Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1897-04-24

eiety. What becomes then OF this
specious arGumsnt1
Bot the following would provoke =
crocodile to tears and wreath donkey
in smiles:
It is because We are really friend
OF the Negro-especeilly cf the "Old
didly.
And again:
II We were his enemy, we could no,
DO him q worse turn than TO urge him
80 thrust himself into the army and
navy and into general society, in ths
face OF all sorts OF opposition But
NOT so. We would warn him In ad :
vance. while the Statutes OF the LAND
would make him learn experience b,
pulling chestnuts out OF the fire for
them. That is just the difference be
tween those who arouse false hopes I'm
the Negro ard those who tell him the
plain, unvarnished truth.
No, no. Mr.. DISPATCH. the true white
friends Of the Negro desire to see him
advance along the lines Of legitimat.
endeavor, and would place no bar ir
the way Of his march TO the tabIe-lan
OF material progress.
II your argument holds true, then
the Turks are justified in depressing
the AREENTANs. the RUSSIANS the be-
BREws, and the ESoLIsH the IRIsH.
Their opposition to these peoples is
based upon caste,-race prejudice.
We are determined to enjoy all o.
the rights and privileges guaranteed
by the Constitution OF the United
States even though It takes the sacri-
fee OF thousand more wHrrrAKERs
and hundred thousand more Bun
DYs to do it.
There is no royal road to success.
there is no flowery path to the realms
of racial achievements.
We are citizens OF the United States
frst of all and Negroes as you would
so lovingly call US afterwards. We
are as much to the manner born an
you are who can trace your lineage to
GREAT Britain, GERMANY, FRANCE.
HOLLAND, DENMARK, SPAIN. IrALv
GREECE. Russia, and the IsLrs OF THE
SEA.
We know OF no birth place-but this
acknowledge no fag-but the Stars and
stripes. Our labor has purchased a
title to the soil, our blood has boueh,
an eternal right to all of the privileges
any white citizen enjoys. -
We refuse to 60 to the rear at the
demand of the prejudiced and will
keep this nation in turmoil until our
just contention is recognized.
There is no place in the government
to which our people are not entitled to
recognition.
White men of the South, the best
blood Of the nation do not fear citizens
OF color,-do not hesitate to sit at their
side. In the fields, he played with him
in boy-hood, at his bedside, whiled
away with him the hours while he was
i'll.
II Is those who know not the citizen
of color or his qualities, with which we
have trouble.
Even Mr.. JEFF. DAVIS dotted on HE
Negro servant. and the faithful black
followed with mournful tread to the
grave.
There ia not q Southern man Of
prominence who was not brought up
with the Negroes, and those associa-
tons were the most pleasant recolIec-
tions of later years.
Why then this dissertation Mr.. DIS
PATCH upon the Negro? Where we're
you born, sir7 In what locality were
you brought up? On whose breast did
you nestle, and whose croonings lulled
you to sleep in troublous childish
daye9
The OF spring of the black msmnlics
are coming, not with a spirit Of antag-
onism or aggravation, not with de-
sire to vex, or annoy.
We nave a record to achieve and
while we will make your disappoint-
ment and chagrin as bearable as posi-
BILE, We must insist upon going as high
as our abilities and opportunities will
permit, and invite you to take the
journey at our side.
We shall maintain our self-respect.
be courageous, polite and obliging
showing to the world that we are me-
lures gentlemen and determined to
do all in our power to lengthen and
make glorious this republic OF ours.
Colored men, onward The goal is
just beyond.