudice. lie was among
some OF the thriftiest, most Industrious,
and progressive negroes Of the country,
and where they are doing more religious
ly. morally. educationally. and financially
than any others In the land. backed by
the good feeling existing between the
hest white and black people Of this
CITY. state. and the South. This 1t seems.
should have been the object Of toe negro
legislator of Massachusetts,. rather than
seeking courtesics which would not nave
been extended him as a negro, and which
he only got under the cover OF white men
whom he knew to have been embarrassed
nv his presence in their social relation
with the whites In the South.
II Is the desire Of all respectable and
sensible negroes. and such are In the ma
iority in Virginia. 10 have exist the most
friendly relations between whites and
blacks: but they are opposed, In their
transition from slavery to self-sustaininS
man and womanhood. TO having their
progress impeded by being placed by any
man. white or colOred, in a false posi-
ture OF Massachusetts, or Texas Legal
eorality and cordial relation-to the eX-
tent of building up the negro race-are
the desires of respectable and sensible
negroes; and they are as much oppos
10 social equality between whites and
blacks as are the whites themselves.
We think il unfair for the Dispatch
TO hold the race responsible for tine in
truslon Of Teamoh and Mitchell into the
Governors Mansion" without his invita-
ton, assuming and prcsuming that they
represented the negroes Of the city OF
Richmond. or the state Of Virginia, or
the South, and declaring "the cause OF
the colored people in Virginia burt by
Teamoh and Mitchell. The sun Of right
eorsness and intelligence Ia too high TO
hold the innocent responsible or punish
the innocent for the guilty. We write
this In defence Of the bes;-thinking col
ored people Of the city Of Richmond ana
the state of Virginia. and ask that we
should not be charged as whole with
the faults of two erring persons in their
social relations.
Written in behalf Of the Grand Fountain
of the United order Of True Reformers
''' WILLIAM w. BROWNE.