The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1917-05-04
(BY REV. D. EDWARD PRYOR }

There seems To he much discussion
these days. throughout the country, con-
cernine the Patriotism of the Negro; and
| what can reasonably be expected of him,
during this crucial period Of the country
history. Why there should he any ques
ton or doubt ss TO his loyalty. or patri-
| otlsm, my readers must answer for them
selves, ss it 10 not the purpose OF thess
articles to discuss such things at this
time, but rstl-er TO enliehten those who
| have no proper conception OF the Negro 4
\ patriotism and loyalty 10 his country.
The silen'e Of many Of our prominent
| leaders, and the silence OF or people in
general. has been i'm some instances mag
nitied to mean, that we are Iistiess and
unconcerned about the country's welfare.
and that We harbor resentment because
of past conditions, and ere in the present
condition OF things An opportunity to
register our protest by being disloyal To
our country's best interests Nov they
who would place us in any such light. or
hsrbor any such view OF our people. must
he intensely cruel and utterly devoid of
all knowledge of our people and their
history. | am sure there can be no ques-
ton about our patriotism, unless it he
found among those who, by their own
assumption OF exclusiveness, have studi-
ously aid purposely blinded their eyes to
every evidence Of our progress and all the
glorious record of loyalty and faithful
devotion TO the country's best Interests
under the most trying circumstances that
have confronted any people in the worlds
history. To question the Negro's pstri-
otism is the worst slander that can be
brought against the race, and for this
cause alone We cherish the opportunity to
Use our limited powers in giving the pub
lac clearer view Of his patriotism.
Three time In the history Of the Amer
lean Republic has grim visaged war stalk
ed across her broad and fertile fields, de-
populated her proud citizens. spread de-
vsststIon ard death in its path ~ay and
painted bill and vale in crimson hue.
The statesman and orator have repro-
duced the scene Of these bloody struggles
in rounded periods, melting cadences and
balanced sentences. They have wn.ten
the vslorous deeds of the American SOL
dier upon the hearts OF posterity in i'm
mortal characters. Year alter year,
with measured tread and mufiIed drum.
they have approached the city Of the
dead where all that 10 mortal remains of
tnoee who have pitched their tents upon
the unbounded fields of the glory land,
gathering Knots and garlsnds gay To
place upon the honored graves OF the na-
tons dead Time has inaudibly and
noiselessy rolled Its courses since the irst
page Was written in the volume Of Amer
lean wars. Historians have We'd with
each other in searching among the musty
srchieves OF the nation for acts Of patri-
otism and deeds Of vslor With which to
clothe the memory Of the WHrTE SOLDIER
in robes of Immortality.
TDe poets have invoked the aid Of the
tabled muses. that they might ascend the
heights Of eloquence and set 70 poetic
music their mighty deesi- Of daring. The
historian in his wide and extensive ramb-
lings, the poet in his highest flights. the
philosopher in his most logical conclu-
SONS, have with very few exceptions, anil
for reasons best known n tbemselves,
purpo~ely and studiously passed by un-
noticed, a. much A. possible. q v.roR.
which II not Conspicuous, ~s- none the
ess rurE~T, and beyond question Of
eqnsl power With all the re-t that brouglt q
SUCCESS 10 our valiant armies in I775.
1912, 1851, Is's and slsle-namely, the
American Negro and the part he has
played in all the war. ~sged by the
American peoples
Colonel Wilson states in his great book
Tine Blsck PhslsDr." q book shich
every race-loving Negro should own.
that Of three hundred thousand troop- IN
the Revolutionary War over five thous-
and Of them ~ss colored. and these col
ored troopers came principally from the
North, whose colored population at that
time Vas about fifty thousand souls;
while the southern Colonies contained
about three hundred thousand.
The Northern Colonies furnished for
Washington armies 2fe.jg and the
southern Colonies l47 $40 soldiers, aud
Jet it must he remembered that the whole
population Of both sections Was within q
lev hundreds Of being equal. This do~-
not nesn that the love II liberty ~s- any
less strong IN the south than at the
North, but the conflict began and w.
.ought out in the North, for nowhere on