The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-11-13

the first reconstruction and it's bite!
results and adapting the language O.
the president, they might very wei
say: I'VE do not think the same
thoughts or speak the same Language
Of agreement"
In round figures there are 1000,
900 negroes in the United States O
whom 100000 live in the South. The
! problem belongs to the South ant
must be settled by the South-th'
white South and the black Soutl
working together and in the spirit O.
exact justice between the races.
The question is pressing itself fol
consideration in advance Of the time
when it must be settled, and man,
! thoughtful men among the leaders O.
Southern public opinion are alread.
/, giving serious attention to the sub
ject. At a recent meeting Of tht
Fortnightly Club Of Lexington, Va.
the question was discussed in pa
per read by Col. J. M. Patton, profes
sor of modern languages in the Vir
ginia Military Institute, the grea
5chool Of the Southern soldier made
famous by Stonewall Jackson. Colone
Patton's address was based largely
upon conversations with his brother
the Rev R. w. Patton, who has mad,
a sympathetic study Of the subject
contending that there must be a re
adjustment along lines different from
efforts formerly tried to adapt tn
negro to circumstances and environ
ment and to place upon him a, revalu-
alton as a member Of human society
The revaluation Of things, ideals ant
persons is being forced upon all peo-
pies by the sacrifices and blood anc
self ahnegation of the world. Mons
calls for graver consideration and !;
fairer judgment than that which W,
Of the South must inevitably fac>
when the war is over. If mans mos
precious gift, life itself, counts TO
nothing in comparison with, as We
learn, the principles of democracy
when sons and fathers, including tn,
negro, are giving their hves-not
say joyfully, bat deliberately and I'M
grudgingly, when mothers, including
the negro mothers, commit theli
sons lives ungrudgingly, also t.
their country's cause-that OF de.
mocracy, it may naturally be aske
what is the value Of this democrac.
compared with their precious lives
We know the value Of lives, what
then, must be the value Of that de
mocracy for which the exchange /
made?
1.-The disintegration of the nation
al life of the Jews at the time Of tn
coming of Christ was due to the fac,
that in the supreme hour of their ma
tional history they failed to recognH
their true responsibility; that tbs
doom Christ pronounced from tn:
Mount was due to the fact that they
failed to recognize the day Of theii
y, .portunity; that they Insisted upon
keeping the divine revelation as
provincial and national asset rathe-
than as a. boon to be shared with ths
human race"
After sketching briefly the war
that have been waged for freedom
since the human race was divided ints
tribes and nations and kingdoms ant
the never ceasing struggle for TN.
emancipation Of man from the doml
nation of force. Colonel Patton salt
that the War Between the States IL
the United States was the creates
contest that had then been waged TO
the preservation of the principles G
freedom and that now the struggle
had been renewed on the blessed field
of France. The black man" he sald
was called upon in the War Betweei
the States and right molly did he de
fend his masters family in the soutf
and provide for it. But in this Woti'
war we find standing at our SIDES th'
supposedly weaker or oacAWa1'
races, lending their strength to pre-
serve the ancient traditions OF oa
race. Thou shalt not see my face O.
the hilltops of freedom, except u.
brother be with thee He is not oni3
the black man from the French col
onies, the German colonies, the dark
er races Of India, but the negro O
the South. One in nine is the neg 0
He not only gives his labor in IN:
fields of peace in war work behind the
lines and at home, but 100000 OF then
wear the uniform Of the United State
army. Again, he stands one IN nlne
when the roll is called-an arm.
larger than either side had in ih'
War Between the States in any bat
tie. Thousands volunteered. Whei
peace is declared these negro mel
will return proud of their achieve
ments and conscious Of the fact thai
they offered themselves in the cause
of freedom; many thousands will havt
made the supreme sacrifice, the las
full measure Of devotion to then
country as with their fellow white
soldiers-the Aanglo-SaXonS, the lead.
ers and teachers of the meaning
freedom. They should naturally ex
pect to be full sharers in the fruits
of victory and partners in the glorle;
of triumphant peace-a herltag'
justly claimed. They will seek TO:
themselves and their children, ant
rightly so, not social equality but po
liticay-and educational opportunity
They Jkill demand education and-po
litic justice We have proclalmei
the salvation of the oppressed ma
i Il