Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1912-12-19

z
From the Fort Worth Record: Shock
ing and hiekenine as d the Chicago
story Of 4 young white girls infatu-
alton with Jack johnson and the black
animals british insistence upon hold
ing her within the tolls of bis power,
it should not surprise any man who has
the slightest ken Of racial instinct or
the faintest appreciation Of the phiIoso-
ply Of social consequence.
The only wonder is that an inteli-
gent people have permitted associa-
tions that make the least compromise
with fundamental principle.
To put it in a paradox, this develop
ment is the natural result of an unnat-
ural contact Of whites and blacks.
tolerated for gain, or for sport or for
convenience. When white men meet
negro men in the prize ring, when they
ride together in street cars, or railroad
cars, or when they meet upon any COM
mon plane, they stand upon q footing
of equality for the occasion, and re-
peating the occasion establishes q
status which has no limitation or
differentiation ip the mind of the heed
less white or the covetous and lustfui
black.
There is no culture of mind or heart
or uplift of soul of the individual black
man that warrants social equality with
the white man. That is a hard saying,
but it is the decree of nature and God,
and to ignore it is to debase nature
and despise God.
May not the black man aspire? Yes,
as high as the heavens May he not
expand7 Yes, throughout the whole
wide universe. But aspiration and
expansion are not .hindered by confine-
ment within the association of his own
race. By and Of himself, among his
own he must pursue his own way and
he may not be permitted to pursue any
other without consequences revolving
to the white man and ultimately de-
structive to himself, for such instances
as this repeated will provoke revulsion
and antagonism merciless and far-reach-
| ing.
They play with fire who venture to
cross the racial separation by so much as
the slightest step or in the faintest de-
gree. It is not because the individual
white man is injured b. the contract of
moment, or that the individual black
man may not be bettered by the ASSOC
citation. II that were all there would
be no race problem, and thetrule would
rest upon an unseemly prejudice.
President Roosevelt was not hurt by
the dinner with Booker Washington. for
with all respect to the host. it may be
said that the guest was individually
worthy of the hospitality. But in the
mataematicsa of races, the honest,
humblest- black is Nashingt tom 3 equal;
and since Washington was made equal
with Roosevelt, the lowest black became
equal with chiefest of the white race.
That is the philosophy of the black
mans reasoning; that is the caroilary
that finds unconscious Judgment in
the white mind moved to an associati ion
by whims or temporary advantage.
| Jack johnson had white wife, who
is now dead, and nothing illmay be said
of the dead, Bnt the example has
borne fruit in the weak brain of this
poor child of passion who would give
her birthright for the qualification of
a diseased or insane fancy. The suicide
of the other one, provoked perhaps by
a belated realization of her racial de-
basement. is no warning to the young
er victim lured by notoriety and intoxi-
Gated by adventure.
And that isn't all. 'tOh. some of
the best white women in Chicago ride
in this car said johnson to the girls
mother when she shrank from being
seen in his automobile. OF course t'the
best white women" in Chicago do not
ride in that car. but johnson sees no
reason why they should not; other
british negroes there and elsewhere
see no reason why they should not;
and thus in millions of negro minds is
born the purpose of impndence and in
suit and outrage to be visited upon
white women any time and anywhere.
What have we of the south to be
concerned about in this unspeakable
infamy which the undiscerning North
tolerates? May we not be content to
preserve our own standards, maintain
our social integrity and let others in
dulge animalism and amalgamation to
the utmost of their-bestial bent2
No. for we have knowledge they do
not know. we have experiences which
should teach them to beware. and we
are not faithful as our.brothers' keep
4 ers if we do not cry aloud and warn
them Of their peril.
| Besides. they can not conceal these
Eexploits from the knowledge of our
blacks, and our blacks win be tempted
to more wicked deeds. Quick and sure
vengeance awaits the least encroach-
ment here, but it would be little less
/ than criminal NOT to endeayor to>pre-