Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-07-07
THE NEGRO AND HIS
PATRIOTISM
Danville, Va, June 90, 1917.
Hon. John Mitchell, Jr.. .aL---

Danville, Va, June 90, 1917. ]
Hon. John Mitchell, Jr.. &
Editor, Planet, Richmond, Va,
In 177G the Negro, Crispus Attacks
was the first to shed his blood for
American freedom. In 1861, while the
masters were off to war, the Negroes
loyalty was severely taxed, yet he nevre
wavered: In 1898 at San Juan Hill
the Negro soldier was a determining
factor in the overthrow Of Spanish
cruelty and misrule, and In 1916 at
Carrlzal, Mexico, the Negro barred
i! his breast bravely as loyal soldiers
or our great country; and to-day in
this hour Of our countrys peril, the
Negroes loyalty, like the mighty oak.
IN spite of. the storms, becomes more
deeply imbeded, and the country may
rest assured that the Negroes loyalty
shall never fail.
BE 1t Resolved. That we reaffirm
our loyalty to our country.
That we willingly give ourselves to
be used by our country in whatever
capacity our President shall deter.
mine. II Is
Dear Sir; Today's issue of the
Rchmond Times-Dispatch contains
! an article headed, "How Tappahan.
mock, stands IN which is a series OF
resolutions passed by the colored citi
zense of the good Old town Of Tappa.
hammock; the article does not state how
many Of the citizens were there IN
which the loyalty" of those who we're
there gathered was pledged TO the coun
try 1t would be really interesting to
Know how many of the Negroes Of
who are numerous and
Pros us ere here assembled, to!
st fseg issIlSe TO sstiia 81 coiI ry,
|its@ould a,e eaily infefessias Nto siSs
out s"whar is Tappahannock any hove
and why is Unnecessary for the Me-
groes hQf Tappahannock or any where
else to get together and pledge their
loyalty" to the country. 1t is not
necessary for man who has q lamp
that is lighted to continually be crying
out, here is my light" for it Is ONLY
needed that the lamp keep on shining,
true loyalty does not express itself
IN SO much lip, "hut by their I.mita va
snail know them. "This loyalty busi.
ness OH the part Of the Negro Is IN
uangeH. OF being over done: It IL
coming very near to being a profes.
sion: 1t Is getting so that when ever n
certain class Of Negroes have n note
In the bank that is nearly due. and
DO not see how 1t is to be paid. thew
get together a select few and meet i'm
some store or shop, and "pledge"
their loyalty to the country and tha
next day call On the bank for an ey
tension OF time and no more is heard
OF the loyal Negroes till another loan
Is needed, or an extension required
and then there Is another "Be il Re
solved, That we reaffirm our LOYALTY
to our country"
The truly loyal Negroes of this
country are not assembling in mass
meetings, and passing high sounding
resolutions, and reaffirming their
loyalty to the country for that LOYALTY
mas never been questioned, but they
are studying plans, and devisiney
means, just like the other citizens Of
th1s country, to do what ever IS hest
10 bring this great war to a triumph
ant close, and in such a way that he.
the Negro might get some of the glory
ana honor thereof. The Negro is clam
merlhg TO get In the navy, the marines
on the Torpedo boats, the destroyers
the submarines, In the artillery. ami
IN every other branch of the service
where duty may be performed. 1885,
II the Negro were given the chance
Tor which he has been begging, ana
wh1ch Will be given him before this
war ends. every regiment would be
lllled, every ship fully manned, and
Well equipped host OF fighting Ameri
cans, undivided In their allegiance
would now be on tho firing line, do.
ing, daring, dying, but winning, never
istlinS CID Glory t'nch the ground.
Ilt kind OF meeting that desire to
see the Negro hold is one in which
ne VIII not talk sol much about his
LOYALTY" but 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 it could so subdue
the brave and dauntless South more
than fifty years ago. 1t is time that
some OF this humbug and hypocricy
were stopped, and the truth told 4 the
Negro Is loyal but he is not satisfied,
and cannot be, so long as he is ex-
pected 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 natjon"s
bounty
The Negro Is not telling the truth
when he says "That we willingly give
ourselves to be used by our country
in whatever capacity our President
shall determine"
Every Negro in this country Is will
ing to give himself to the D country,
to be used in whatever manner the
president shall determine" provided
the President shall determine to use
him as a free born American, entitled
to all the unriYilagas aa such. to this