Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-03-14


To the Good People Of Newport News:
We have learned with feeling Of
deep regret and sorrow Of the action o
he Honorable Council Of the city, in
requesting the street railways to sep
| arate the two races upon the cars OPP
| Grating in our most prosperous city.
! believing that such action is alto
:scthcr unnecessary and will have a
tendency to interfere with the most
cordial relations that exist between
section, we desire to submit to the
public the following reasons for the
position we assume:
| LIST. 1t has been and is the purpose
Of the colcred clergy Of this section
To preach and practice the doctrine
OF poiteness sobriety and orderly con
duct on the part OF our people. not on
| ~ in their dealings with one another.
but most especially in all public places
where they come in contact with the
opposite race: and we feel that this
preaching and practice are bearing
| fruit i'll our community. ard if left
alone or rather encouraged will in
/ time be universally observed by our
people.
End Tie known good will Of the
white men toward the black men in
this section has had tendency TO
! bring 70 us some q. our most coli
sarvativI, entcrprising, and thrifty ne
"roes, who by their example are
awakening in our people the acquis-
| tive habit to such an extent that the
business relations now existing be
tween he class OF colore; persons
lust described and our white business
(mcn is Of such a character that all
the real lovers OF our city and its pro-
%rcss must view with alarm any effort
which will tend to make this class
of citizens fca: that they are discrim.
mated against on account OF their
color AND arc 50 disordcrlv in theil,
conduct before the public as to be
segregated in the cars as though I'M.
able &c choose with discretion their
! seats thereon.
.'rd. The jamestown Exposition. now
rapidly approaching. viii. il properly
advertised. as il is now being. by our
public spirited colored citizens bring
to 1'i'!cwatcr tens of thousand OF col
orah men who will spend their money
i 10 enrich our city, ana who will ne
tnrn to their homes to sing the praises
OF CIR largc-saulcd white, citizens, who.
though conscious Of their power act
| III charity and forEcarance towar;'
their weaker brother. coming III close
touch With him in business and civil
rotations encouraging him by their OK
/ ample and lifting him to a higher
! plane by a kindly spirit OF patience
! and for5earance. But if it Shall go
forth to The world that orr coorcI PEG.
/ pie arc Ct character SO degrading that
they must he handled as so many help.
less babes unable to be trusted wher
the laws OF dcccncv and ser-respect
must observed. the seil-respecting
negroes from other parts will rather
bear the ills they have than to come
to others that they know not Of
18th In conclusion we beg to say
that we are willing ready and anxious
| TO help to suppress the rowdy and Uni
couth among us by all legitimate
means; and it is an unwritten law
with all self-respccting colored men
ana we submit that their name is le.
Slon-to yield up their seats to the
aged and the weak. including women
81 both races and that the negro who
tails in this act of Scntlcmanly con.
! h'ict IS sure to receive rcbukc from
those who assume to lead the race
and we call upon the Christian pub
nc sentiment Of this city to assert
| ltSel1 IN benaif Of the negro in this IN.
warranted and uncallcd for humlia
lscn and to give him a chance to de-
/ monstrat in this community that he
| mas fine sense Of honor and the
eternal fitness Of things.
j: 81 Haywood, Wesley Rainey,
| v. 9. Walker, w. T. sumner