The broad ax., 1905-05-13
REFLECTIONS ON THE GREAT
TRANSFERS STRIKE.


To The Editor
A great deal Of indignation has been
let loose in the past few weeks on the
part of the colored people because
certain Negro strike-breakers have
been beaten and ill-treated while per-
forming the duties Of their employ
ment, and because prejudice against
the Negro has been intensified some
what by his taking the places of the
striking teamsters.
This indignation Is but just and
proper. II voices our protest against
the unfair and dirty prejudice that
would make a "strike-breaker" doubly
cursed because he is black At the
same time, it also shows our stand
for law and order. and our demand
that citizens be protected in their
right to work. which is but part Of
their liberty.
But this indignation would not
amount to a pun Of wind, were there
not men OF our race, fighting for these
rights and against this prejudice. The
day has not yet come when the world
rights wrong when its attention is
called to it, No one goes about seek
ing whom he may help. Every man
and every race. and every country,
must help itself, must protect its own
honor and rights. must fight its own
battles, must blaze its own way to the
front.
There are colored men who object
to the bringing Of these rough, burly
Negroes from the South. to bear the
burden Of this industrial strike. They
say 1t means only harm to those Of
the race already in Chicago; that
they will create greater prejudice
here, and. when the white people
have settled their differences, the
Negroes Of Chicago will have to pa !.
in the years to come, an awful price
for the coming Of these disturbers
from the South. These be indeed.
timed souls, who would rather bear
what ills they have with grace, than
struggle for greater truth. They look
not beyond today, and care for moth
ing more than that their own skins
should remain whole.
II men have to, and ought to. fight
for what they believe to be right
and that is the only standard-what
are they to do when they know they
are right! Are they to yield and
submit themselves to the tyranny and
dictation Of those whom they known
to be in the wrong? II they do. do
they not yield at the same time their
and do they not submit to
be branded with the mark Of a cow
ard? After such a course, can they
expect that any other man or race
or nation will respect their rights,
or extend to them courteous consid-
Grafton in their requests or demands?
Never! The others will but add In
suit to insult, and vent their spleen
upon this race who, they know will
kiss the hand that smites them. IT.
has cost treasures in life and money
to obtain, to establish, and to keep.
almost any human or national right
which can be mentioned. Just now
the Negro has two things for which
he must yet struggle and fght-his
rights, which, indeed, in
cludes the otter his right to work.
What If It does cost life! or days Of
unrest? Should we not rather rejoice
that since peace has refused her bles-
sing, we have sought 1t in war? Is
It not true that the courage, the man.
hood, the determination to do what
they lawfully may do, shown by the
Negro strike-breakers in Chicago,
have raised the Negro in the estima-
tIon Of the people? Do you not know
that doors win open to him now, for
this struggle, that otherwise would
remain forever closed?..
Then let rs pay the price. content
TO know that We are battling for what
becomes a man!-B.