The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1919-07-05
A NEW RECONSTRUCTION

The worldwide reconstruction that
is followin gin the wake Of the war
will necessarily affect the South in a
peculiar way. Nearly 100000 Negroes
have been called into the military ser
vice of the country; many thousands
more have been drawn from peaceful
pursuits into industries born OF the
war; and several hundred thousand
have shifted from the South to the
industrial districts of the North. The
rehabilitation of the army and the
transition OF industry from a war 10
a peace basis are creating many prop
lens which can be solved only by the
efforts of both races. The Negro IN
adapting himself to the new conditions,
should have the wise sympathy and
generous cooperation of his white
neighbors. 1t is to the interest oil
these as we'll as of the Negro himself
that reimbursement should proceed with
the least possible difficulty and delay.
We believe that this readjustment
NAV be effectively aided by a more
general appreciation of the Negro
value as a member of the community
Lack of sympathy and understanding
between two groups of people frequent
" causes n group TO regard the
shortcomings of a few individuals OF
the other as characteristic Of all that
group. This is a natural tendency,
but it is neither rational nor Just, ana
il has proved, we believe, Il OF the
great obstacles to the development Oh
more satisfactory racial relations IN
this country.
The Negroes contribution to the
welfare Of the nation has never oeeh
more clearly indicated thar by MS
services during the Great war. Nheh
the call to arms was sounded ms couI,
trv expected him to do his duty anu
ne did not fail. Large numbers Vi
h,ack men on the fields OF france
made the supreme sacrifice for the
cause of world democracy. In othei
war services the Negroes did their lul
share. Many thousands were employ
ed in the building Of ships. the manu-
facture of munitions, the constructor
of cantonments. and in the productlo'
nf the coal. iron. cotton and fooo stulls
without which victory would nav.
heen impossible. The Negroes pui
chases of Liberty Bonds and War say
irgs stamps and their contribution
TO the Red Cross, h unlteu wa
Work Fund and other similar agehcle
are in themselves a splendid record q
which the Negroes and their "hlI
friends NAV be justly proud.
II may also be appropriate IN III
connection to recall that hrousho
the period of hostilities the Negro wa
meyer suspected of espionage or {
sympathy with the enemy anu 1na
he has been wholly Indifferent TO nos
movements fostered by radical ahe.
that aim at the destruction OF u
American form of government. IN
GOOD record of the whole race d
serves such publicity as Will OILS
tbe common tendency to Judge II /
the SHORTCOMINGS of some OF its mel
hers No people is spurred to hlsh'
things when h~abitually referred 10
disDaraging or contemptuous tern
Ordinary human beings end TO h'
nm ia or down to the role asslgh'
them by their neighbors.
On several previous occasions u
University Commission for the otu'
of Race Problems has addressed d
Meals to the college men OF the sou
for more justice and fair play TOT u
twelve millions Of our colored cltl]eI
Al this time we would appeal espe
tally for a large meaure OF thousntl'
ness and consideration, for lhe 70
troll of careless habits Of speech whl'
give needless offense and for the pra
tice of just relations. To seek by "
practicable means to cultivate a mo
tolerant spirit, a more generous syl
nathv and a wider degree OF eoope
alton between the best elements
moth races, to emphasize IN 10
rsthe than the worst features Oh !
~terracial relations, to secure giea ~
nublicity for those whose Vlews =
based on reason rather than prelusll
these. we believe, are essehti@ pa,
70 the Reconstruction programme