Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-07-21
TO MEET TO DIsFRANUHIsE Us.

| Ao VIC eAAno 10 oPpNOhOhiuB Aux 0oN.
Tyler to decide when he will call the
Legislature to meet to provide for the
holding OF the unconstitutions "con-
stitutionsl' convention in this state
the colored people are left to wonder
what it all means.
Ithss been alleged that the meas
ure was passed solely for the pur-
pose of disfrsnchisiug the citizen of
color, but the more the matter is in.
vestigated, the more it is becoming
evident that our people will not be the
only ones who will be injured by the
proposed reforms.
It seems that the ofice-holders sno
the bosses have been drawing mucl
money from the state treasury st tht
expense Of the wealthy classes and the
corporations.
IL seems also that the class of white
men who are counted in from locali-
ties having black populations are OF
the NEST selfish kind and all Iegisla-
tion in which they are interested is
expected and made to pay I'm keeping
with their inordinate desires.
The moneYed classes, becoming tir-
ed of this, took the Negro-scsre crow
out OF its usual abiding place, hired
men to dance up and down few times
and immediately the sordid crowd not
comprehending the motive Joined in
the cry against the Negro. and declar-
ed the call for constitutional conven.
ton adopted, although it was thought
then auo known now that the measure
Was defeated.
After the work was done, the Negro
hsters began to think, and they are
stin thinking, for the mask has been
thrown of, and the announcement is
made that the question Of disfranchis-
ing the Negro is secondary alongside
of other matters which will engage
the attention of that unconstitutional
body.
Already there is q most vigorous
discussion as to the kind OF men to be
sent TO the neutrality-suspicious. they
shall be lawyers stAtemen or the av-
erage ward politician.
II the machine called the convention,
We cannot see that the machine can
be prevented from naming the men
who are to compose it's membership.
| Colored men are to be eliminated
from and denied admission to the con-
vention.
Glass prescription is to be the lead
| ing feature Of the hour, and there are
| white men who are simple enough to
believe that such temporary expeei-
ents can be made lasting.
1t is evident that the colored peo-
pie of this state are rapidly ap-
prosching that stage OF indifference
where they are careless IS to what is
done to curtail their rights. It is due
OF course to the past futility of their
efforts to obtain hearing at the polls.
| Absolute power for q season by the
lower strata of white men will result
In en- upheavai in political affairs
which will tend to dissipate sham and
establish stable conditions.
1t was true in the cases OF GREECE
aRd ROME and may also be seen in the
evolutions of the BRITISH EMPIRE.
The history OF slavery is an object
lesson. For more than two hundred
years, the most fendish methods of
oppression obtained: but right was
trium plant in the end.
The colorsd people may be simple in
many things, but the white people
seem not to regard the signs of the
times or regard the teachings of the
Scriptures or the lessons OF history.
You cannot violate fundamental
principles without disturbing the
equilibrium, or interfering with ma
lures laws without paying the penal
~.
The degradation Of the Negro will
be the undoing of the white man and
no one who cares for his OWE or his
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