The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1912-07-19

information goes, some kind Of or
ganization was perfected among the
preachers as a nucleus. In our
Judgment. the scheme is impractical
Bile, unwise and revolutionary in char
acter. How the preachers could
commit themselves to this new found
scheme, is puzzle that we cannot
unravel. The preachers may I've able
10 lead their iocks in the ways of
the gospel, but when they undertake
to deliver them along lines of en-
deavor, outside of their calling, they
viii fall dismally, as they deserve to.
The success of the secret orders of
this country is most largely attribu-
table to the fact that they eschew
religion and politics. The genius of
secret order success, is, in the econo-
my of their development, they do not
dictate to, or interfere with, religion
or politics.. Every individual is left
free to serve God and vote in secular
matters, as his conscience may die
tate. Secret order men, many of
them vote and are actually politicians,
but they do not enter the field as
I secret order men, but as citizens per-
forming civic duty. But if We I'M
derstand the Knights of Moses, its
chief mission is political. It's prim-
( airy purpose is to bring to the color
ed man the full enjoyment of his
Industrial and political rights, and in
order to do this, the lodges, compos
ing this secret order, will have to
resolve themselves in secret conclave
to live up to and die for certain poll
teal heresies.
This would not only destroy the
Knights of Moses themselves, but
would permanently impair the useful
ness of every other Negro secret or
der in America. The Independent
is opposed to secret political or labor
organizations. Our government is
one by parties, and the public ought
to be taken into the confidence of
every movement which exists for the
purpose of promoting the public well
fare. Societies or secret orders
which enter into star chamber eau
cuses to discuss the peoples busi-
ness are menaces to public welfare
and do not deserve to live. The pur-
pose of the Knights of Moses, as
outlined by its promoters, would de-
stroy the usefulness of every Negro
order in the state, and bring down
upon them just disapproval. We are
not going to obtain our political or
industrial freedom through political
societies or parties. Mans rights do
not come to him because they are
legally his, but because he earns
and deserves them by useful and up
right living. And the races political
emancipation will come in like man.
ner. Messrs. Rhodes and Moore
cannot put the ballot in our hand
through the Order of the Knights OF
Moses, and nobody knows this truth
any better than they do. The very
preachers who gave their sanction to
this new-found Moses, well know that
the organization of secret political
lodges means the death of all Negro
secret orders, it matters not how
meritorious they may be- Then The
Independent regards with suspicion
any white man who is over solicitous
about our welfare. Messrs. Rhodes
and Moore may be perfectly honest
and sincere in their professions OF
love for the Negro, but The Ipdepen-
dent cannot understand how they can
afford to spend their savings and in.
vite the displeasure of their own
race, purely out of love and charity
for the Negro. They may be honest
but it is little out of place for a
Jew to spend his money and time
without some hope of financial re
turn
We have never been able to under
stand why white men become all OF
a sudden interested in the political
uplift of the Negro. So much so
that they are willing to pay out thou
sands to promote some concern toe
good for white men to join. Yes
something for the exclusive benefit
of the colored race. The Knights Of
Moses reminds us very much of Bish
op Turner's Silver Queen Mining
Company in far off Mexico. Some
thing too good for white men, but
just good enough for black men.
If you would listen to the lamenta
lions of Messrs. Rhodes and Moore
because of the sore Affections Of oul
down-trodden race, you would &C
claim at once, that jeremiah never
never did weep for the sins of Is
rael as these men weep for the dis
tress of the black people. Again, you
would feel impressed that this Jew
and white man were disguised at the
sins and denominations of their owl
races and, by divine directions, haC
turned to the despised Negro to re
deem the world But, for the life
of The Independent, we cannot ffnt
faith in their professions. They dc
not show us where they come in
Why these two white men should
take up the burdens of the Negro
and feel it necessary to organize {
secret order, of which they are the
perpetual head and treasury, smack'
of disposition which looks like per
sonal gain. Then the scheme o
the Knights of Moses is calculated tt
intensity race prejudices, The ordel
is calculated to prejudice the inter
ests of all societies in the public eye
Mr. Rhodes will never be able tt
make anybody believe that he, o Jew
is willing to spend $4,000 of hi
money unselfishly in a patriotic ef
fort to emanciDate the black man. HI