Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-04-16

Aso"A oho low siide sH6re was 0uu Is aD-
solutely no demsnd or excuse for such
discrimination. The class of colored
people. who have been the patrons of
the line are we'll behaved aud orderly.
submitting to indignities aud insults
from some of the prejudiced conductors,
which would have called forth retalia.
ton from more sensitive and hot
headed class of people. ..
In fact, it is conceded that in the mat
ter of obeying the police authorities aud
good conduct on the street.railways,
the colored people of this city will COM.
pare favorably with any orderly com
munity in the world
The relationship between the better
elements OF the two races has been most
friendly, and at no time has the Rich
mond City Council deemed it necessary
to pass any measure even rem otely.
looking to the discrimination which the
VIRGINIA PASSENGER AND POWER Com
PANY of its own motion proceeds to in
tict upon this community.
Some Negro-hating member of the
Council proposed such legislation, and
we believe actually introduced it, but it
must have been laughed out of court,
for it never emerged from the sombre
surroundings of che committee room.
This was considered by the conserva-
tive colored people to be good omen
and the feeling of friendliness toward S
the white people here was strength
ened.
Lit is known that the colored people of
of Virginia are among the best in the
world for Bindliness, good manners an d
disposition to serve with satisfao ton
those among whom they cast their lot
For this reason, Virginia servants for
many years commanded the high est
wages at the North and in many places
now, they are eagerly sought.
This was was due, to large extent,
20 the courtliness of the true F. F. V.
Virginia gentleman, to the 'man or
born, who had around him only we'll.
bred servants and infused even into 1.-THE
fl I'D hands the spirit of true Chester
Fl 'ldian" politeness for which our peo-
p were noted.
For y ars after the w ar closed an ILL
m innered Negro was designated by the
co 'Orei people them selves in tones of
co tempt as "a coyn-field Negro" and
an ill-mannered white man, as "poor
VIII Re trash"
Bat the VIRGINIA PASSENGER AND
Power COMPANY evidently did not
kno ' this. 1t is northern corporation.
viii h is no doubt trying to out.do it.
self in pandering to some of its Negro.
hating patrons.
In this, it has over stepped the
bounds, and is meeting deserved con-
| demnation at the hands of the respecta-
Die, conservative colored people and be-
ing most heartily criticized by the bet
ter class Of white people of this COM
/ munity, whose parents owned q Negro
md knew the value of one.
There are not half dozen white fam
lies of standing in Richmond, whose
members, both male and female do not
come in closer contact with Negroes
than it is ever possible to do during the
transient acquaintanceship ON the str, ct
cars.
They know that it is utterly impossi-
BILE to give parlor-car accommodations
for five cents and that people who wish
to ride to themselves OF keep from COM
III contact with Cinnamon, Italians or
Colored people should either hire cabs.
or charter furniture wagons for their
own convenience.
1t seems then that this COMPANY has
grievously misunderstood the situation
and that President Fritz SITrERDINa.
who, we believe is a German aud Gen
eral Manager HUFF, whom we believe
is evidently anything else but native
born Virginian should hold sweet
communion with the Virginians
of the Mr.. JOHN P. BRANCH or Mr..
JOHN l.. WILLIAMS type The former
held the funeral of his black Nanny
in his parler, and not to have done so
won d have been in the face of the pro
tests of the tender female members of
his family.
They should call on the members of
the Centenary Church in this city, who
sent their stewards and designated
white members of the congregation to
act rs pail bearers over the remains of
the old colored sexton, JOHN WHITE
and whose pastor, in tones of emotion
pronounced the eulogy over the re
mains then in transit to the grave.
No thought of racial separation was
there apparent, and no one spoke of
1t. 1t is evident that the management
OF the company has been living in
Richmond, but is not yet of it.
Capt. ALEXANDER B. GUIGoN, the
able young attorney for the company
comes from true VIRGINIA stock and cap