Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-02-23
VOICE OF THE PEOPLE

, exemption because he had been hit on
the head twice, had been cut to tho
bone In the left leg. had blood too thin
Tor exposure, etc.
The language Is that of frightened
iSnorancc. II certainly caused smiles
ana. perhaps, for that reason you pub
The fear ana the language Is ANUS
INK. but. after momcnt's thought,
you VIII admit that such fear and liz
norance can be found almost unywhcrc
publication OF such things humilintcs
the black man. because they create so
much public atmosphere against him
Is II worth whilc?
You know how difficult /, Is. yes. al
most impossible. for the mind to riso
end 10 the worlds end the human mind
VIII ever he the product OF environ
meni, political and civic conditions. II
child Of best inherited Tendencies
were placed in confinement with glib
berins idiots. he would 80 insane from
sheer necessity.
The South cannot escape her rcspon-
slbiiity FOR what thc negro is. lie came
10 her "A Wild, untutorcd savage. Under
NE gentle dominion OF kindly. we'll
Drrl men. he learned gcnti!iiy. bravery.
truth. Inc South made the negro what
she "antrd him She can make him
What she wants him Row If she willis;
Sh" can project the good in him and
subdue the bad, and again the negro
VIII be loyal, respected. and. why balll
~ words. loved portion OF our country.
No one would have denied this in 1850.
Why now?
The negro before the Civil War was
trusted and io"cd by the whole South.
and tew deny that l;c was fully worthy
Of that trust. The black man was
worthy IN 1860, why not now?
Tell your people that III. negro was
WORTHY because he Was expected to be
worthy In. whole atmosphere was
That OF love and affection Say "A word
- al ia l.l@ T..
me war type. and instantly you and
those who know" ny to her defense
Why? You looked for great deal
from her" YOU believed in her AZ your
own. She WAS ali you thought her.
because YOU thought 1t. dreamed ILL., The
kindly South made that black woman.
atmosphere. Unfortunately with phy-
Steal revolution comes almost always
psychological revolution.
The .:cgro after this war grew up in
an atmosphere Of hatred and suspicion.
contempt ana dist'ust Is IL any Won
der tina, the south changed? Is it any
"9nher that the negro c.iangcd?
l'ut Tor every pain great nature hath
her cpinp"nsations. Ia the oldcn time
the South protected and loved the negro
as her own. Those impulses have but
wake again from sleep. For what has
been can more easily be again.
inc ntIro !" ready TOO, liz longs to
give greater contributions OF life and
blood to the Southland now partly his
own. Ih" impulse sleeps In the Negro.
and when tie key OF trust and equity
Is applied away, will 20 all doubt. and
torch and lame. AID sudden Judgment.
There VIII be uo need
We ar" s9im& 70 do our duty. be
what may. We Offer our lives In the
cause OF democracy. because ultimately
til" spirit OF truth viii prevail every
where and ail man viii be fr.c--not
equal. Men cannot be equal, but free.
and helped each by each. We faint
not. because Il thousand Years are tuy
as day.
Flu, the South. and the South alone.
can make . negro who VIII leave tho
college 10 make our soil more beautiful
and productive.
The South can build Il patriotism
that VIII take all OF any age TO any
where from anywhere. You can in 4
moment make shock troops Of all our
men o. every age from sixteen TO
sixty.
lie, US have no moro OF these anus
ing displays of our IGNORANCE
y. NJ POLLARD.
L"wrenccv.l!e, Va. February 20. 1918.