Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1898-06-04
THE posrs STRUCTURES.

The Washington, d. O.. PosT, in its
issue of May 26th lectures the Rich
mond, Va, DAILY TINES for paying any
attention to the attitude OF Afro
American journals, and then proceeds
to do exactly what it advises the TIMES
not to do.
IL says:
I'VE observe with regret and pain q
disposition on the part of certain news
papers-among them the Richmond
rimes-to criticize the colored man
and brother on account of his attitude
toward the government at this time
It is objected that he is too self-asser-
tive, that he wants too much. that his
demands ars in excess of his deserts.
Much of this criticism has been pro-
voked by the utterances-of so called
Afro American organs, from one of
which, published at Richmond, Va. we
quote by way of illustration:
Then follows an extract from our
editovial columns relative TO the en-
listing OF colored men under colored
officers. The Posi- says:
"Of course this is the most ridicu-
lous nonsense. The question is wheth-
er it represents the sentiments OF in
telligent and respectable colorcd men.
If il does, we are sincerely sorry for
them but we do not believe it does.
We areTAther inclined to think that it
is merely the frothing of some would
be leader who hopes by protests and
moderation, to center attention upon
himself. However that may be, the
truth of the matter is that the article
we have quoted is merely a stupid and
ignorant outburst which well disposed
white people will not construe to the
injury of their colored fellow citizens. y
This is very charitable view for our
contemporary to take. AS to the stu
pidity of the article ia question we
pause to remark that it is matter of
the PosT's opinion, which really con-
Germs no one but the PosT and the
PLANET. And again:
"All this talk about insults and
striking back is nothing more than
childish rant, and proves il it proves
anything at all. that the Negro could
not do himself greater harm than by
listening to it. The trouble is that
there are lot OF self appointed col
ored leaders, whose only qualification
consists in their bumptiousness and
whose only possible achievement Is
mischief. The race in general car
make no greater mistake than that OF
accepting their statements and follow
ing their advice. Nobody cares three
straws whether they go into the army
or stay out of it. Nobody wants them
at all unless they are ready to obey or
ders and accept discipline. The war
will go right along whether the col
ored warriors join the army or stay al
home, and II we send a million fighting
men to the front, there win still re-
main several other millions to preserve
order at home and attend to any 'trou-
BILE the disgruntled cOlored leaders
may see fit to make.
We would have presumed that this
was a deliverance in the columns of .
journal published in Mississippi, Lou.
isianA OF Texas.
Our view is that the editor-in-chie-
was studying war-news and that the
office-bOy had been entrusted with the
task of writing ga line or two upor
some question"
Certain it is that such language il
unbecoming a non-partisan journal and
at variance with every rule Of decorum
which governs the editorial depart
ment OF great metropolitan Journals.
But enough, Our point is to empha-
size the statement which is fair one
that if colOred men are good enough
to fight as privates they should be good
enough to fight as officers.
That whenever color is allowed to