The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1918-03-29

Wien one resds the cnrious remarks
and comments made by many OF the
IN this country. especially in
the South, he wonders what it is all
about. They speak as if they are sur.
priced ct the loya and patriotism dis
played by black men. They comment
upon il ~ il il 10 something new under
the sun They could not talk differently
il this had been the first time the Negro
he'd been called TO srms and displayed
for the first time his gallantry and love
OF country. Even in 1863, when the 5ath
Massachusetts, responded to the call oi
arms by Abraham Lincoln TO fight for
country and his own emsncips tion, even
that was no strange phenomenon.
In the French and Indian War the
Negro Was there willingly doing bis part
in the war Of Independence they proved
valuable aids to George Washington, the
father Of his country; in the war of Isl.
General Andrew Jackson attests to the
loyalty and bravery Of black soldiers in
the battle Of New Orleans against the
British. During the Civil War Negroes
were true and loyal. both on the onion
and Confederate sides. lie has never
been known To lie q quItter; he has al
WAYS been xnown 10 Ice u tighter, and Yet
these strange and surprising remarks arr
made ~ though il is something new un-
der the sun that he displays such rare
qualities OF patriotism and gallantry in
the present world coI tiict. Ii makes Us
tired to hear IL. and II is no compliment,
the Negro has been
called TO duty and arms lac has come mp
10 the very highest standard. Nobody
knows this better than white folks. but
it 10 always strange and surprising, al
though he has been displaying these
qualities OF fidelity. patriotism and gal
lantry ever since he landed on the sho-es
81 America in lois.
We suppose that this arises from the
fact that our white fellow citizens are
conscious that no other race under simi-
lar circumstances, treated and buffeted
about like the Negro, deprived OF many
of the commonest rights due TO American
citizens, Disseminated against in nearly
everything that pert-ins to public insti-
tusions and utilities. Inundated beyond
language TO portray, would lie 80 willing
20 sacrifice and even TO lay down their
lives for country in the face of such harsh
and inhuman treatment For the dirtiest
and fiithiest foreign vagabond Is treated
better than the most intelligent, law
Abiding and respectable Negro citizen.
In travelling over the country he canrlot
even get Q decent birth in which e.
slevp; many times he - lerked up IN the
middle OF the night and made To 20 back
into some filthy jim crow car, set aside
- they cay, for "niggers." Our women
are humilisted in more Ways than II IL
possible TO tell here. Their ambition To
MEASURE up To the high standard Of in
selligence and decency 10 looked down
upon by their white neighbors. They
are eften humiiiatrd and embarrassed by
being called "Auntie OF Jane or Sookie'
without the slightest acquaintance with
them whatever. And thsse same black
men who are fighting for their country
against the Central Powers. no matter
what rank they hold in the army, arr
never called anything but Jim. John or
Bill; in fact, everything is done 70 r.
mind you that you are niger and
an inferior. They always refer 70 the
most eminent black man on woman ~
slough they were kids or children, and
when they are praised it j. A. one would
praise O rood Old horse or COW.
And they are always holding mp thu
old dsrkey. who lived in slavery time -
On example tor the young 20 follow, 10
esus- they knew nothing eise but 70 otey
their masters and mistre--e-. and they
hold this Mp 80 an example for tlie young
Negro 10 follow.
Our white neighbors seem o. forget that
h,en, e. veil a. things. char - IN bed
sncs 70 the laws Of evolution, that men
and races 10 not stand stii, but tl'ry
either 70 forward "r back ward. In the
long run they ~ forward. The new "
rro can no more b. like the srfe-iellu b.
Negro than ibe white man ~ t'day can
fe like hi- ancestors 10 til~ ni idie rg~-
I he ante hellum Negro bal o" ali of D =
own; he knew nothing i,ut D. otey b.
master. Tie dOos- Of knowledgr vs.
elosed against him and u ~ss . crime T. =
him % learn o. Rad and write. The y 81
sro OF today hss access o. some Of TIN
less schools and colleges IN the country
snd trained and & ugs in the best thing.
handed down tocisil zation. Everything.
By dsy and by night. tesches nun that
he 10 made IN the image Of God, and that
he 10 master cf hIs fate and po-se--or Of
h,s own soul, and IL . a. much impos-
sibls 70 conquer thst spirit IN him a. 10
= % turn the Mississippi river mp stream.