Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1896-02-22
IN HOLY HORROR.
Lyneh-law mus

1t is alleged that at "cake walk
given at the New Odd Fellows Hall in
this city by the coIored hotel employ
ees of The JEFFERSON, some of the
white female servants were present
and one Of them wsltEed with color
ed waiter.
The Richmond STAR becomes much
wrought up, and in it's issue of the 18th
inst uses some very plain language de-
claring that by such actions these
white servants we're ''outraging the
most cherished proprieties of the good
conduct on the part Of southern wo-
men,"
It invites the attention OF the city au
thorities to the affair and we are at q
loss to understand under what section
of the law they could act so long as
the offense alleged is no greater than
that which took place.
The STAR proceeds to read the riot
act and declares that such conduct as
the presence of white female servants
with coiored male ones is not to be toll
Grated for an instant.
i We are at loss to know what can
be done about it. No one forced these
white ladies to go there or insisted up
lon their remaining after they reached
their destination.
II This is an alleged free country and
each and every one is left TO pursue
the even tenor OF her way so long as
} she violates none of the laws of the
commonwealth. Those of propriety
rest within the confines of the human
breast and are construed to the liking
of the possessor.
But is the STAR in earnest in its cru
sade2 Does it mean that it is ready
and willing to lead the fight against
social equality as construed and prac-
ticed in the Southland Wilt be cor
! sistent?
, II so, let it wsge war upon those
! white men who cohabit with colored
j women, who eat, sleep and drink with
, their dusky sweet-hearts. Let it CRY
aloud and spare not.
} Let it take up tho cudgel and cali
: for an accounting on the part OF young
: white men who come from the arms OF
? the scum of our race and are entertain
: ed and Toasted in the homes of the viz
J tuous womanhood of the white race,
We are opposed ourselves to the mix
! ing. We have no desire for fair dam
sci OF the other race and only regret
/ that owing to the white mans immor.
atty and brutishness our people have
: become so intermingled that on the
: question of color it is difficult to tel
'tother from which
Il We would remind our contemporary
J that white prostitutes are more care
full Of the color of the greenback thar
{ they are of the lover and that any at
I tempt to disguise this truth can be-
{ foiled by visits made within stones
throw of its office,
81 We regret that this is so. We desire
to retain our social identity and are. OF
| posed to the race bleaching process
which the friends of our contemporary
keep steadily in operation. Let us pre-
pose an expedient.
Let the legislature of Virginia pass
t an act making IL a felony, punishable
by confinement in the penitentiary
] for term not less than one nor more
than five years, for any colored person
! guilty of cohabitating with person O.
{ the white race or any white person CO.
} habitating with a person of the color,
J ed race.
+ Some Of our friends think that sucl
, law would depOpulate certain pros
; porous portions of this and other com
munities, while others are of the opin
ion that the exodus ofiwhite men from
! the State co escape the rigors of the
law would leave the co'ored men il
+ possession.
Be that as it may, the experiment il
worth trying and we are satisfied thai
the fair ladies of the State would be
tfOrcuar in ika cunnort