The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-10-27

suppose that she would have separated
the whites from the Negro, and cNactcd
her demands from the whites only" Let
every Negro look to outraged Belgium.
to ravaged France. 70 desacratcd Armc"
MIA. 70 the execution Of Edith Cavell. and
to the brutal sinking OF the Lusitania
for his answer. Finally. whatever gains
como to the nation the Negro. II no plays
his part. cannot be shut out from gain
ing his share. on the basis Of color.
The war In n large measure. has al
ready opened up the lie OF the nation to
him. The railroads. mills. factories.
mines. shops. and other industries are
bidding sor hts services. because hc Is
Industrious and competent, and because
his black face spells unadulterated
Amcricauism. For the first time since
the Civil War Negroes are being Offered
the chance to qualify IN the armed SER
vices OF the nation above the ranks OF
n private soldier. These opportunities
!, have come because or fidelity to service
in every walk of life Into which the
Negro has been permitted to enter. Tho
signs OF the times indicate we Will har"
a larger share In the culture life OF IN"
, Republic. We have not had what we
need and ought 10 have. but unless III"
wheels Of progress turn back. our JUST
claims cannot 60 UNDECIDED. If this con-
clusion Is true; we have just one way
to prepare for these larger opportunities.
and that way Is by serving the nation
/ now.
In the third place. a more democratic
spirit will prevail among both races by
the Negroes sharing n part of the M
tion's burdens. When white American
soldiers see black American soldiers
fighting by their side. undoubtedly
more sympathetic attitude toward tn"
common rights Of the Negro Will de-
velnp. AS the American white soldier
has learned by contact to appreciate and
understand the human elements common
TO the Allied soldiers and himself. so h.
will experience the points Of similarity
in make up between the Negro and him
self. Not only will white soldiers feel
this way. but the rank and file or those
Mt home will show the same reaction.
We ere reminded that laws show their
strength or weakness according I" IN"
attitude Of tn. public mind. IF that h~
true then the Negro can aid his cause
by attempting 10 change public opinion
and attitude And | see tremendous
gains for the Negro. IL he sriZcs this
opportunity to gain contact with IN"
whites, and make the war common
cause with them.
In the fourth place. the question
Of justice is the general concern or
tho whole human race. The world
has grown SO small by means OF
communication. transportation. dis
coyerics. and inventions. that the
slightest effort 10 miStrcat any So
, c!al group. reacts upon all groups.
races and nations. This result -
nothing short of n manifestation or
the so-callcd international MIND.
Men everywhere arc becoming 70
think and act alike: the highest
standards OF civilized conduct are
becoming the general practices or
all progressive peoples say" Ter
many. She nlon" has attempted TO
Justify practices and uphold prlncl-
pies that harp back to the Middle
ages. For instance. her doctrine Of
stnte control her childish boRStlnE
of being the most supreme type or
mankind and therefore commission
ed by God to dominate the word, are
the general habits Of thought ana
action Of her learned classes. the
military caste. and tho common pe"-
ple, Hermann Fernau. author or
Because am G~rman IN MS
later Indictment OF German kn!tnr
in THE Coming Democracy. defines
4, II ns Learning without character.
ganization without humanity. disc!-
Milne without liberty. ideals without
dIenIty" What chance then. har"
weak peoples for full development
and strong peoples for further pro
| crcss. II nation saturated with
such archaic ideas should succeed In
tnposing it's will on the world? JUS
tlcc. liberty, peace. the opportunity
for individual and collective ad-
vancement are the fundamental
rights Of mankind. And 70 sec that
these rights prevail every ounce or
human skill. energy. md rr"duc-
,ivlty must be employed IN keep the
front n..d rear doors OF lntcrna-
tional life closed IL Imperial Ger
many until she makes full rcpara-
tions for past Injuries, and gives
sufficient guarantees never again 10
SEEK 10 control the world hy force.
Undoubtedly Japan and China felt IN"
weight OF the international color Inc
The nroblCm Of determining the basis
of contact and relation between IN" f.lSl
and the West remains yet to solved.
But in spite OF far-reach!nG problem.
,hose two Oriental nations find that
their paramount interests ar" bound up
with those Of the Allies. 1t Is becoming
increasingly clear that the "intcrnati"nitl
color line" will disappear. For wh!lc
men. yellow men. brown men, and hlarK
mon see a broader horizon to-day than
they did three years ago. TIL" cry ~
ravishcd Belgium has become tn" chorus
Of hrce-fourths. Of the world. Inc
world has achieved Il higher type OF NOR
all,y, nobler sense Of justice. ana Il
broader conception Of humanity in these
three years OF bloodshed. than 1t gained
I'm the thousand years before. In the
light Of these facts the Ncgr" cannot az
ford to lose this chance to make ms
cause common with that Of other back
ward and subject peoples.
In the fifth place. the Negro must
fight to maintain his facial ideals. His
record has won the admiration or the
world. From the opening w or the
American continent To the present mo-
mcut he has shared the fat" and fortune
of the nation. His WAS the first blood
70 be spilled in the Revolutionary whr'
when Crispus Attacks fell in the battle
of Bunker Nll. Whch Washington ana
his advisors were discussing the pro-
priety az armng Negroes. they were
swarming army CAMPS. begging Tor a
chance to fight under our colonial Rag.