The Wisconsin weekly blade. [volume] (Madison, Wis.) 1916-1925, 1919-02-13
THE BEAM IN OUR EYE

Autocracy is dead in the world and here in Ameri-
ca national prohibition and woman suffrage merely
pause in the backroud to decorate their chariot
wheels for a triumphal entry.
Yet glance about us, even here in demOcracy's
home, will that the time is not yet at hand
for us to don ascensona robes and pin our wings
We rejoice in the release of subject races but
are reminded by recent address of President Moor
field Storey of the National Association for the Adj
vancement Of Colored People, delivered before the
Wisconsin Bar Association, that there live in our
country today ten twelve millions Of native Amer
leans whose constitutional rights-the right to vote
to trial by jury, to protection Of life and property
are habitually abridged or denied.
Mr.. Storey recites the Negroes exclusion from la
Dor unions, the wreched quarters he is often forced
to occupy III cities at unreasonable rents the doors
closed against him when he seeks higher level the
discrimination against him in the matter of educa-
ton III those sections where separate schools are
maintained, white pupils often receiving ten or
twelve times the appropriation per capita that the
blacks receive. And, of course Mr. Storey does not
fail to advert to the CHASTITY subject of lynching.
Just now, when the world is still tender over its
dead in the of liberty and when our president
is sailing toward Europe to put into effect it may
be, his theses on the rights of man. is a very fitting
time for us Americans to look into the corners of
our own household.
AS we mentioned the other day. 100000 of our
black citizens have put khaki in this war for de
mOcracy. The press of the South an eyewitness to
the process has been loud in its praise of the admir-
able attitude of the Coored man toward the draft
his lack of slacking his quick response to every APP
peal of the government, and the zeal of the Negro
leaders that their race might make good in this
time of test
On the field of battle we know that the Negro made
good One whole regiment as well many indi-
vdualS, was cited for bravery. More than thOus-
and were made commissioned officers.
Yet while these were thus laying their lives
upon their c0untrys altar, 2l9 Negro men. women
and children were lynched; and, in addition, 175-
women and children well men-were tortured,
burned and killed at East St Louis, in our own
proud commonwealth, reminding us once again that
mob spirit and racial hatred know no section
Some of the ynchngs were accompanied by a
tiendlShneSS never surpassed III Indian annalS-eyeS
being gouged out with red hot pokers and slow fires
built to pr0lOng the victim S torture-in one in
stance to four hours
This story of savagery has a familiar sound We
have heard it for four years from the seas,
different in detail but the in the beStial and
ferocious spirit displayed. But the Hun told,
was indoctrinated by his masters with a belief in
frightfuneSs. Whence comes ours?
y distinction is to be made to be sure The vie
TINS Of American frighfulneSs were charged, in
most instances, with revolving crimes But not in
ALL by any means, and in the horrible orgy of blood
at East st Louis the slaughter indiScriminate,
cloakng itself with no excuse And we Illinosans
have in addition to remember that our own state
capitol the home of Abraham Lincoln, has witnessed
scenes scarcely less atrocious.
surely. the hour mas struck Tor us Americans to
east the beam ont of our eye if we would see
clearly to east the mote of our brothers eye, in
whatsoever corner of the earth he may live. Racial
antipathes have accounted for most of the blood
which drenched the pages of history and that be-
tween the white and the black is perhaps the most
deep-Seated of all.
But until we exercise this devil our preachment
of the gospel of equal rights may at any time re re-
buked by the cry. even from the lips of the blood
stained Turk, Judge not lest We be judged!'-
Chicago Evening Post