Evening journal., 1918-05-02
The Negro's Opportunity
in The Present Crisis
By the Rev. E. W. Coberh of the Gilbert Presbyterian Church.
Wilmington Del.

gether to drive Tyranny and oppression
from the face Of the globe. II is a
privilege 20 be numbered with them.
We cannot come into our own until
the obstacles to the upward march OF
humanity arc removed. The privilege
has come TO us at last TO take a part
not only in our own deliy erance, but
in the deliverance OF all the oppressed
peoples Of the world We who have so
keenly felt it ought to be able 10 strike
the hardest blows for its destruction.
Nobler tasks were never laid upon any
people. do not believe that the Negro
will be recreant 30 this task nor untrue
TO the trust that is reposed In him
I'VE were true and fearless at san
Juan Hill,
Give us a chance and wen get Kaiser
Bill"
We are providentially and peculiarly
prepared TO do our part in the present
crisis. Our loyalty and patriotism have
not been questioned; our skin Is our
passport to any part Of any ammunition
plant When it comes TO tolls and hard
ships and TO a wholesale "roughing it,
we are 10 the manner born. Most OF
us have an innate optimism before
which despair Vanishes We delight to
be Uncle Sans soldier boys. our SOL
diers are nearest to our hearts, we arc
proud OF them. II you want TO see how
proud we are Of them. let a few Of them
20 on the street with martial music and
you VIII see how many OF us wiz quit
our job for the time being We have
followed the flag around the globe and
today are ready 10 follow 10 with more
zeal than ever. because ii leads In the
path OF freedom for all people for all
time
We are born HoOyerites. We have
always known what it means to cut
our loaf I'm two and 10 live on plain,
simple food Those of us who have
been successful in accumul8ting a little
OF this worlds goods did II on the
Hoover plan As true American citi-
zens it becomes us to Hooyerize a little
more rigidly that sufficient food might
be saved for the soldiers in the trenches
and for civilians whose fields have been
made desOlate and barren by the war.
This Is q Tight that means much TO
us as a race. In it we have all things
to lose OF all thlngs TO gain. This is
the time for united America 10 lead the
world into a larger freedom. Let US see
to It that designing demagogues do not
mislead with any phase OF. partisan
politics. We owe no political party
anything. We worked al hard and ex-
acting manual ton FOR the Democratic
party for about two hundred years. We
have voted for the Republican party at
It's own bidding for almost ilfty years.
We have paid them both 10 the fullest
measure with interest. The time is
long overdue when We should come to
the consciousness that we are American
citizens. The time IS at hand for Us 90
give the best that is in us The cause
for which we are called upon to nght
is the noblest that can be espoused by
any people. Be it said to our lasting
credit that we have never willingly
fought for, nor given aid and comfort
20 any cause that has net proven 10 be
for the progress Of justice, freedom and
humanity.
We know no other country than
America. We know no other instltu-
tions than hers. We owe an that we
have and are TO America. We have had
. o part in her development and we shall
have a larger and an Increasing share
in her destiny. This is truly a rare
privilege that has come 20 us 10 fight
the good nght OF faith and courage for
democracy and for Uncle sam. With
the voice and heart Of one man we say
30 him as Ruth said 20 Naomi. lntreat
me not 20 leave thee or 90 turn from
following after thee, for wliher thou
goest ] will go, and where thou lodgest
will lodge. Thy people shall be my
people, and thy God my God. Where
thou diest will ! die and there be
buried The Lord do so TO me, and more
also II aught but death part thee and
me"
In the fullest sense America is our
home We were born here We in
( heried her civilization and the refining
and uplifting influences Of her institu-
tions. We did not come into these by
the long and tedious process Of trial
and error; we sprang fun fledged and