The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1918-03-08
KNOXVILLE MINISTER'S WRITE
GOVERNOR RYE.

Knoxville, Tenn, March 4, 1918.
To His EXcellency,
Gov Thos. C. Rye,
Executive Mansion,
Nashville. Tenn.
Dear Governor:
We, the members of the Inter-de-
nominational Ministers Alliance of
the city of Knoxville, most respect
fully address your EXcellency, with
the hope that our humble petition
may receive consideration at your
hands.
We wish to state first, that we are
loyal citizens of the state, and min
listers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ;
and as such, we are doing all in our
power to enhance the welfare of the
state and to promote good order
among our people,
In harmony with the President of
the United State, and with your EX-
cellency, as we'll as with all other
good citizens of our country, we are
doing all in our power to keep alive
the spirit of patriotism among the
members of our various congrega-
tions, and to labor for the realiza-
ton of the democratizing of the
world, that the ideals set forth in the
Constitution of the United States,
and in the Declaration of Independ-
ence may hold sway throughout the
earth.
Dear Governor, we believe, that
Democracy, like liberty, is itself
burden, and a discipline. We can
not have an enduring Democracy ex-
cept we are willing to pay the price
and the price is high No Democ-
racy can long endure that does not
rest upon two mighty foundations:
Intelligence and Character. What
we need and must have, if our nation
must endure, is a strong sense OF
moral obligation denominatlng the
actions and ideas of every man and
woman in the land. We are at war.
That means that our nation-our
/ America, is in danger. 1t is not a
soldiers war; nor rich mans war,
nor a poor mans war nor a white
mans war, nor black mans war.
1t is a war of all people. Every man,
woman and child is in it and must
stay in it until it is won.
Those in authority must see to It,
that every element of our citizenship
is given right treatment and a square
deal. that each and all may fight In
the war with courage and a good
heart; unless this is done, our procla'
nation world Democracy is
false cry, and we are losers to begin
with.
Governor Rye, you having beer
called to the high station which you
occupy, was not given you by acct
dent. Your past records had beer
reviewed, and your actions weighed
and the citizens of Tennessee knew
you to be man of high ideals, ant
ready to give justice to the humbles'
of citizens of this great Common
wealth.
The Negroes of Tennessee need en-
enlargement today and the country
needs the Negro, and if you woulC
make of the Negro, the soldier thai
he should and can be-, he would like
to feel, while wrapped in the Nationa
] ullllOl anu Ii~ StuhS''
battles, that those of his kin at home
are receiving the same protection
that is granted others who are Civ
ing their kin to die on the battle
fields for mocracy-nothing more
is asked-certainly nothing less il
fair.
We in behalf Of our people, lay
claims to no special services render
ed the state and nation, however
we do point with honor to the fact
that wherever we have been granted
the privilege, whether in military
or civic life, we have proven true ant
especially do we hold up, as among
the miracles of the ages our con
duct in the South, while war wal
being waged to keep us in bondage
In view of all that we have said
Dear Governor, we feel that your Elk
cellency, even yet stands ready tt
exercise the power of your high of
flee to bring to justice those whit