The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1918-09-13
"Mr Chairman, Ladies and Cent?,

men;
at is with a deep sense of appre.
citation of your regard for me that
come to you today to speak. We
have been called here by a genuine
impulse of the heart.
You have hitherto, fellow-citiezns,
on occasions OF this kind, been en-
tertainel with the discussion of the
National Labor question, and on its
consequences to ourselves. Vital and
fundamental as labor is to the win
nlng of the war, it shall be the am
bition Of the speaker today to present
such a view of Democracy AMI its
mis- sion as shall convince you that 1t
is your duty and the duty of every
American citizen to help win the war
for the Allies.
LAS one has said, this war brings
to our vision the irresistible conflict
between autocracy and democracy.
Two great political ideals are in n
death struggle And in speaking to
you about this conflict, do not come
to you as one bringing any private
information. If what | have to say
has any quickening value 1t Is only
because l shall articulate what is
most common in your thought and
feeling, and most potent in your sym
pathy and faith. We are living near
the elimination, we hope, of all
monarchal forms of governments
Over the chaos and strife we call
civilization, there broods the thought
of love as law, which is changing the
motives and governments that made
and re-make the world From the
midst of our devouring customs, ig-
norance and prejudices rises the Gre
ative dream of equality before the
law and industrial opportunity. And
this dream is being tested as work,
ing ideal for the on-coming democra-
cy, and it is growing in statue and
| favor with men. Black men, as never
before, are being tried out by the ua-
tional government in the army, and
other branches of the national serv-
ice, and by other organizations where
labor is in demand. Unto black men
as to no other men, this child is
born, and upon their shoulders rests
its development into full democratic
manhood.
Broadly speaking, the war problem
is problem of how to so organize the
world that all men may be equally Sc
cure in the material means and legal
resources needful for a complete anC
happy life The mission of democra
cy is to solve this problem by openins
wide the gates of opportunity so thai
every man, from the least to the
greatest, may make his life a mora
adventure and joy, and exhaust hi
possibilities in the things he can bes
do Men are beginning to learn tina
all that is good in civilization mus
be and is for the equal use of all
"Colored Americans have reason t,
thank God for the spirit of democra
, cy that is now being unfolded il
, America by President Wilson; dc
mocracy that feels itself enslave,
: and oppressed in the enslavement an
oppression of mankind in other quar-
ters of the globe democracy tha
feels itself guilty of its brothers
blood across the Atlantic in ever
custom and necessity that makes 70
poverty, ignorance and defenseles
toll; a democracy that feels itself
traitor in the prosperity which kinl
craft and debauchery build on tn
> prostrated bodies of human beings /
Europe. The black man should TAX
fresh courage in the light of Amer
cas- awakening, for she is beginnin
= to learn that democracy means tha
all things in civilization belong t
the human race as whole, and thf
the best way to have peace in tn
}, world is to~give men-what and blac
what belongs to them. We Sc
: therefore, out of the whole world VIZ
issues slowly the universal democr
e cy, which is to sacredly unfold ever
individuality, and reverently receil
: its contribution from every huma
being. Well has Mr.. Henry d. Lloy
!, said, "A new mankind has been co
ceived and will be born--which wi
r. not know force, and fraud, and h
: tired, and will let love, it's natural ii
J bind men and nations together
n Il am we'll aware that the blaC
o man sometimes feels that this war
e as was first said, "A white mans WI
e to be fought out by white men alon,
o And also. know that you feel on a
J. count of your past experience tn
II we have no right to fight for the p;
l. petuity and extended glory of tn
n government. But my friends, wa
l. you to dismiss from your hearts fl
g ever such thought; it matters n
It what the past has been, nor what Il
rs presen' IS, giving ones self to he
h organize the human family into o.
great loving whole-which mas be
s. from the beginning the one far off
e vine event for winch sll things in t.
history of the world have been pl
rt parinf tbs way aud strt ing the fiel
of nf human battle grounds with hum
IN floUl lr'..ei fnd famines a.
IN ea:thunakos and blin ngc aud lynC
N ing; and disfranchisemert and fir
n- and fouls ani vars have all ma
I'd their contribution to this coming {
d, mocracy that has been so beautiful
outlined and interpreted by Preside