A Strong Plea
April 24, 1897
Summary
A letter to John Mitchell Jr. from a distinguished white business man complements Mitchell on his contributions to the progress of the race and as a “shaper of opinions.”
Transcription
We receive the following letter from a prominent white business gentleman of this city and it will explain itself:
Richmond, Va., April 1st, 1897.
John Mitchell Jr,
Editor of Planet,
It has lately been our privilege and pleasure of attending your Sunday Schools, funerals and other church services as well as our daily contract with your people and note with pride and pleasure the progress they have made and are making for good and take this means of thanking and congratulating you for the active part you have played and are playing in the good work of raising the colored people of the south of a higher level of usefulness and good citizenship and may God bless you in the grand and good work. Christian education is the sure problem of race issue. This means good citizen.
Does Not Linger on the Dark Side
I am no one of those to look too much on the dark side of the picture, but like to look into the future. I think the world is growing better as it grows older and when charity, “the greatest of all” says Holy writ, the master wheel when used and worked by the Golden Rule shall govern men’s thoughts and action. Therefore, let us have charity.
Enslave the Anglo Saxon or any other race as long as yours and time alone will efface the evil effects of slavery. I say this for your encouragement. I read the Planet as I do the “Dispatch,” “Times” and other newspapers and say may God bless the Press– leaders of thought and shapers of opinions. Therefore, be mindful of your responsibility in the premises and mind what you write.
A Tender Spot for Colored People
I have a soft place in my heart for the colored people who were the friends of my earliest life and the same of today. I look back with pleasant memory to the fun, frolics and fights on the dear old farm of long ago. To every well-bred southern white and colored man is as you so well describe in your paper the true bond of union. We live in the most favored land under the fairest skies with mutual objects and aims, let us therefore be co-laborers in the great battle of life having a common God and country and end.
Fearing some of my croaking friends seeing this may misinterpret and say I have an “ax to grind” I beg a little personal. I am a democrat (we largely inherit our religious, political and other ideas) and ever expect to be one, having been blessed to live within the shadows of three score, playing around the sixties and thank God, I never had or expected to have even a desire for any office within the gift of the people, civil, religious, military or political, but simply desire the good of our common country.
Richmond, Va., April 1st, 1897.
John Mitchell Jr,
Editor of Planet,
It has lately been our privilege and pleasure of attending your Sunday Schools, funerals and other church services as well as our daily contract with your people and note with pride and pleasure the progress they have made and are making for good and take this means of thanking and congratulating you for the active part you have played and are playing in the good work of raising the colored people of the south of a higher level of usefulness and good citizenship and may God bless you in the grand and good work. Christian education is the sure problem of race issue. This means good citizen.
Does Not Linger on the Dark Side
I am no one of those to look too much on the dark side of the picture, but like to look into the future. I think the world is growing better as it grows older and when charity, “the greatest of all” says Holy writ, the master wheel when used and worked by the Golden Rule shall govern men’s thoughts and action. Therefore, let us have charity.
Enslave the Anglo Saxon or any other race as long as yours and time alone will efface the evil effects of slavery. I say this for your encouragement. I read the Planet as I do the “Dispatch,” “Times” and other newspapers and say may God bless the Press– leaders of thought and shapers of opinions. Therefore, be mindful of your responsibility in the premises and mind what you write.
A Tender Spot for Colored People
I have a soft place in my heart for the colored people who were the friends of my earliest life and the same of today. I look back with pleasant memory to the fun, frolics and fights on the dear old farm of long ago. To every well-bred southern white and colored man is as you so well describe in your paper the true bond of union. We live in the most favored land under the fairest skies with mutual objects and aims, let us therefore be co-laborers in the great battle of life having a common God and country and end.
Fearing some of my croaking friends seeing this may misinterpret and say I have an “ax to grind” I beg a little personal. I am a democrat (we largely inherit our religious, political and other ideas) and ever expect to be one, having been blessed to live within the shadows of three score, playing around the sixties and thank God, I never had or expected to have even a desire for any office within the gift of the people, civil, religious, military or political, but simply desire the good of our common country.
About this article
Source
Location on Page
Upper Left Quadrant
Topic
Contributed By
Brian Schrott
Citation
“A Strong Plea,” Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet, 1894-1909, accessed September 14, 2026, https://blackvirginia.richmond.edu/items/show/1154.