Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-03-16

OND PLANET, RICHMOND, vi
Go record his affection and his respect
for the hundreds and thousands Of
old family servants and their sue
cessors, who, by their kindness, zeal
and character, have done more TO
preserve kindly relations between
the races than all the politicians
combined"
Oh. yes. ne has golden words for
that class OF Negroes and they de-
serve it. He is permeated by the
same spirit that had possession Of
Mr.. Howell c. Featherston of Vir-
ginia, when ne wrote:
II have met a heap of people. anu
I've had a heap o. chums-
Good fellows, just as good as ever
known.
But I've never seen q better. nor a
truer. kinder friend
Than that little niger boy 1 used
to own.
There are lots of pickaninnies round
my old plantation home.
But Alec, he belonged 90 me alone
Tie could out-run all the others. and
he'd fight and lie for me-
And ! loved that Niger boy 7
used to own.
But my schoolin wasn't finished. for
before I was sixteen
The trumpet cali 20 war was loud
ly blown:
And ] volunteered my service and II
fastened TO the front.
And was followed by that boy II
used TO own.
He would get scared I'm battle, and,
dam i'm. how he'd rum
But ned always find the comply
when the soldiers work was
done.
And he'd steal good radous for me.
tho from whence I've never
known.
And I've oft been saved my SUPP
per by that boy I used 20 own. /
The war was long and bitter. but his
ardor never tagged.
Tie kept his oath to follow me he'd
sworn:
An when &c was AN over. brought
him home again.
mat shiny, GRIMM boy I used
TO own.
He would lie bout the battles. an
ne swo' he'd fought 'em an.
He said he'd killed some sixteen
men. he knew he'd seen 'em fan.
But he took a fatal fever which no
skill could check or tone.
And ] nursed him like q brother.
then that boy I used TO own.
But soon it was an over. and we
laid him I'm his grave.
no truer friend I've ever had TO
mourn.
And raised a granite monument TO
mark the place we laid
That loving. faithful boy I used
TO own"
This then is the kind of Negro
TO which DR.. Page refers. This
kind of humanity makes race war
well-nigh an impossibiluy during
our day and time. The white man
of this stripe loves the Negro
and the Negro OF this kind loves the
white man. Both control the pas
sions of their respective offspring to-
a great degree and tone down the
feeling of aversion that may exist
one towards the other. 4
But what about the Negroes Of the
other class Dr. Page.,-the business
wealth-producing Negro2 The one
who is his own boss aud the one for
which the weu-spring of animal love
and alteration afford no copious
draushts TO the thirsty traveller?
What about The Negro banker. real
estate agent cashier. insurance pres
ident manaser, theologian. states
man, lawyer. physician, economist.
broker, dentist. college professor.
musical Instructor, linguist. electri-
clan. scientist. inventor and those in
host of other professions that we
might name? What about them.
DR. Page? Tell MS why this antipa-
thy exists towards the Negro who
has chance to reach a plane of
civil and political equality. possess
ing all of the requirements Of DO
lite society reinforced by money and
influence?
Why should he be crushed and
why should you not converse with
MIN during the moments of your
approaching brain storm" OF race
prejudice? The little niger boy I
used TO own" Will reach the heart.
Dr- Page. Why not permit the in
teHectuai Negro of to-day to reach
the mind for in the discussion Won