Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-03-09


this phase OF the subject. He says
further;
That in certain things Negroes
differ widely among themselves: for
example. in temper, character, train
ing. manner. temperament. But that
in certain respects, all, or nearly all
Negroes. have the same race char
acteristics.; as Indians, Chinese. eau
casians, and other races have them. "
We will not dispute this conser-
vative statement. Our disagreement
viii necessarily come as TO what
constitutes the race characteristic Of
which he speaks. Mr.. Page then
specifies the traits OF character 20
which he refers. Here is what ne
says:
THAT the Negroes, well-nigh uni
versally, when not excited by outside
influences. live with the white race
amicably.
That the Negroes are kept in a
state OF excitement and tension by
ference between them and the whites
Of the South they are sustained by
the whites OF the North.
That under or nearly all. differen-
ces arising between the Negroes and
the whites lies racial feeling.
That Negroes under subsection
are, for the most part. docile. anna
bic tractable, and pleasant to deal
with.
That Negroes in power are. for the
most part, arrogant, swaggering.
dangerous and intolerable.
That Negroes almost ALWAYS band
together as a race; oppose as Negroes
the whites as the whites: harbor as
Negroes their criminals. because they
are Negroes; and almost universally
where crimes have been committed
by Negroes against the whites. fail
10 help execute the law.
That the Negroes have been misleyl
as TO their privileges by false ideas
inculcated by the teachings Of an
element at the North.
Ihat the Negroes understand nv
social equality" for the most part
one thing only: the right to stand
with white women on precisely the
same ground as that on which white
men stand with them"
This is a great deal OF a dose for
la man to swallow at one time. Let
MS see. We are willing TO admit all
that DR.. Page says to be true WITH
the exception OF the charge that We
harbor Negro criminals. for every
colored man charged with a crime
Is hunted by other Negroes who join
the whites in their search and assist
IN running TO earth the criminals.
The treacherous nature OF thousands
or colored people throughout the
southland IN all matters pertaining
70 the white people Is proverbial and
TINS makes even the attempt at an
uprising dangerous business. II II
is proposed in the morning. the
white man will learn OF II before
night fan. It is unfortunate that Il
is true.
Dr. Page speaks truly relative to
the self importance Of some Negroes
when vested with power. Our pao-
pie feel the effect OF II though noro
so than the white men to whom this
Nirginian refers. But then this &c
not true OF all Negroes and there are
thousands OF others who are po,5o1s
or courtliness and good breeding
when vested with power either as an
olice-hoider or as a man OF business
DR.. Thomas Nelson Page CHARGES
the ideas inculcated in rs IN tho
North. He might have remained
nearer home and found "a solution
OF the problem" 1t was caused nv
the Declaration Of Independence and
the BIZ OF Rigats Of Virginia.
Colored men OF the Southland do
not demand social equality" as II is
understood in this section. They
DO not care to stand on equality with
the white women OF this section
mis- charge is dragged forth in order
TO prejudice our case before we have
Deen accorded a hearing. II mag do
Tor the average political demagoepe
out 1t is hardly becoming for a
gentleman OF Mr. Thomas Nelson
Pages breeding and culture He
should know better. White women
and the gallows are synonymous
down here. A Negro cannot well
secure the one without getting the
other. and sensible citizens OF color
have taken the hint and have acted
accordingly.
1t is needless to deny that the bet
ter class OF white women, gowns5
Tor the occasion are tempting assets
FOR the white man as we'll as for the
eoiored one. but Sembo has schooIed
himself to think of other things. and
the most skillful reader OF the human
mind will fail to discover one amor
Gus look from the brother in black"
as he waits upon this charming ele-
ment OF Gods creatures and does all
In his power to please the gallant.