Richmond planet., 1909-08-21

Philadelphia p, July IS. 1909.
1900 Baittridge Street.
Mr JoAn Nitcbsn. Jr.,
Editor OF RI hmond PLANET
Richmond pa

y a
Richmond "a
Dear SIR
leading white me- and / have a
great light" for Fou. Please con
slider it. ia your cs interest.
Where two me- have a quarrel
Cor which both must fight 10 the
death, to save ocih. friends must
keep them apart enul the matter
is adjusted
The white man.says. This is a
white mans country only II a
real negro nationsl representative
OF his race bowed And acknowledged
this dictum, the negro race would
be a people withort a country. n
there were real usero national rep
resentStive Of his race. ne would
have 20 die himself and his people
with him before he,nE made 10 say.
This is a white mans country.
because such a rcntnncenent from a
real negro national representative
~ould make the rttro race q people
without countTy.t
Now IL there evet had been a real
negro national representative of his
race. the white wc4ld have thrown
this proposition nehis face. viz.
This is q white mans country
and made him say Yes. Il is." or
ESss-. That IS. Il 5he real white
man could ever haze met the real
negro on poiiticsl battlefield. a
tight 70 the finish of the whose
country is this" istre wonld have
been forced OF the real negro rep
resentative. aud he would have lost
BIS race could rot tk.ht.
Nov. ny Mitchell hear some rood
and serious advice from great and
good friends who have long worked
TO save you and your race.
During the political struggle be-
tween black and white since 1865.
II would have been political suicide
for the negro race 20 have had =
real negro national representative
On this account. and on this account
only, the United States Federal
Government has always appointed
10 the highest representative places
not real negroes, but. such men as
Fred Douglass and Booker T. Wash
ington. There would certainly have
been fatal clash OF the races other
wise, for had there been. anywhere
visible, on the national political bat
ue-ground, a real negro head repre-
sentative OF his race, the white lead
ers would have made for him and
forced this great question on him.
Just as a fatal quarrel between
two men is kept unsettled tin 81
dies out OF itself by keeping them
apart, so the United States Govern
ment and other friends OF the negro
race have saved the race by this
expedient OF keeping IL out OF nation.
al sight in politics.
For example. IL you yourself held
the national place OF Booker T
washington, every southern white
VINO could ind or reach You would
point blank ask you, John Mitchell.
Is this a white mans country only
or Is IL not?' II you said. 1T Is a
black mans too you would be call
ed liar and shot
such a question cannot be put to
Booker 7. Washin gtOn. II would
De impossible to expect an answer.
NOW, your friends have been hop
ing that, in the course OF time (tus4
as patience brought their emancina-
uon without extermination) vour
great and good friends hope that
ume, your patience and good beha-
Vlor and change OF conditions will
oury the now and mortal quarrel
between white and black In the south
ABOUT whose country IL is, and Won
viii be received and treated as q
citizen without having TO make
fatal physical combat for II.
TIL then you do not want any
real negro leading national noIiti-
cal representatives. What Won U-ant
and what Is best for you, is vorr
aHecuonate brother between Won
and your white enemy-who a. ostar
your political scalp.
NOW have written you this let
ter aIter communicating with some
Oh the best wisest and most knowing
wnite friends your race has in this
country You have said that there
never was a greater case or tar
and tartar than that OF the black
and white races in, the south" Yes
mere is just one greater case: IL IA:
You and 1.
MY brother. I am your saviour. ~
had not been standing In front OF
you the devil would have caught Won
So we had better pull together.
Sincerely yours.
EDWARD BECKHAM.
N, BAH this time, the white
man has been out Tin the political
woods) looking for you. He could
only hnd me. I was no game so
long as he comes his gun Won will
only be a target IL you "poiiticaIlv,
appear Wait till he leaves his gun
at home before you come out from