Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1919-01-04
OPPOSES OPPRESSION
BY The SOUTH
written for Tho Richmond Planet
by Joseph G.. Manning)


by Joseph G.. Manning.)
1t has been announced that the
National Republican Committee will
meet January 10th in Chicago "to
go over the situation With the
object in view of strengthening tho
Party in the United States. Just
here let me express the opinion that
justice for all Americans in America
must be obtained in the United
States, not in France, and the place
to do effective work is at the Chica
go peace table," January 10th.
There and then is the time and tho
place to notify the Republican organ
ization that it must stand for Con
Gtttutional liberty, and against the
methods of political repression by
the Southern autocracy or go out OF
business as party Of human justice
and ballot rights.
This hiking away to France is go
ing to do no good whatever, so far
as involves the overthrow Of tho sys-
tenn OF. minority rule in the South.
All Of this Grace issue stun, only
serves to stand in the way Of the
whole truth having a hearing: that
whole truth being that the condition
in the South is one Of lynchcd ballot
rights and not a race issue at all.
When the Northern Democracy
was stuillng ballot boxes in the black
bolt, to get majorities to overcome
opposition OF whites and TO maintain
minority rule over whites as well as
BLACKS, there were those who re
ferrcd to this condition rs one OF
"counting out the Negro This
was not truth. This did not state
the whole fact but so-cal!cd co.orcd
leaders helped ballot box stuiiinS
Democrats confuse the mind of the
North by SO stating the condition and
helping the makebelicvc ''rnce
ISSUE along.
+ This failure to comprehend, to
understand, 10 properly stAte thctiS
sue has done untold harm to the
cause OF liberty in the South. Just
no it Ia now that colored leaders.
so-cnllcd, talk about NEGRO disfran
chisement III tho South"-when they
ought to know that it Is condition
OF political jugglcry whereby mi
nority OF whites dominate the re-
pressed white as well as the reprc"scd
black South.
Why keep up this race issue"
stuff and keep on misroprcscnting the
facts as merely Il case OF Negro dis
frnnchisemcnt? II Is such as this
that stands in the way OF the APP
pearance OF truth, that is essential to
causing the nation to settle this
condition right. It is oXaspcrating
to see all Of this bosh going on I'M
checked and the hour is here to stop
,it. The cause OF Constitutional
government for the South is the is
sue.
We have had the "let the South
alone" nonsense. We have had this
misunderstanding OF the facts. We
have this Grace issue" buncombe. 1t
Is time now to face the truth. Col
ored Americans gulpcd down the
Booker II. Washington buncombe.
They now--many of them--howl over
an organization, an association Off
cercd by Wilson Democrats and with
a few prominent Socialists, who sup
port Wilson, rs among the prime
movers. kilograms are sent to South
ern officials protesting" lynching.
Reminds me Of the Wilson kilograms
to Mexico and Germany.
Voting to keep the South in the
saddle autocracy in power and pro
testing" it's doings! The only way
to stop these wrongs in the South is,
to end the rule Of the autocracy in
the South and restore ballot rights
so that the people can put those in
Office who will safeguard their life
and property. protesting" until
hell freezes over will not stop lynch
ing. 1t did not stop slavery. Those
who opposed slavery voted the way
they protested they, also, shot az
they voted,
When will ,Colorcu Americans OK
ercise the common sense to Quit this
foolishncss and rise to the real issue
and bring forth the Douglass type
of leadership? When will Colored
Americans have the common sense to
quit "protcsting" results Of a funda-
mental wrong and have the plain
Judgment to use their brains and
means in improving the system
which breeds the wrongs? Why take
a bow and arrow and shoot at the
mosquito? Why not dry up the
pond that breeds them?
have & contempt for the Southern
democracy for its distortion Of the
situation. I am beginning to feel an
equal contempt for those so-callcd
ColOrcd leaders. who work their side
of the street with the race issue"
game, just as Southern Democrats
work the other side of the street.
When I know how it has impcded
the progress Of truth and prolonged
injustice, feel like throwing decayed
cabbage at The mouths Of these
blatherskitcs and time servers. I
propose plain spoken treatment OF
the situation and these triners with
truth and justice deserve treatment
as harsh as their course has brought
to others.
JOSEPH G. MANNING,
204 West Fourteenth Street,
New York City.