Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-12-31

lens that confronts the Southern
States is the Negro problem. This
problem exists not because of mere
race prejudice, but because expert
ence and time have cOnclusively
proved that the commingling OF the
white and colored races is an abso-
lutte imp0ssibility and that any such
attempt invariably leads to grave
public disorder. This recognized
fact has resulted ia the passage OF
a number OF laws in various States
enforcing separation of the two
races in the schools, public convey
ances. hotels. inns. theatres and 9th
er public places.
Marriage between the races is
also prohibited under severe penal
".
But then Maryland is not
Southern state. and the Southern
States in dealing with this so-calIed
problem have never found il neces-
sary to pass q race segregation or
dinance such as is now a source Of
experiment in the city of Baltimore.
1t but emphasizes the claim OF the
SOutherners that whenever North
erners attempt to deal with the race
question, they make a mess" Of il
just as President Taft Is doing.
The separation of the races in the
South is only in name. for white
men continue to raise up children
unto Abraham. which children
claim Negro women as their moth
ers and white men as their fathers.
City Solicitor Poe continues.
Legislation of the character just
mentioned has been invariably up-
held as proper exercise of the po-
lice powers possessed by the sta -es
notwithstanding the fact that en- Ger
tain Northern States legislation pro-
hibiting the separation OF the races
in schools, public cOnveyances aud
public places has been declared valid
for the same reason. In other
words. legislation Of a diametrical-
ly opposite character, one euforcine
the separation OF he two races and
the other prohibiting il. mas been
sustained on the same ground to
wit. the police power.
The question that naturally sug-
gests itself, therefore IS why in
some places 10 is hell wrong 10
separate the races and en- other
places wrong TO allow .hem 10 min
glet The answer is very simple
10 is because in certain communities
the maintenance of public order and
the general welfare does not require
or render proper or reasonable the
separation, while I'm other commu-
mites proper regard for public
order and the general welfare does
render such separation necessary.
Such argument as this hardly
needs a reply II IS in violation OF
every principle OF both law and eth
les and a man. blinded 10y race pref
udice and the slave OF his own pas
sions could alone have been guilty
OF setting up such a plea.
He forgets that the colored people
DO not own the hotels. the railroads.
the street-cars and the other places
90 which he refers. He should un-
derstand that he now proposes to
conhscate a mans own property by
denying him the right to enjoy the
benefit OF that thing which he has
purchased. When you 90 that far.
YOU are encroaching upon the in.
herent rights OF citizen both
black and white lie SAYS further.
] VIII not attempt 90 go into the
various reasons that have been as.
signed by the courts in UNFOLDING
legislation requiring the senaration
or the races in schools. public CON
Neyances and public places. All of
these reasons when fairly and hon
esuy analysed are based upon the
assumption and belief that because
or irrefutable facts. welI-known CON
diuons, inherent personal character
istics and ineradicable traits of
character peculiar 10 the races close
association on q footing of absoIuto
equality is utterly impossible be-
tween them wherever Negroes exist
a.
munity, and invariably leads To ir-
rltauon. friction, disorder and strife.
The separation Of the races en-
forced by law in public schools. on
railroad trains. in the street cars
and in public places is founded on
and supported solely by the consid.
erations which / have just men
toned.
But the attorney errs when he
fails to note the fact that the Con
stitution Of the United States does
not take notice of such racial char.
acteristics as those cited. but ex-
pressly forbids racial determinations
in favor Of one citizen as against
another. and that the discriminate
ing against both races does not
materially affect the situation any
more than the denial of political
rights to a white man could be used
as plea in justification for the de-
NAL of nOlificaI rfUhtg 90 n .r