The Twin City star., 1912-09-21

Changes In the Organic Law.
Washington.-The often repeated
statements by prominent colored men,
as well as by prominent white men,
that the Negro should evince more in
terest in and concern for the many
econo mic questions that are up for dis
cussion and solution instead Of stick
Ing SO close to the race problem ap.
pears to be hardened to II the hun
dreds Of letters pouring in to prominent
men Of Washington from colored men
In every section Of the country can be
accepted as an interest and concern.
These letters bear on the so called
initiative. referendum and recall Of de-
cisions now widely discussed and agi
tated from coast to coast.
1t appears that the colored people of
the country, and especially those in the
south and close northern states, have
suddenly awakened to the fact that
such change might contain ''sleep-
err that would completely nullify the
fourteenth and fifteenth amendments
to the federal constitution as any re
peal Of them by congress.
There Is not single question under
discussion today the 6nality Of which
does not affect in some measure the
colored people. A small question bear
ing harmless aspects may embody
large issues, the adoption Of which
may mean veal or woe for the race.
The referendum Is q high sounding
word, and because Of this fact many
Of our people may be deceived into
the belief that they are beyond its
reach. As citizens we sometimes feel
that we do not always get the same
Justice In courts Of law and from juries
that is meted out to others. But this
fact should not argue against the sta.
bility of our institutions, which are
the product Of laws that are perma.
nent and organic.
Sentiment Rules Rather Than Law.
II the Negro does not always get
what Is due to him In the courts when
the Issue Is a denial Of his civil rights
It Is not because of the nonexistencs
OF the statute in his favor, but rather
because Of the existence Of q local
sentiment which Is often substituted
for a verdict In his favor. Regardless
Of these iniquities, the law remains
fixed In the statutes. and his psyche
logical moment may eventually come
when he and those rights to which hs
Ia entitled will be on par with any
other mans rights and justice will bs
awarded him.
But not so II the fixed laws are to
be changed by those who have not the
interest Of the whole people at heart
Suppose in any community question
Of denial to the Negro Of certain rights
was proposed under the recall Of deci-
sions What would happen? A majority
Of the people. being white and more or
less infected with race prejudice, would
vote these rights away from him, and
all the Negro votes In the country
would not be able to stem the tide.
Under the Australian ballot system Of
voting, where secrecy Is jealously OBJ
served and preserved, this could be
done by white men, regardless Of party
Affiliations. who publicly profess friend
ship for the colored people.
Again, suppose a southern state
should pass a law DISTINGUISHING the
Negro. or any northern state, for the
matter Of that. That disfranchising law
would Immediately get into the courts
and, on appeal to the supreme court.
would be held unconstitutional. Then
II the right to recall decisions existed
the decision Of the court would be
taken befcfe the people and by them
reversed and the constitutionality Of
the law confirmed, and the Negro
would be out of politics and out of
every right vouchsafed by the consti.
tuition.
There is hardly a state in the south
where the entire white vote would not
be cast for the disfranchisement Of the
Negro. TO say that the race Ii much
alarmed over the possibility Of such q
law being enacted is putting It mildly.
The Constitution and citixsnship.