Phoenix tribune., 1919-09-27
PHOENIX AUDIENCE
THRILLED BY WORDS OF
ROSCOE c. SIMMONS


School auditorium Monday night to an
anpreciative audience Among the
Caucasians who attended the lecture
were Governor Thos E. Campbell, his
wife and son. A short program was
rendered, after which the speaker was
introduced by R. D. Simpson, presi-
dent of the local branch N. A. A. C. P,
under whose auspices the lecture was
given. Col. Simmons spoke in part
as follows:
Victorious on the battle field in the
great war of the world, the United
States faces at home the most diff
cult test ever proposed to free man.
Though bound, though chained, still
can see. l have read the history of
the struggle of man. And if | read
that story with my eyes, nothing of
what | scan is lost to my anxious
heart
81 am an American; proud of it and
jealous of both the power and reputa-
tion of my country and my country.
men, I speak for one-eighth of the
population of my country, all native
here and to the manner born.
pledge their faith by the tTief remark
that through tears they see a better
time farther on. Their conduct as
both men of peace and men of war is
proof of an uninterrupted loyalty to
nation and flag, though few of their
claims are thus far granted, and much
of what they deserve is still withheld
'But brief season has passed since
! stood on the battle-fields of France
l tracked our soldiers by east and
west, by north and south, in the
marches made upon the call of liberty.
Today in the valleys of St. Mihiel;
tomorrow in the Argonne; now sweep
ing over the roads from Varennes to
Verdun, and thence to Pont-a-Mous-
Chateau Thierry where havoc of an
astute enemy was answered by per-
feet aim of soldiers fighting under the
protection of God and the starred BAN
ner of the only free government the
world has thus far known. l thought
then, not of race or color but of my
country / said surely the nation that
can vindicate liberty so far from home
will not permit even the humblest
child of her bosom to weep away a
life of despair.
Genius of the Fathers
"The genius of the fathers who
brought forth our nation belongs alike
to high and low, rich and poor, the
bound and the free. The bravest men
in all the story of progress fought from
death to life in what we call the Rev
olution, and the wisest men of all
wrote the constitution, in which, after
a season, my name, and the name
of those with me, was written. From
the day when their fathers stepped
from the Mayflower to the moment of
power and fear in which now we move,
the men of America have led the tri-
umph of freedom over bondage Let
me speak word to the American
white man; let me be plain. Let me
say that the American negro living
hand in hand and heart in heart with
the American white man, is permitted
t. live side by side with the intellect
ual king of modern times.
Go, let me say to my benefactor,
go and read the heart of the American
Negro. and find there story of devo
tion without parallel in history. More
and more, day for day, it is all mys
terry to them why his countrymen deny
him the favors of liberty, when all he
asks is to he permitted to stand by the
side of the American white mar
against the foe, whether marching un
der the red flag at home or under flag:
from distant scenes.
Examine conditions in our country
at this hour. View men rising againsl
order and those sworn to uphold the
law standing against the law See the
hand of dare knocking upon the dool
o. the castle of liberty. Hear the
threats of violence loud on the high
ways. Note how our leaders tremble
at the smallest noise in the dark
Watch the parade of the Red Flae
marching before us in regiments, and
see upon the cheek of women tears Of
anxiety. And then consider, if yor
will, the conduct of thirteen millior
Americans, pressed to the wall tC
make room for trouble-bringers. Tel
me if an American Negro has riser
against order, stood against law
knocked on the door with hand of fear
threatened with voice of violence
marched in the parade of the Re'
Flag, or sent women to their knees il
prayer In war, thank God, / main
tanned an llnbroken record of fealtl