Phoenix tribune., 1918-11-30

backward races, lending their
strength to preserve the ancient ira
ditions of our race. Thou shalt not
see my face on the hilltops of free
dom, except thy brother be with thee
He is not only the black man from
the French colonies, the German col
onies, the darker races of India, but
the negro of the south. One in nine
is the negro. He not only gives his
labor in the fields of peace in war
work behind the lines and at home,
but 100000 Of them wear the uniform
of the United States army. Again, he
stands one in nine when the roll is
called-an army larger than either
side had in the war between the states
When peace is finally declared these
negro men will return proud of their
achievements and conscious of the
fact that they offered themselves in
the cause of freedom; many thousands
will have made the supreme sacrifice,
the last full measure of devotion to
their country as with their fellow
white soldiers-the Anglo-Saxons, the
leaders and teachers of the meaning
of freedom. They should naturally
expect to be full sharers in the fruits
Of victory and partners in the gIores
of triumphant peace-a heritage just
ly claimed. They will seek for them
selves and their children, and rightly
so, not social equality but political
and educational opportunity. They
will demand education and-politicaI
justice. We have proclaimed the SAL
walton Of the oppressed nations of Eu-
rope-what shall we do for the negro
of the south? This is very serious
question, and one that we must face.
Shall they not have equal opportuni-
ty? To deny the demand would be to
belle our faith in democracy as the
solution of the worlds ills and to spit
upon the cherished ideals of the past
and present.
Churches Must Aid Negro
Every being of whatever race must
be given the opportunity to enjoy the
life of freedom. The American church
Institute for Negroes, fostered by the
Episcopal church, has begun a cru
sade in this direction. While
education may be the function of the
state, the heart of the negro, as of
the white man, is not reached by
academic education alone. He must
be reached through the principles of
the Christian religion. 1t is, there
fore, the duty of all Christians to take
a hand in the negros development
along these lines. About 40 per cent
of the negroes are illiterate, and a |
much higher percentage are without
any restraining influence except the
example of the whites viewed from |
afar. The little education they get is
more harmful than otherwise. We
should rise to sense of higher re-
sponsibility and give them the chance
to emerge from savagery and help to
save the state and what the latter
what shall we do to meet the sit
lation? We shall have to confront
The situation-we must not allow it
10 drift. The soul of the negro is as
white as the soul of the white man
hey have qualities capable of high de-
The question resolves it.
self into this: What is the value of
! man? AS a unit in the state he
is all important to the state. and as
such he is a part of the state-a ne.
part of the democratic whole.
4 pillar of democracy; one of those
who guarantees and stabilizes the life
of freedom. Shall we make't the sacri-
flee? Or shall we, like the Children J