Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-12-24
hose who stand out in opposition to all

those who stand out in opposition to all
of this
The South of to-day is not the South
of thirty years ago. There are liberal
minded white men who have decided
views on this race question and they do
not hesitate to express them. 1t is to
avoid the estrangement of this element
that our conservative articles are written
for without their help, we see only an
abyss of despair beyond.
We are of the opinion that Rev. DR.
JOHNSON does himself and the Supreme
Court of Appeals of Virginia great in
justice when he speaks lightly of its
DEGREES. Certainly it has been more
favorably disposed towards US in the
matter of individual rights than has
that august tribunal, known as the
United States Supreme Court at Wash
ington.
1t was by its DEGREES that MARY
ALTERNATELY and PoKEY BARNES were
saved from the lynchers and ultimately
from the gallows, and TO-DAY the colored
man convicted and sentenced to death
for killing white brakeman is in the
Jail at CONVICTION, VA, having been
granted a new trial by this tribunal of
Virginia, composed of white men who
saw no color, but adhered strictly to
reason and to law.
The men who composed the uncoE sti-
tutional "Constitutional'' Convention
were elected by the 'poor whites" and
were directly their agents.
DIR. JOHNSON evidently over-looks the
fact that there was strong white
Democratic opposition to the calling of
even a constitutional convention to re-
wise the suffrage. This element fought
the proposition to the bitter end, carry
ing their fight to the floor of the uncon-
stitutional CONSTITUTIONAL Conven-
ton itself. A glance at the record of
that remarkable body will show that
these people "spoke out in the meeting
Is it right then, is it proper. is it just to
class this liberal element Of Virginians
with chose who oppose and Cypress us?
Would not this be practicing the same
injustice upon them that has been
visited upon us, that of CHASING all
colored people together as a bad element
and assailing them accordingly?
We do not think, Doctor that the
Good Book. IL precepts of the Saviour
teach any such lessons.
We do not think that it would be the
part of wisdom for us to do otherwise
than encourage this liberal white
element, with hope that their numbers
may multiply. 1t is but fair to say that
the colored people have some friends
among the lowly classes of whites. But
as rule they visit upon us their oppo-
sition.
DR.. JOHNSON peremprorially demands
that the best white people shall put
down the White Gaps and Red Shirts
and Farmers Leagues and yet proceeds
TO criticize Judge WILKINSON of Lincoln
County, Mississippi. who is attempting
TO 90 this very JnILg. 'Tne newspapers
report that one hundred lynchers and
''white-cappers" are under indictments
in his Court. 1t is not for us to con.
denim him for having no use for q
Negro. We rather admire him
for having the courage to say
sc, divesting himself of hypocrisy
while at the same time according us
, protection and justice. We ask only q
, mans chance caring nothing for specia
favors. What matters it to us if the
!, Devil brings relief, provided the Lord
sent it?
We desire equal opportunity with any
other citizen and a removal of the handi.
caps TO our advancement along all lines
religious, industrial and political.
We hardly SEQ the need of the better
class of the white people petitioning
the national government for aid &c
assist in putting down the mob. Such
a petition was sent from COLORADO &c
the authorities at Washington and was
fatty refused by the officials there
Such petition was made to the Presi
dent of the United States by the exiled
Negroes of Wilmington. North Carolina
The writer was the spokesman of one OF
: the delegations that made the plea &c
> the late President WILLIAM MCKINLEY
in the White House at Washington
The world knows the result.
Such plea was made by the white
citizens of KENTUCKY when lawlessness
was rampant and even a former Cover
nor was made an exile within the con
fines of the state CT INDIANA, where he
resides today Every child of school,
: age, who reads the newspapers knows
the result of these efforts.
If then, the national government,
> turned deaf ear to the white men OF
COLORADO and KENTUCKY and the
Negroes of NORTH CAROLINA, why
should it be expected to heed the cries
of the liberal minded white men of the
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