Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1903-12-19

past events as not TO know that large
proportion Of the debt of Virginia was
repudiated and that the plans aud
policies of GEN. WILLIAM MALONE were
finally accepted by all of the Democratic
classes in Old Virginia.
We need not reler TO the Negro up
on the plantations and as family
servant. It has been sung IN song and
written in story and the fidelity of the
black people has welded bond of union
between the better class of white people
of this benighted section that "time can
not etface, nor eteraity wipe away" 1t
continued:
ave white people of the South of all
classes are blood brothers. We have
been bound and Knit closely together
by many ties aud many common dan
gers aud struggles. We would like to
see the business people In every south
ern community make q special poiu5 of
hating this -5sneut 90 ward the sub
stitution of black for white labor at it's
very beginning aud punisniug it so
sternly that 1t will not be repeated.
lilo oIS1t AhhA buSOS atOh ohO OuhpAOJ
ers right co employ whom he pleases.
The threat TO punish srernly is an invi-
tation to the members of the community
to 90 up against the law, which in turn
will at it's very beginning punish the
perpetr ators so ster nlv that it will not
be repeated.
Then followed this plea:
CAS- matter OF principle and ma tier
of policy all of US should unite in this.
Already in twelve Southern cities the
white boys have been frozen out by cuts
in their pay aud their work given TO
colored boys and men. 1t is time to say
"SJopW
1t then outlines the following plan:
"The way TO say it is for Southern
business men and white people of all
kinds and classes TO avoid the Western
Union offices aud wires whenever they
can do so. We can make this corpora.
ton feel that the Southern white people
are standing by eaon other and that no
class among US Is indifferent to the
rights and interests of any other. Ii
cur people will take this course consis-
tently they can make a loss oC business
which will teach the Western Union
the lesson which apparently it needs to
be taught. When It's business falls off
fifty per cent. IN the Southland that
result can be brought about certainly
at most of the cities where black has
been substituted for white in the mes
sengers service-headquarte Will rea-
llze that the sentiment OF the people of
the South represents something and that
decent Difference must be paid Co it," =,
This then is the issue Joined and
plainly stated and we aver again that
the plan outlined, if carried into effect,
would result in the indictment in the
Hastings Court of this city of every
person who is party TO such conspir-
acy. The present commonwealth ut
torney is pretty good authority On such
cases and if the Western Union Com
precedents and the facts to Support it
/, in such a contention. Nay more, the
white men who were convicted for do
, ing just what the NEWS LEADER advis-
es the business community to do are yet
residents of this city. The News.
LEADER then stated proposition which
killed its own argument when it said:
| aside from any question of race 10y
atty and affection, the coolest. blooded
man in the South must realize that
when the white working classes here
have been driven out and replaced by
! Negroes or have been reduced to sub
serviency and the poverty of starvation
pay. our prosperity will be gone. 1t is
plain business proposition and maxim
of political economy that no country
can prosper permanently or retain its
civilization with degraded or impov-
erished working class
1t should be noted that the News.
LEADER is not attacking the Negro loaf
er, it is assailing the Negro producer,
the one who is not a parasite on the
body polite, but who adds to the wealth
of the community by the service which
he renders. After arguing in favor of
producing a degraded or impoverished
working class, it proceeds to declare
that no country can prosper permanent
ly or retain it's civilization with de-
graded or impoverished working class.
Is this consistent argument? When
you degrade the Negro. when you i'm
poverish him, do you not violate the
very principle which you have just
stated? Do you not stem the tide of
progress and blast the hope of prosperi-
ty? If not, why not? Truly is this q
case of ones being "hoisted upon in his
own petard." Selah.
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