The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1917-10-12
THE DISGRACE
Of DEMOCRACY

Ii seefns that you regard IL a. q regret
cautions aud calculated neglect. There
10 observable. however. q passive solic-
Ifude- You have kept the race piobsem
IN the back part OF your mind. Your
letter 20 Bishop Walters during yorr FIRST
campaign tor the Presidency. expressing
q generous concern for the welfare of the
rare. though of a general and passive
character, eausei many Negroes to give
you thsir political support. Under the
stree md strain OF other pressing issues
and the partisan demands OF your posit-
ieai supporters you have not Vet translst-
~ this passive purpose into positive per
torrance. There is. however. something
OF consolation IN the fact that while dur
ing your entire career yor have never
done snything constructive for the Negro.
you have never done anything dessruc-
tive against him. Your constructive OBJ
portuLlty 10 now Al hand The time has
come 10 make lswlessns-ss a ational L.
cue, ss . war measure II not from any
higher consideration. As patriotic and
military Necessity, ] suggest that You
ask the Congress OF the United states ~
invest you With the power 10 prevent
iynching and 70 qnell lswessness and W
oienee IN all parts OF the country during
the continuance Of the Was. Or at leaet
yor might quicken the conscience Of the
nation by stirring message To Congress
calling attention Ia this growing evil
which u gnswing at the vitals OF the ne
ton. IL V entirely probable that h~fort
the war ls over you will have TO resort &
some such measure tn control internal
disturbances on other accounts Ii is 10
conceivable that this nation should
spend billions OF dollars and sacrifice H..
live- OF millions OF its citizens without
domestic uprising and revulsion. /,
-uch tune II becomes Necessary for the
President u exercise al but dictatorisi
power The country is willing 70 grant
y"u anything you anything you ask
which, IN sou Judgment, would prcmot
tie welfare of the nation in this crisis
GU ssse'i Congress to grant undiscrim
mated Use of the Panama Canal AS .
means OF securing international good will
and friendship, and il Vas granted In
lace OF the impending conflict, You y
manded that Congress should grant n t.
eight hour demand OF the latoring men,
and II was done. The snffragisrs whe
guard your going in and coming ont a.
the White House were duly convicted un
der process OF law, but were immediate ~
psrdoned by you u syoid embarrassment
IN this war emergency You asked 70
billions OF dollars and millions Of lives Z
lee placed at your disposal for the pm
pose OF carrying Oh the great confiic,
and II Was willingly granted. The pes
pie have willingly placed in yonr hano
more power than has ever teen exercise
Dy any inemfer vi the human race sn
are willing to trust you in the use OF tai
power am sure that they will graz
this additional authority during the G 4
tnnsnce OF the present war in order
secure the unqualified patriotic deyotio
Of all OF the citizens and to safeguard Il
honor OF democracy and the good nan
OF the republic.
Mr.. President, Negroes all over this n,
ton are aroused as they have never bee
teiore. Ii is not the wild Mysteries ,
tue hour, but q determined purpose th,
this country shall be made a safe :,las
Tor American citizens 70 live and wor
and enjoy the pursuits Of happiness. Te
thousand speechless men and wome
marched IN silent array down Fifth Aver
ne IN New York Civ ss . spectral den
on-frst'on against the wrongs aud crue
res hesped upon the race. Negro W,
men all over the nation have sppointe
day OF prayer in order that righteou,
ness might he done N this people II
weaker sex OF the weaker race are ORA,
ing that God NAV Use you ~ tie instr
ment OF His will 70 promote the csnse ,
human freedom At home. I attende
one OF these sir O'Clock prayer meeting
in the city OF Washington. Two thou.
and humble women snstched the earl
hours OF the morning before going I
~-. 1@t@J s@rh1 W fr-DTt 70 the nOu4r {
prayer. They literally performed urs
TIE Lord the burden Of their prayer an
song, steal Away 70 Jesus Their
Wa not q note Of bitterness nor denunci
alton throughout the season of prayer
They prayed A. their mothers prayed i
the darker days zone By, that God woul
deliver the race. Mr.. President, you ca
help God answer their prayer May
not be that these despised and rejecte.
daughters Of a despised and rejected rae
shall Jet lead the world To IL knee- 4
acknowledgement Of some confrollin
power ousslde Of the mschinstion. q
man? AZ sat there and listened in rev
erent silence TO these two thousand voice
- they sang
On CHRIST, the SOLD Rock, / stand.
All ctber ground IL sinking sand"
could not but think Of the xodle-- IA
~hich y nov convul-ing the world
war IN which Christian hands are dye,
IN Christian blood. Ia musr csu~e A..