New-York tribune., 1917-07-24
Negroes and the va,
Why Some of Them Fail to Re-.
to Democracy's Cali
TO the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: In your editorial "Ths o,
Peace" which appeared in The rr,S-
July IS, you pictured the Germ,, ,s Z
cisely, to my mind, as it must be 49,. n
every one who loves liberty. III. $3.50
by the German armies and sanctions, ~
German people are proof suffcj.,, "a
that which you say to be entirs,, sn
agree with you when you say this a."
be put down, no matter what N, "a
the world may be safe for de,rocr,.s &c
The time is now here. sir ana
to-day that we must fight for democ,.." "a
no longer have a choice. II we ar. ..S.,
must go. But We are glad to hpb, "a. ~
racy If such democracy shall ma, Nae
liberty and equality for all men lss
the time to fight for such a dcmor-.. l's
men will enjoy il as a consequence ~ sNr
not dare to die that it should be- a., s'si
am eligible for the present A..
claimed no exemption, and il nv '
calls me am ready But il mus, .. T.ltl
go with a heavy heart; not only ~, Mt
shall go most unwillinely, becau,. w
failed to see any real signs Of ns
democracy here in my own land ,,,' wa
mean liberty justice and equality to N y
can only speak for myself, sir ,...
are others of my race who, in ,oi,, :. s's "
many injustices which We have ns,,.s y
are still suffering. a.e ~.spondin, .,.S "a;
the call as heretofore. But, .ir I1 s.s,1 .
self justified in saying that thsrs a.. ~
who are unwilling 30 Sight 20 eru,h - a'F
man idea without the assurance TIA, y, W. ~.
same idea shall be crushed in hi, an, -. "a
! country. VI
You say, "You chn's hv. At n.,.. -.
man who believes h las sa inhs,s,, ,.a' &
murder you, dishonor your wife ara -. |, .
your children Whenever he can .s,v. A.. usi"
interest by such course and has a, !, ~ va
to do these things" ~"
am sure, sir, that you would s,,., ~
made such a statement II you dld IA, a."
oughly believe in f. sull, you n,rs !, .'.'
as well as I, ;hst here are any pp,,,. =
/ people in this country who beliey, A,, ~, :.
Rave right to murder negroes. even A.. Y
they have nothing to gainj who hay, A., y.
and are still doing SO continuously. | s,,I
/ particularly Of the South
The government Of the United Stat, Il,
done nothing to crush such an idea hen, n.
/ present President has not said one v.,s 4,
! protest against It, and yet no one b.,Or :
has ever said more about demoeraey. is,,,,
and liberty for humanity.
In the face of such stubborn and ,,,
facts, sir, how can we as negro nen re,,o.i
willingly to the countrys CALI
4, We want TO see some signs Of q real d,-y.
racy here. We want justice, liberty a.,
equal rights in the true sense Of those ter,
Shall we as a race realize these thinr.he|
the war, or shall we fight as heretoior all
come back home to find conditions no bette
and see those very Germans who fousa, n
overthrow our democracy come here snd,,jr|
more Of the rights which our denUru|
offers than we ourselves can enjoy!
That is the question; and how shall |. s|
! answered?
If must fight and die that justice, lIb,r,
ond equality shall be had by all men, shosl
like to feel that my own people will ujy
these rights also as a direct resul, Of Ia,
sacrifice. ANDREW T. STRICKLAND
New York, July p, 1917