The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1917-03-16
A ENGRO'S REBUKE.

With all his genius and culture,
Roscoe Conkling Simmons is a Ne.
gro. His college degrees and PEI
sonal refinement cannot change his
blood or color or make him one bit
less a member of a race regarded as
socially, economically and mentally
inferior to the white.
That Louisville is proud of him as
as a citizen; that the Negro people
Of the country look to him for
leadership much as they did to his
:lluStrious uncle, Booker T. Washing
ton; that men of prominence in the
Eation accord him fellowship and a
place in high councils. does not
change his status.
For these very reasons, his words.
spoken the othtr day before a
gathering of his own race, should
spread blush of shame on the eau
casian skins of some who are con-
apicuous in the eyes of the nation
just now. When men of superior
| learning and Wanted super.race con-
nections, intrusted with the solemn
duty Of serving and protecting their
country's destiny, join with foreign
| tyrant cut-throats to heap contumely
upon the nations head and tie his
hands stretched out to protect the
lives and rights of Americans; when
snivelling white pacifists join with
all the traitor-slacker crew to invite
national disgrace and ruin, well may
this mtmber of an inferior race
boast;
I'VE have a record to defend but
No treason, thank God. to atone o,
explain. While in chains we fought
to free white men-from Lexington
to CarriZal-and returned again t
: our chains. No Negro has ever in
suited the flag. No Negro ever strucl
down a President of the United
States. No Negro ever sold mill
tary map or secret to foreign
t Government. No race ever ran I'm
e der ire or lost an opportunity t.
serve, to fight. to bleed and to di
IN the republics cause. Accuse us o
u what you will-justly and wrongly
/ no man can point to single instanc
Of our dislOyalty.
1--WE have but one country and on
flag, that's is free. Its Language i
" our only tongue, and no hyphe
c bridges or qualities our loyalty. Tt
:. dav the nation faces danger from
g foreign foe, treason stalks an
skulls up and down our land, i
dark councils intrigue is bein
Matched. I AM a Republican, but
II Wilson Republican. Woodrow Wi
n son is my leader. What he command
- me to do | shall do. Where he con
" mands me to 90 | shall 60 If /
Is calls me to tie coOlrs, | shall M
" ask whether my Colonel is black {
,e white. | shall be there to pick OF
10 color except the white of the e
emy's eye. Grievances have again
this people, against the Government
lg Injustice to me there is, bad Law
o. there are upon the statute books, b,
e, in this hour of peril ! forget--ar
YOU must forget-au thoughts of Sc
'e or race or creed or politics or colo
or That, boys, is loyalty"
k, That this address was notab
e r'ece of diction and oratory meal
little, save as a tribute to the tale
III and erudition of its author and 6
augury of what may come from OF
ers of his race when given his o
rt portunities. AS a reDuke to Il
traitors and Americans not wortf
II of the name it deserves the wide
reading, while such white men
La Toilette, Stone, OGorman, Yard
,g man, Works, Bryan and all the
~, like, instead, perhaps, of being tarr'
~ and feathered black, should be fore
ne to read these words of a black" ma
Louisville ComierJourndl.