The Dallas express. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1893-1970, 1919-10-04
NEGROES NO MORE TO BLAME Than WHITES
PROMINENT WHITE LADY IN
VEST|GATES THE CAPITOL RIOTS

My father was In charge of whole
plantation and family was in charge
of a whole plantation and family
Of white women during the civil
war. They weren't afraid to leave
the white women with US then, and
Colored men are no different now"
Many of them expressed a liking
for, and confidence in. the captain
OF the precinct and, when man
of one race speaks well Of a man
of another during a race riot, that
means something. But they spoke
of the lack of Colored police and the
fact that Colored men were being
dropped from the force and that none
had been appointed since 1910.
you know" they said. that we
could talk better to Colored police.
They would reason with the people
and not just knock them round.
They know who the people are and
what is going on, and they could
stop a lot of trouble without arr
lrests. But they don't want to. give
4 us chance"
saw but one noisy Negro, a
half witted and dishevelled looking
follow talking loudly and belligerent-
| ly, Two Colored men seized and
thoroughly shook him. telling him
that If he did not "shut up and get
home he would certainly find things
happening to him Once an excited
Colored boy came flying on bicycle
with the news that a white mob had
formed inside the Gordon and was
on its way. Lets go meet them, y
said one young hothead This was at
once negatives. We'll watch and
see il they are coming and If they
are, we will go home and lock the
doors. That's what Captain Doyle
said, and he knows what's what. :"
So for few tense moments, we stood
peering into the drizzly gloom not
knowing what might after all be
about to come. But all was quiet
and we silently drifted our ways.
And thus IT, went for two hours.
! ME fheptgpot. saIssges, n4t red
handed murderers, but citizens, hunt
ed and terrified, looking more or
less hopelessly TO their government
for aid; human beings craving the
hand of brotherhood and cut to the
very heart. l thought of Belgium.
/ remembered that my country stands
abroad for liberty, justice. and the
rights of men, though she has them
not at home. How blind we are,
we AngloS Saxons who talk of freed
ON and have not freed our souls.
But still | hope and dimly see a dawn
red, it is true. but still far-off
dawn.
A white man once said to me:
"You talk like Negro. You seem
at times to identify Yourself with
them. Have you lost your race con-
sciousness?' ] replied: T hope 1
think enough like them to show you
how they feel. hope l always lose
race consciousness when ii stands
in the way of my consciousness of
common humanity" Then he said
a queer thing: "I do not know
whether your are mad or inspired"
1 had been thinking Of going to
Siberia, but believe my duty is
here. believe that our country
needs all of us who are standing
along the color line | am ready to
do anything possible, to whatever
limit If you to whom / look as
a leader in this situation, should
ever need my services, you have
but to speak. My soul is ,aflame, not
with the glare of the destroying
torch, but with the steady incandes-
cent torch, but with the steady in
candescent glow which cannot be ex-
tingUished.
Washington, July 90 Il. G.. M.