Cayton's weekly. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1916-1921, 1919-01-18

laws in Georgia and Alabama and Missis-
spppi..
The fight for democracy for the natives
of Africa is an international question and
belongs at the peace table; if it is won, the
Negro in the United States will reap many
Of the benefits Of the victory. But the fight
for democracy for the people Of African
descent in the United States is not an inter-
national question and has no recognized
place at the peace table. It is not on the
same plane as the question of rights for the
natives of Africa and India and other de-
Tendencies.
The Negro in the United States is not a
subject r;tce and does not accept the status
Of subject race. He is citizen of the
United States, with all the rights Of citizen
ship guaranteed him by the Constitution.
The fact that he is often denied these rights
is aside from the point, he is, nevertheless
legally as much a citizen Of the United
States as anybody else. Subject races all
over the world are today struggling to have
certain rights Of citizenship written Tor
them in the laws Of the nations to which
they bear allegiance; therefore, their cases
naturally go for consideration before the
international tribunal which is now assembl-
ing. But the American Negro is contend
ing for the fnlfllment Of rights already
guaranteed him by the Constitution and
for the impartial Interpretation and apph-
cation Of existing laws.
International law, the rule which is used
by nations only to justify themselves in
doing the things they want to do, will re-
gard the American Negro as a full Ameri-
have with his government as a purely local
and domestic affair. Therefore, since no
nation has burning desire to dip into such
a delicate matter, we may be sure that each
one will avail itself Of the excuse which
international law provides and will duck
the whole disagreeable business
The Negro had just as we'll put away all
ideas of quick, quack remedies for his con-
dition. He had just as we'll realize that he
has got to fight out his battle right here at
home at close quarters. He had just as
well put out Of his mind the idea that
something will happen, that something will
drop down from the skies which will make
everything right for him.
We have just finished the great war for
democracy There were those of the race
who thought and taught that all we needed
to do while black boys were fighting over
there was to buy Liberty Bonds and Thrift
Stamps to assist in Red Cross drives and
other activities, to keep our mouths shut,
and the war would do the rest
The war is over and the miracle has not
happened And no miracle is going to
happen. Miracles of that kind never hap
pen Only couple of weeks ago the news
papers recorded the lynching of an honor
ably discharged colored soldier in Ken
lucky And what was the crime for which
he was lynched? He had resisted arrest
by a constable He did not even kill the
constable; he merely knocked him down and
walked off; for that he was lynched.
I do not mean to intimate that the war
did not bring us a great many vital things,
but the most vital thing it brought us was
not things already accomplished for us, but
the opportunity to accomplish things for
ourselves And the greatest opportunity it
hronnht 11s WOO not the onnortunitu to firht