The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-04-21
A HIGH IDEAL OF LOYALTY.
I. +. Gilliard Says That Negroes arc
True to Government.

Editor Sumter Daily Item.
Will you kindly allow me to ex-
press in your valuable paper just q
few thoughts portraying a high ideal
., loyalty as see it. Noting then
that 1t has been stated recently that
there were some dubious minded per-
son or persons. do not know which,
that doubted the members of the ne
gro race remaining true to the gov
ernment that gave them birth, that
produced the genius that made the
patent (pattern) and moulded the
Key, and unlocked the door of bond
age and led four million human souls
out into the golden sunlight of liberty,
unmanacled, unshackled. strong arms
set free to dare and to do O. mans
loyal part in building up a torndown
and devastated southland. remaining
loyal and true. with every vein and
fiber running through his animated
being. Is 1t a ft question to ask now,
Is the negro loyal? Should it not look
more appropriate as a tribute rather
to say that he is loyal, for the reason,
he knows too well that to entertain
other thoughts or motives would prove
disastrous to his future hopes on this
side Of the continent. Then too, in
this great crisis, when the very CEN
ter and soul of the universe is being
pressed with calling privations on ev-
cry square inch of it's surface, when
the very soul Of strong and courageous
men are being tried as they never
have been before. II the call were
made for Judas. would there be
response from q man clothed i'm ;
skin whom might be contrasted for
his color? The answer resounds from
ten million voices, No.
Then the originator or discoverer
OF this hideous and dangerous mon
ster dislOyalty must undoubtedly ut
some time in his life have met with
the Ill fate of skull fracture, which
has impaired his reason, for nothing
hut an insane and delusioned mind
could have such visionary and mis-
dreams about the negro'
loyalty.
To better show the intrinsic meri:
part Of the true loyalty OF the negro.
we could not use a more fitting cX-
preston than he Is quick to catch and
the good spirit of his more
fortunate brother. the white man.
And this ia the spirit that whenever
shown makes doubly sure the express.
sion of Emerson, when he says: "As
we are 30 We associate--the good by
affinity seeks the good. the vile by
affinity the vile. And 1t goes on with
It's associates until another catches
hold of these beautiful sentiments
that quickens the expressions Of the
souls of men and exciaims Such
moments records the power Of the
social spirit and speak to what
myriads it WILT is till an appeal
Of one soul to another eliciting re-
sponse as sharp and single as the
echo to n solitary voice following forth
from a single creative nature. 1t acts
by it's touch as an experiment in
spiritual friendship and gathers an
ever increasing group held fast in
fellowship Of enthusiasm and owning
a common obligation to the genius
which has discovered for them their
true SOUL" We know through right
cous development all that is good and
uplifting shall be bestowed upon us
as q sIgnet of first reward for our
rounded patriotic loyalty in this
dreadful hour Of hope for the nation
tSigned) T. e. Gaillard.