Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-01-20
THE DIsPATOR's LAMBHTAIIos So

the citizen OF color and "Jim Grow
Car. legislation.
Although it stands sworn to recog-
nize the civil and political equality of
all men before the law. and by the
terms Of the Constitution of the Unit
ed States and the Bill of Rights of Viz
ginia virtually Is warned against class
legislation by q reminder that this is q
government of the people, and not q
government Of the white:people only, il
says:
THE companies will make a mistake
IL they persist, in opposing the pend
ing bill. Hundreds OF their best and
shrewdest friends il this State will tell
them candidly they would better ac-
quiesce in the evident determination
of our people,"
This is said to companies which are
bringing millions of dollars worth of
capital to Richmond and affording en-
ployment to hundreds OF its citizens.
Already James River is honey comb
ed with trestle work and pillars, hous-
es having been torn down to permit of
the Improvements.
The Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad
Company, and the Seaboard Air Line
have joined hands to expend millions
or dollars upon Q railroad station and
its entrance thereto.
The Southern Railway Co., ut its
own expense is also erecting q hand
some railway station and its other i'm
provements in Virginia will no doubt
reach million OF dollars.
With the colored people vieing with
each other in cultivating O friendly re-
lstionship with the white people of
Virginia, this journal now demands
that the railroad companies pay trib-
ute to king Race Prejudice" and
that all OF the disorders Of the past be
brought forward accompanied by the
resurrected corpse of ill-feeling.
Only the wishes of one portion of the
body polite are to be consulted, and
every ward heeler.trum. sucker, Jail
bird and political thug in the common
wealth is to be enlisted in q crusade
against q docile, liberty, loving people.
The DISPATCH has the effrontery TO
say:
As for the colored folk, we car but !
repeat what we have 80 often said to |
them-that the interest of both whites /
and blacks is that the two races should /
keep separate and apart"
They are aslsepsrase and apart as
they ever will be on "this side of the
Jordan" The only linking noticeable
is in the public schools and in houses
of questionable repute.
In the matter of public conveyances
which are operated by virtue of q pub
lie franchise, there SHOULD be no such
thing as the establishment of private
comforts to the discomfort of any large
portion OF the public who had q part 10
granting the franchise.
But what 10 the use of arguing with
race prejudice or citing great princi-l
pies to a packed constituency The
DaPATcH says:
The whites do not want the blacks
N their cars, and are exasperated |
Nhen they lind them there, parsicu-
arly when the blscks are disorderlv. |
or unelsan."
Then they should run cars upon .
'rivate proverty and by private
and not ask favors at the /,
lands of the people, portion of which I
hey propose to humiliate and incon- .
Tenience.
Ii would make mule smile to hear
white gutter snipe" and q white =
'ar-room sot, using the language quot g
q which the DIsPAToH necessarily inn 9
lies is applicable to them. The Bis {
AToH must take the average eolored e
nan to be simpleton when it says:
"The wonder, the impeRetrable mys-
cry to as, is how self-respecting color
q men or " omen can wish to go where
hey are certain and sure they are not n
Vanted where their presence is toler-
ted only under compuision of law?
This was the logic of the artist ocracy {
{ Englsnd in dealing with the Puri-
an Fathers and the colonists. 1t
Under our law every citizen is en- {
tiled to certain privileges, among
Thich ia life, liberty and the pursuit of Q
sppinsss. n
Ii there be any mystery whatever, it b
encouched in the fact that the Bill O
{ Rights Of Virginia set the bounds t
,r every white aud colored man to 20. b
IL is in recognition Of this fact which
aoses az TO ask for all Of the rights In Il
10 matter Of public convenience Q
'hicn are accorded to esch and every Q
sher cisiEen. The only wonder Ia that q