Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1918-08-24
'lBy Casely Hayford, Barristcr-at
Law, ScI<Onde, Gold Coast,
West Africa.)


West African
The world is called upon TO face
s.great issues. Tho issues are bigger
than the times and the men OF the
: times. Except here and there, therc'
are very few who realize what tho
: issues are, or have any clear idea rs
to the correct indication OF the times.
Generally there is IL hazy idea that
great changes are pending, but in
what direction they lead, or why they
are at all necessary, few have ven
turcd to inquire.
At Il time when the plans OF Al
mighty God were complete TO work
revolution in tho opinions OF mon.
Germany let loose the hell OF war;
and there are some who judge that
Germany may be tho scourge OF
Providence to bring men to II higher
concoption OF duty to follow men.
Before the war, when the civilized
world, so.callcd, spoke Of man and
ones duty to man. there seemed to he
q certain amount OF mental raScrVa-
ton in so far as the darker races
we're cOnccrnnG.
But the attitude Of civilization
p In this matter has been scotchcd.
II was scotchcd in the tusso-JHpan
csc war. II will be more greatly
affected 10y the present war. In the
case OF Japan, for tho first time i'll
modern history, Europe and America
wore taught that the monopoly or
successful warfare did not belong to
them. ana that, given opportunity,
the East could measure swords with
the West Said n distinguished Jap
auese after,inc war in the Japanese
House of Peers:
"rhc sacred duty Is incumbent up
on us, as the leading state or ASlatlc
progress, to stretched helping hand
to China, India, and Korea, to all the
ASi;,ticS who have condolences IN us,
and who are capable OF civilization.
As their moro powerful friend, we
desire them all to be free from tho
yoke which Europe has placed upon
them, and that they may hereby
prove to the world that the Orient
Is capable Of measuring swords with
the Occident on any field OF battle.
japan had risen to a firS,-claSs
power. Japan remains ~ first class
power and her voice is heard, and
heard with respect, in the councils Of
the Nations. Still the Japanese Oh
.ject lesson had noiygone far enough
with the dominant groups OF man
kind. They were wont still to as
sumo patroniZing air with other
darker races, including black folk.
'rhey assumed the power to direct
their destiny.
They laid down rules and regula.
tons for their conduct. They liked
bounds beyond which they must not
go. In some cases matters had
reached an acute stage when tho
present war broke out. 1t ought to
int M
IN an age Of steel, machinery and
mechanical appliances, man has not
reached the stage, nor does 1T appear
he ever will, when he can wholly
dispense with man-power.
And, so, when it comes to tho
pinch, civilization. either in war or
peace, is bound to press into service
the dark races OF mankind. AS am
writing, black folk IN different thea
tres of the war are shedding their
blood in saving civilization from tho
deadliest blow that could be struck
at it by q power which had held IT.
self out rs the most civilized OF all.
AS [ write, the burden Of civilization
is upon the shoulders of millions OF
black folk. who, throughout the
world, by muscle and brain, are con-
tributing labour Of a most useful
kind.
But, in the face OF all this, the
dominant groups are still inclined to
entertain disparaging sentiments to- |
wards the black man. There are
degrees Of this sentiment. 1t ranges |
from positive violence, espionage, eX- |
ploitation, to a nauseous patronage |
blighting In it's influence. 1t Is not |
confined to any particular class of |
the groups in question. In one form |
or other it Is exhibited by the most |
vulgar as. well as by the most cul- |
tured and enlightened.
To sum mp, it suggests that the |
black man was expressly created by |
God for the purposes and the benefit !
OF the white, and that that being his |
destiny, the latter Is entitled to lay |
down the doctrine Of his evolution, |
which must be strictly observed. |
That is an idea to be combatted and |
combatted wherever found. General |
SHUTS Of the South African Dominion |
has recently made two remarkable J
speeches in London, one ut tho House !
n / Iep Il f,> 1t