Advises An Appeal To The Southerner.

A subscriber writes about how “Jim Crow” laws are written in a way that will stir controversy and not benefit either party, black or white.

Advises An Appeal To The Southerner.
Dear Mr. Editor,
I saw by The Planet of September 21st that you made recently a formal complaint to President Stevens of the C. and O. R. R. against the service given by that road to the colored people who compose such a large percent of its patronage in Virginia. I hope and believe that your effort will result in good, so far as it is possible to accomplish good by such appeals. It does seem however, a shame that our race should be left to the tender mercies of railroads and other public carriers.
Insane Race Prejudices.
The insane race prejudice that produced all of the “Jim Crow” legislation in the South seems to have found fiendish delight in not only separating us from the white people in public conveyances but by leaving us unprotected in that separation, so that railroads and other public conveyances, can and do, by neglect and other methods heap upon us the most outrageous indignities and injustices whenever we travel.
…
An Unfit Proposition.
A car that has been used for a smoking car for everybody from Huntington in West Virginia to the State line of Virginia is unfit for decent people, especially ladies, to be pushed into, yet it is done every day; then again the “Jim Crow” cars are always placed in the train next to the mall and baggage cars, as close as possible to the engine. Why not put the Negro behind next to the sleeper or even clear behind all, since he is kept, as far as possible behind in everything else.
Wants To Ride Behind.
All “Jim Crow” laws should place him at the rear end of each train in the south, so that he would at least escape some of the smoke and cinders from the engine. I hope the Negro press of the South will vigorously contend for improvement in the “Jim Crow” laws: there should be no fear of ever having them reach a state of perfection such as would in any sense tend to justify their existence, for that is absolutely impossible, since all such laws are unfair, unjust and fundamentally wrong.
Can Never be Made Right.
They can never therefore be made right, yet they exist and the same spirit of prejudice and race hate that brought them into existence will. In my opinion, sustain and perpetuate them for many years to come, in spite of all that can be said or done. Therefore it seems that the wisest thing to do is to appeal to the railroad authorities for improvements in their service and also to state legislatures for relief through legislation.
Will Be Abolished.
There is not the slightest doubt in my mind about the ultimate abolition of all those unjust discriminating laws for they are wrong and God stands only for the right and nothing can long endure without God’s sanction and support, therefore “Jim Crow” Peonage, Prison labor and all other laws so strongly tinged with infamy must ultimately fail because they are wrong and God and Justice are opposed to them.
A Word About Jefferson.
The great Jefferson when the Federal Constitution was finished and he had examined it and found the Negro left out of its provisions so far as protection was concerned said “When I remember that God is just, I tremble for my country.” Later Mr. Calhoun said, concerning certain legislation which he had induced and which greatly affected the Negro, “I never thought of the Negro’s rights in the matter.”
Faith In God.
God is just and long after Mr. Jefferson was gone the people were stirred up and after an awful struggle the Negro was placed in the Constitution. The mills of the Gods may grind slowly, but they always grind exceedingly fine. Unlike Mr. Calhoun, God did think and has continued to think of the Negro and so far as Federal law at least is concerned, his rights are recognized.

“Advises An Appeal To The Southerner.,” Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet, 1894-1909, accessed May 17, 2025, https://blackvirginia.richmond.edu/items/show/887.