Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-06-26
In q Sea of Trouble.

The last New York Legislature passed
law which is getting large portion
of the good people of that State into a
most disagreeable predicament. 1t
was a law declaring the equality" of
the races in that State and giving
every one the same rights and privi-
leges in the hotels, restaurants,
theatres, bath rooms, music halls, and
conveyances on land and water. and
imposing a severe penalty upon those
who may refuse such unlimited privi-
leges to the colored people. Here is the
first provision of the act:
Cali persons within the jurisdiction of this
State shall be entitled to the full and equal
accommodations. advantages, facilities, and
privileges of inns, restaurants, hotels, eating
houses, bath houses, BARRIERS shops, theatres,
music halls, public conveyances on land and
water, and all other places of public accom-
mediation and amusement subject only to the
conditions and limitations established by law
and applicable alike to all citizens"
The penalty clause provides that
any person who shall violate the pro-
visions of this section "by denying to
any citizen, except for reasons appli-
cable alike to all citizens of every race,
creed, OF color, the full enjoyment of
any of the accommodations, advan-
tages, facilities, or privileges in said
section enumerated, shall be guilty of
a misdemeanor, punishable by fine not
exceeding $500 and by Imprisonment
not exceeding ninety days.
This law was passed by Republican
Legislature and signed by Republi-
can Governor, and has disguised all OF
the right thinking people Of the State.
Last Sunday three of the leading
| colored members of society" deter
mined to put the question to a test,
and led by one Charles W. Anderson,
a lawyer who is said to have helped
frame the law, marched into some of
the leading hotels and restaurants and
asked for refreshments, Their first
laid was upon Delmonico's, the lead
ing restaurant in the country, where
they asked for supper. Of course the
intrusion shocked the proprietors and
walters, but what could they do to
evade the law or escape its penalties
After consultation it was agreed to &C
oommodate the colored gentlemen and
it was done. The intruders made their
next raid upon one of the leading
hotels, and to escape the penalties of
the law, they were again accommo
dated to the disgust of the proprietors
and all of their guests. They next
went to one or two of the Turkish
bath rooms and demanded to be wash
ed in the same tub and rooms as their
white customers. But the intruders
were induced to retire without being
accommodated when pleadingly told
by the proprietors that it would ruin
their business" and that Anderson
said, he and his friends did not want
to do, though really speaking they did
not wish to go through such labored
process of reaching cleanliness.
OF course this is just the beginning
of the conflict of color in the Empire
State. Such intrusions and conflict of
race will no doubt become more fire.
quent and widespread over the State
trouble and vexation. If not evaded
or gotten rid of in some way or other,
it would soon ruin the leading places
of public resort by driving out their
white customers. But the people of
New York are smart enough no doubt
to soon find a way to rid themselves OF
such an outrageous law-if not sooner
at least at the next popular election
The whole matter just shows that the
conflict of color is just as great and
ineradicable at the North as at the
South.-Lychburg Neaos.
Such laws as that will injure both
the Republican party and the negroes,
as they will excite prejudices against
them. Negroes who have good sense
and self-respect do not desire to in
trude where they are not welcome it
would do so, and by so doing confess
their inferiority which those who have
self respect and pride of race are too
sensible and too proud to dc. 1t is
only the unworthy and degraded who
Extensively intrude where they are not
welcome.