The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-07-08
CHICKENS COME HOME TO R0osT.
Race Legislation Rouses Complaint
from Whites in New Orleans.

Race Legislation Rouses Complaint
from Whites in New Orleans.
Young's Magazine New Orleans)
Rural legislation is the bane OF many
cities. New York, with its millions Of pop
ulation, cosmopolitan in nationality and
tastes. is kept under country prejudices Of
living because rural legislators have the
power TO legislate the laws which govern
a progressive city. dominated by the broad
intelligence OF honest and broad thinking
men.
The rural legislator derives his political
ideas. his PARTISAN prejudices from coun-
try store talk and a country church, the
very essences of selfish patriotism and
narrow, pinched up personalities. Every
instinct of justice questions the right OF
a sitter in a country store and church in a
town OF a thousand or more men. with his
own faculty of education and patriotism,
having the right TO impose his personal
views and prejudices upon cities OF large
population.
A Mr.. Wilson. a rural gentleman from
Tangipahoa, La, a country noted for its
lynchings, murders and general defiance
OF law. has a great dislike TO negroes. Be
cause Mr.. Wilson hates negroes and only
rides in a street car when he comes to New
Orleans, he demands by right of being a
rural legislator OF the State Of louisiana.
that the negro shall not ride in the same
car as the white folks, or that some par
tltion snail be built. or something shall
be done to humiliate the negro and incon-
Ven1ence him in the city Of New Orleans,
although New Orleans's SOC, 600 population
is we'll satisfied with the present car sys-
tenn OF showing no distinction between the
negro and white race.
From present vote the separate car law
Is likely to be Incorporated. Some men
leglslate tragedies they little dream of
when they allow their preiudices TO control
their good sense. This Separate car law
Is aimed at negroes of full evidence. but
the power of decision is given 10 the con-
color" Who is a person of color? Every
person who has a family utilization with
a negro unto the seventh generation. The
Jaw OF courts and the law of psychology
so declares.
New Orleans is one of the oldest cities in
the United States. EmigrantS and refugees
nave come 10 her from every point of the
world. In times of revolutions in foreign
countries New Orleans has opened her
doors In heartfelt hospitality. From Mar
UNIQUE ana the West India Islands came
many refugees during the negro insurrec-
tons. Some were of almost royal blood,
ana some were of mongrel race. negro
grated INTO the white race. They have
citlzens and their descendants know the
true family histories of these MARTINIQUE
families.
Most of the conductors on the New Or
leans cars ere men Of good birth. men
whose grandfathers were rich before the
civil war Many are Notwithstanding
OF New Orleans's oldest and best families.
Every one In New Orleans knows of certain
Iamlles who are received in business and
social life as white, when, If questioned in
law, would be declared colored. The con-
ouctors are the very individuals who know
the individuals who are called clandestineIy
negro. If Mr.. Wilson'S law is enforced
IT Will empower a conductor 10 'nuhliclv
brand a man or w~oman-they may be com
Pletely unconscious of their racial faint
by suggesting and forcing them to seats set
or a love of authority might suggest this
act. but the conductor would be entirely
within the law-"Any person of color"
Inc public schools in New Orleans have
stringent laws against the admittance of
any one of negro blood into a white public
schooI. The negroes are well protected in
Ineir own public schools. A girl of excel
lent scholarship, with a good old family
LOUISIANA name. was reported by the
mother or one of the pupils as being of
coioIeo Diooc. Inc announcement was re-
ceived with establishment. An investiga-
uon OF long ago family history demon
strated that the assertion was based on
truth, Notwithstanding a number Of pres
ent generation people declaring that the
family had always been recognized as
white. The girl was not allowed to re-
turn to school; had she done so it cannot
70 AlON MANY pupils WOULD nave
left. Miscegenation is so repulsive to the
southern mind that no pity or circum-
stance can quell its condemnation.
Men are merciless when they are invested
with power. Conductors are men. with all
the bitterness of race protests. One cannot
demand or expect conductors to act differ
ent from other men. A ball was given i'm
New Orleans some years ago by an associa-
ton or prominent young men. A gentleman
appeared with a beautiful blonde on his
arm. She was elegantly gowned. She was
the admired OF all admirers. Suddenly an
old gentleman who had escorted his daugh-
tiers TO the ball gave her an intent gaze.
His face grew serious. He went immedi-
ately 10 the chairman of the floor commit
tee and declared Miss -- must leave
the ball room or every woman in II will
leave when | announce to them that Miss
-. Is the granddaughter of my old
and excitement. The old gentleman was
positive. Miss IS escort was inter-
viewed. The protests were emphatic; to
avoid public insult to Miss -, he was
induced TO take her from the ball room I'm.
der the plea of receiving a telegram from
a dying brother. This girl bore an honored
name. Until that date she had been re-
ceived In society. Her sister had married
an English banker 1t required an old gen.
tleman from down town to bring a shadow
over this girls name. She moved to Bos-
ton. A few years afterward she married a
wealthy mar and was mistress Of a hand
some home. If this woman and her daugh-
ter entered a cab in New Orleans a con
ductor, If he knew her history, would be
justified in tabulating them as negroes. The
law would approve his decision.
The progressive spirit of the age demands
that an amendment be added to the Consti-
tuition of Louisiana and New York. so as
TO prevent rural legislators from bringing
confusion and shame into New Orleans and
New Yorks city life in enactmentso of mu-
nicipal laws and privileges.