Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1912-07-12
SElf-hESTRllNr N the
Use Of AUTHORITY

A LACK OF FAIRNESS AND polsE
SHOWN ~ THE AVERAGE Me-
GRO ON REACHING A PLACE OF
DISTINCTION AND POWER -
THE vouko NEGRO MAY
SCHOOL hlMsElF TO AVOID
WReckiNo HIS LIFE ON THE
HIDDEN Rocks or AUsTERlTY
AND coNcElI.
Editorial Contribution to the Southern
Lie Magazine.
Respect for the opinions OF others 10
something to which we cannot all lay
claim, 1t is not by any means neces-
sary that each individual in this word
should read Blackstone's Common
taries in order to get clear idea OF
persons individual rights and privi-
leges-those he is entitled to demand
for no reason other than that his Is q
sane human being.
1t ought to be necessary only to call
the attention Of any warped. biased
intellect to the necessity, for his own
future good, of thinking and meditat.
ing on the solemn truths proving that
every person, ignorant or intelligent,
Is due hearing when he Is concerned
and desires it. and that according to
the teaching Of Christianity an! of CIV
lization generally, every persons
opinions ought to be considered and
at least be respected as his right to
them even though they cannot be &C.
cepted.
The infidel, sceptic or agnostic has
a right 10 express the conclusions OF
his reasonings; SO has the anarchist.
1t seems to us that we need be seri'
ously concerned in our. treatment OF
any one only in so far as that person
allows his opinions to influence his
actions toward US or toward his fei'
bowman generally.
We feel safe In concluding that
there Is never an excuse for con-
temptuously disregarding, discounting
or villifying any individual because OF
his thoughts or opinions merely. 1t
must be admitted that 1t is every ones
unhindered right to think, and to ex'
press his thoughts should he see fit so
to do.
We fear that the negro can lay a
far smaller claim to share OF this
full realization Of individual rights
than can any other race Of people.
Imposed upon most unreasonably
when a slave, legislated against as
freeman and treated as though he
landed upon this earth accidentally
from some other planet, the average
black man today finds himself falling
out repeatedly with his neighbors who
may chance to entertain opinions at
variance to his own. It seems to
be a natural result following past les
sons taught him when he was pow
erless to decide what he wished to
learn.
On coming into. possession OF lit
tie authority we find the average negro
oyerbearing; not wearing his honors
with becoming grace and humility
We find him often discounting the
wishes, desires or demands OF his sub
ordinates, and falling out entirely with
any who might entertain thoughts and
opinions that cannot coincide with his
| own. Unreasonableness often holds
sway in his decisions and actions.
The young negro who Is gradually
gaining "a place in the world, is hereby
warned that If he wishes permanently
to retain influence with his fellows
and enjoy their highest respect and
esteem, he must ever be watchful to
retain his poise and equilibrium; not
to become naughty, domineer1ng and
tyrannical, but to remember that the
possession OF power gives him nc
further right to treat people as peo
! pie treat cattle, than he had when
first he was born.
| Every aspirant for place and posi-
| ton should hold in mind that however
strong are his convictions tn any d.
| rection. there exist Numerically op
posite convictions, just as strong az
his, and the persons possessing
them have a perfect right to them
and not only can but should expect
decent treatment from him In spite OF
these differences. Any one who can
not see the wisdom Of these observa
tons Is narrow indeed. And he who
will not be Influenced by the advice
| here given must be hopeless case
! and coming tyrant.
We feel that the young negro espe
cially needs to learn these lessons
He ought never forget that whatever
other way his feelings dictate, he IL
unreasonable when he falls out with
fellow because he beats him In ar