The Dallas express. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1893-1970, 1919-09-13
PERISCOPE.
(By Associated Negro Press).

Since the Washington and Chicago
riots, the daily newspapers of the
South, have been having a glorious
time joshing the North. They have
been saying, in effect; while we
lynch Negroes in the South, we never
bother other than than one lynched,
all others are SAFE" Now comes
Knoxville, Tenn, knocking the sox
out of that flimsy argument. In a
riot in that southern city, Negroes
were called upon to defend them
selves and their homes, as they were
called upon in Washington and Chica-
go. That they manifested a remark
able spirit of self-defense, all reports
concur. The time has come when
the American Negro has taken up
the famous expression of Marshal
Joffre, and made 1t their own: "They
Shall not Pass"
The American Negro has been Of
the most patient and long suffering
group of people ever known to his
tory. He is in perfect love with
all that is just and righteous. Per
feet love casts out all fear" and
therefore, in defense of his manhood
rights, death, today has real charms.
This being the case, and since 1t has
been a long time custom of the rough
element of the American whites to
hold the race in subsection by fear,
it seems most prudent. wise and
timely, come let us reason together"
In many communities, North and
South, this is being done with fine
effect.
1t may as well be understood, and
nothing else should be expected
whether this is regarded as "whote
mems country"-even though it was
stolen from the Red man, who has
always been friendly to the black
manor not, the American Negro
today has new point Of view, which
all hades cannot wipe out. Listening
to the siren Of Righteousness, Just
tice, Liberty, Freedom and Democra-
cy, he has accepted the tenor Of their
way, and with keen eyes, set face,
steady tread, open mind and strong
arm, asks nothing more, and GER
tainly will take nothing less. Meth
er the aggressor nor the oppressor,
the American Negro places his cause
before the right thinking people of
the nation, who, in every crisis, have
been the victors.
South Has no Charms.
Encouraged by the recent troubles
in northern communities numerous
south delegations from various COM
have recent visited Chicago,
and other cities, with the most glow
ing inducements to Colored people,
urging them to come back to the
land where they are best loved and
most understood"
In great mass meeting held in
the Eighth Regiment Armory on the
night of Labor Day, question was
asked by one of the speakers: How
many of you wish to return South?''
In every portion of the audience of
1000 could be heard the expressions
None" mo one" In very truth, this
is the universal sentiment. Reports
from employment bureaus, the Urban
League, and from members of COM
missions and delegations themselves,
from the South, declare that little
or no encouragement has been re-
ceived, in the matter of returning
South. One man expressed the senti-
ment of thousands when he said:
II would rather live in Chicago if
they had a riot here every week.
typical individual made a
very amusing comment. This hap
pened in the assembly room of the
Chicago Urban League, and is vouch-
ed for. The big white southerner
was present, before an assembly of
more than one hundred Negro work
men. He described enthusiastically
that on his plantation there are many
logs that need saving up. Railroad
transportation would be furnished and
four dollars per day paid to the la
bOrers. How many of you wish to
go% He asked. There was painful
silence. Finally, one brother spoke
up and said, deliberately 81 tell you
what you do, you send the logs up
to Chicago, and we'll saw ZEN here"
So, that seems to be the one way
out, Of the South must really have
additional Negro help, and insists
on continuing the political and Give
injustices of the present, their logic
will have to be sent North If the
work is to be done