Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-07-07
THE NEGRO AVID HIS
PATRIOTISM

l)anvill". Va. june %. 1917.
Hon. John Mitchell, Jr..
Editor. Planet. Richmond. Va.
In l176 the Negro, CriSpus Attucks
was the first to shed his blood for
American freedom. In 1861. while the
masters were Off To war, the Ncgro's
loyalty was severely taxed, yet he ncvrc
WaHcrcd. Ii 1895 at San Juan Hin
the Negro soldier was a determining
factor i'll the overthrow of Spanish
cruelty and misrulc, and in 1916 at
Carri%Al. Mexico. the Negro barred
his breast bravcly as loyal soldiers
ol our great country; and to-day in
lhlS hour of our country's peril. the
Negroes loyalty. like The mighty oak.
Ill spite OF the storms. becomes more
deeply lmbcdcd. and the country may
rest assured that the Negroes LOYALTY
shall never fail.
BE ii Rcssolvcd. That we rcaffirm
our loyalty TO our country.
That we willingly give ourselves to
De used by our country in Whatever
capacity our President shall deter
mine.
Dear Sir: Today'S issue of the
Richmond Times Dispatch contains
! an article headed, GLOW Tappahon-
resolutions passed by the colorcl ci,i
2cnsc of the good Old town Of Tapno.
hammock; the article does not state how
many of the citizens were there in
which the "loyalty" of those who were
there gathered was pledged to the coun
try 1t w0ud be really interesting ia
know how many Of the Negroes of
Tappahannock who are nnmcrous and
prosperous, were there assembled, TO
| 'iEne" iieSiiIcc' TO nc country:
1t would he really interesting to find
out 'Whar is Tappahannock any how"
ana why is it necessary for the Me-
SF"cS OF Tappahannock or any where
elSe TO get together and pledge their
loEaitN to the country. II is not
necessary Tor man who has a lamu
'hal Is IlEhlcd to continually be CRYING
out mere Is my light for it is only
nteucu mat Tie lamp keep ON shininp
rue royalty does not express itself
III so murh Zip. but hy their fruits We
SHAH KNOW them. "ThiS LOYALTY busi.
ness IN the part Of the NEGRO is in
"''hScr ol being over done: il is
coming very near to being a profess.
sion: II Is getting so that when ever ,
certain class Of Negroes have n notc
IN IN" bank that is nearly due. and
do not see how it is to be paid. thcy
get together a select few and meet i'm
some store or shop. and ''plcdrn''
their loyalty to the country and the
next day call on the bank for an OK
tension OF time and no more is hoard
Oh me loyal Negroes till another loan
Is needed. or an extension r1uuirrd
ana then there is another "Bc If Re
solved, That we realfirm our LOYALTY
TO our country"
The truly loyal Negroes of ,his
country are not assembling in mass
meetings., and passing high sounding
resolutions. and rcaffirming their
loEaltF to the country fer that LOYALTY
mas never been questioned, but they
are studying plans, and dcvising
means. just like the other citizens of
lhlS country, to do what ever is host
10 bflhG ms great war to a triumnh
ant close. and in such q way that he
the Negro might get some Of the glory
ana honor thereof The Negro is clam
H'erih& To get in the navy. the marines
on the Torpedo boats. tho dcstroycrs
me submarines, in the artillery, and
III every other branch OF The service
"nere duty may be performed.
IL inc Negro wore given the chance
lor winch he has been begging, ana
winch Will be given him before this
war cndS, every regiment would he
lllled every ship fully manned, and
Il well equipped host Of fighting Amari
cans, undivided in their allegiance
would now be on :hc firing line. do
i''&, DARING, dying, hi: winning. never
'3.lihE tid Glory uch the ground.
lIs hlnd or meeting that | desire to
see the Negro hold is one in which
ne VIII not talk so much about his
i"!aliE Dut pass some resolutions
which shall bring home to this govern
ment the fact that it cannot win in
this war with one Of its hands tied
now, any more than il could so subdue
the brave and dauntlcss South more
than fifty years ago. 1t is time that
some OF this humbug and hypocricv
were stopped. and the truth told: the
Negro is loyal but he is not satisfied,
and cannot be, so long as he is cX-
pccted to be content to eat crumbs
while others, many OF Them aliens and
enemies to this country, walk off with
the choicest slices of the nations
bounty.
The Negro is not telling the truth
when he says "rhat we willingly give
ourselves to be used by our country
i'll whatever capacity our President
shall determine"
Every Negro in this country Is will
ing to give himself to the country,
to be used al whatever manner the
"Presdcnt shall dctermiAc," provided
the President shall determine to use
him as free born American, entitled
to all the privileges as such; to this
he is entitled, and if he say that no