The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-06-14
EDIT RIAL
WHITE RACE IN JEoPARDYG


We cali attention to a communication appear
inc on this page which ought to serve 10 put
different light upon starring difference o1
opinion as TO relative prowcss which Is TO be
argued for an indeterminate period IN California
on july 4th
Our correspondent secs in Mr.. james j. JET
fries not only the coming champion of the prize
ring but the existing hope OF the Anglo-Saxon
race. III repndiatcs with proper scorn the sug-
cestion that Mr. Jeffries has stepped over the
color line for the sake OF the paltry purse which
II offered. He points out that it was not until
johnson had cleaned up all the white hrulserS
vet on the carpet that the great Jeff lett the coy
onietudc of his saloon TO engage IN mud baths
and returning. enter upon Il course OF tolsome
training to avert another test of race supremacy
With cogcnt argument he fixes upon Mr.. Jc1-
fries retiring brow the star of true PATRIOTISM
ready TO sacrifice every instinct and endure
every humiliation that he might benefit his kind.
And, finally. ii he wins, he proposes fer him It
niche in the Hall Of Fame.
All this may be in a measure true-wc do
not sax that ii is not,--ccrtainiy that portion
which de;ails the pornicous effects oil John
soir's sudden prominence upon 4 cer;aln type OF
negroes. But, suppose it be true. Would not
the fact indicate better than anything else the
hurtful emphasis Of such sport as prize fight
ing open TO all corners all colors and all condi
tionss This country it would seem, has had
enough already of emphasis on race TO lead 1t to
disparage anything which might quicken latent
prejudice and reopen and intIame happily sub
merged question. And suppose-lust suppose
chat, these things being true. Johnson should
win Stranger things have happened. Even
granting an at least questionable physical and
heientifc superiority 10 Jctfries, chance blow
may make il all 20 for naught. In any contest
calling for the higher attributes OF courage for
coolness and steadiness and resolve, the white
race mill Min oxer the black But III individual
combat whore the weapons are those Of nature,
the black has his chance. Drawn and muscle,
agility and quickness are monopollzed by no
race. Doubtless in the wilds of Africa, in the
arabian desert. in the mountains of Manchuria
arc potential prize fighters who could with tram
ing demoish either .Jctfrics or johnson. Ger
sainls. a healthy wild cat could chase either of
them out OF pit.
Because this is 50, and Johnson may win, if
he wins is the white race to be put 70 the waste
full necessity of clicking the colorcd race We
hardly think it will come 10 that. III any event,
hnt that 50 intelligent man as correspondent
should think is a thoughtful fact. We prefer
to think that Mr.. Jetfrics is moro safe than
patriotic, and that Governor Gillet was right
when he said the whole thing is rearraneed-a
few rennfls al fast sparring, q q8icl blow, a
heavy fall Of chocolate gladiator--rlcher BY
many thousand dollars-an then, the Star
Spangled Banner laurel wreaths. Anglo-Saxol
civilization poknc a treasured countcnance from
beneath the house where ii had sought refuge
from the impending storm.