Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-01-13

ID now protesting against the discPimi-
nations on the railroads. 1t should
not bs forgotten too that the masses
OF our people do not travel upon the
railroads and the lsborirg elements
to which you refer, invariably grayi-
v tate to the smoking or second -class
Gar. Is says
$50 far from it, great numbers Of
them show positive deterioration as
compared with the condition OF rheir
race in the days OF slavery"
We do not believe this tn ne trus
expressive as it is OF an opicion of one
Inherently opposed to the interests of
the race.
Duriog slavery, we owned nothing
not even ourselves. Now, our wealth
is estimated ut four hundred million
dollars, with our theologiaus. physi-
clans, scientists, statesmen, real estate
agents, authors editors, bankers, law.
yers. aud members OF the race in all
OF the vocstions of life. A man who
cannot see progress is in line with the
man who will not see it. 1t continues:
ut ssens that the masses OF them
are not profting by the opportunities
and advantages pus beforo them, and
We believe the time 10 rapidly an
prosching when every Southern State
must consider very seriously, indeed,
whether the money expended in Ne.
gro education is wisely spent or not"
How can the masses prosper? You
give their children about three Or four
months education aud from eight TO
nine months opportunities TO "un-
lear" all that they have learned.
You reduce them to the level o,
serfs, rob them OF their crops, and
withhold from them their money. You
Cypress Thorn with onerous laws and
infiict upon them vexatious burdens.
| To say that the money devoted to
education has not been wisely spent is
to say that educstion and not the Ne
| gro Is q failure.
| How else could he have made the
progress cited ? Whence came the
''genteel Negro" IL not through the
civiliztng influences of education and
4 II
training ? The DIsPiToH says:
1--WE know of hut one thing which
can turn the tide of public opinion
now setting in, and that ia for the Ne
groes TO show more appreciation OF
their responsibilities az citizens"
That is just what they sra doing.
1t is the low. ths vicious tbs preiu-
diced, vino are calling for oppressive
legislation against him.
1t continues:
"Candor compsls ne to admit that
the whites Of the South have not as
much patience With the Negroes as
they used TO have, The reason ia plain
TO see. The two races are no longer
brought together as formerly. It
takes vast stock OF patience TO Offset
the red-hot indignation whieh arises
and spreads over the whole land when
ever an assault Is made upon one OF
our women. Then, too many Negro
tervants-female servants, espeeislly-
lead nomad'o lives. They are here to-
day and gone to. morrow. This is ar
evil which is not lessening. but in
crossing. So, as q rule, strong attach.
ments cannot be formed between mas
ter or mistress and servant. In most
households there is q never ending
procession Of ssivants-some gong,
others coming"
The above needs no answer Itisa
confession of weakness on the part or
this Journal. It concludes:
"In hesitatiDg SO long about order
ing separate cars-"Jim GROW cars"
they are popularity called-our patience
has endured longer than that of moot
OF our southern brethren. Down
South the separate car law il the rule,
and not the exception, and il has not
been found to work injury, either to
the blacks or to the railroad eompa.
MES. Usually. the railrosd company
partitions of each ear and assigns one
compartment TO the whites aud one to
the blacks and there's sE end OF it.
IL there any reason to suppose that
q system which has worked 40 well in
other States will not work we'll in Vir
GINA? We think not"
The conditions existing in Virginia
do not call for any such restrictive
measures. The discriminatiens made
in the South on the railroads is ridicu-
lous and 10 q disgrace to the states
permitting it.
1t creates friction, rather than avoid
it, ana causes colored men to regard
with suspicion any professions of gen.
uine friendship on the part Of the
white brother.
The humble elements OF the white
race cannot afford to discriminate
against the humble elements OF the
colored race. Let US have no Jim
Grow Car" law in Virginia.