Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-07
AMERICA ON TRIAL.
Race Riots and the Fight for World
Democracy.

To the Editor of The Star:
I want to thank you on behalf Of the
colored race for your sound and
patriotic editorials touching the East
St. Louis riot. The principle of de-
mocracy is on trial before the world
today as 1t has never been before. A
pretended democracy, whose advantages
are limited by race or creed. is an
aristocracy of the most delusive type.
A democracy that will not stand the
acid test of race and color Is no de-
mocracy at all.
The voice of democracy is whisper
ing to the conscience Of the nation.
Of these. my black brethren, ye have
done it not unto Me-" God has given
unto America the duty and privilege
of nourishing the principle of true
democracy and of transmitting it pure
and undefiled to the ages yet to be.
Great, indeed, will be the condemna-
tion of this people If it proves faith
less to its trust and permits the ar
rogance Of race and the. evanescent
easement Of the hour to Illustrate its
high commission for mankind.
President Wilson has sounded the
tocsin of the war for the democratiza-
ton Of the world. The nations of the
world, therefore, have a right to de-
Of these institutions at home. The
German press will, doubtless, gloat
with ghoulish glee over the atrocities
Of Memphis ana East st. Louis. Our
Armenia and Belgium are robbed Of
effect by gruesome comparison. 1t
boots us little to say that these out
breaks are but spontaneous ebu1li-
lions OF popular feeling without gov
ernmental approval.
These FREQUENT outbreaks a against the
race are making patriotism more and
more difficult OF manifestation. Those
OF US who urge this race to stand
loyalty and periodically for our ma
tional aims and ideals will find the
task more arduous and our teaching
less easily acceptable by such occur
rences. 1t would seem to be the pa
triotic duty of the American govern
ment to make these outbreaks i'm
possible.
Negroes are pouring into the north in
unprecedented numbers in quest of
better economic opportunity. and will
continue to do SO just as long as the
industrial and general conditions of the
north prove more satisfactory than
those OF the south. 1t is the God given
and constitutionally guaranteed priv
ilege of every American citizen to bet
ter his condition. 1t could hardly be
expected that SO great an Industrial
revolution as is taking place within the
negro race could be accomplished
without some serious friction. The
East st. Louis outbreak Is but part of
pected to pay for his industrial liberia
ton. 1t will hardly check, much less
stay. the northern tide of immigra-
ton. which will continue until there
Is equalization of advantage in north
and south.
These outbreaks are more damaging
to the reputation of the nation than
they are deterrent to the purpose of
the negro to better his economic and
with assured certainty that whatever
cruel and outrageous treatment may
be heaped upon the negro. he will alb
sorb and survive it all and pursue the
unperturbed tenor of his way. The
can miracle in his powers of e.ndur-
ance, longsuffering and forgiveness.
No treatment that infamy can devise
will eliminate him from the ultimate
equation Of American democracy. 1t
therefore becomes a national duty to
make impossible the preparation of
these outrages upon people whose
only crime Is to demand the fulfill
doctrine Of equality of opportunity.
The nation today Is concentrating in
tho hands Of President Wilson more
power than was ever welded by one
are using the methods of autocracy to
defeat autocracy and install universal
democracy. We have given to the ad-
ministratton the power Of life and
death over. American citizens. 1t may
determine what we shall eat, what
we shall drink and wherewithal we
may be clothed. This is necessary to
meet the stern emergencies of war
in which the world is now involved.
Could we not, with equal consistency
and justification. vest the administra-
ton with power to control the mob
spirit of the people. which is doing so
much to damage America in the ewes
of mankind and to nullify it's claim to
leadership in the moral crusade for the
Of the world? Would
not such action be justified on the
ground Of patriotic expediency, If
not of military necessity?
I beg to propose the following reso-
luton to the Congress of the United |
States: BE 1t enacted by the Senate i
and House of Representatives, That |
the President of the United States is |
hereby authorized to employ the |
armed forces of the United States to |
prevent lynchings and to uuell riots |
during the continuance of the present |
war"
II the atrocities at Memphis and East
st. Louis result in the adoption of some |
such policy, these horrible happenings |
will not have been in vain.