The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1919-01-18
MAJOR JOSE H. SHERWOOD
Writes to the Mail Bag" Of the Pic.
neer Press and Dispatch.

To the Editor of the Pioneer Press:
The headlines and comment &C
companying the letter signed "A Ne
gro Citizen" published December
31st, is somewhat surprising, COM
ing from an editorial writer of a
metropolitan daily. Or is ED" the
signature of Ed, the office boy? One
might easily imagine SO; the child
like simplicity and lack of knowledge
of events both past and present
would be refreshing were it not for
the fact that an editor is presumed
to be criterion, and moulder of
public opinion. He would have us
believe the civil war was fought for
the sole purpose of freeing the Negro,
and not that emancipation was
war measure, necessary to the North
if it's soldiers were to obtain victory.
President Lincoln in a letter to
Horace Greedy, editor Of the New
York Tribune, August 22nd, 1852,
says, "* my paramount object
is to save the Union; and, it is not
either to save or destroy slavery. If
I could save it without freeing any
slave, 1 would do it, and if I could
save it by freeing all the slaves l
would do it, and if I could save it
by freeing some and leaving others
alone, I would also do that. What l
do about slavery and the colored
race, I do because | believe it helps
the Union"
If we are to accept your theory,
the war was fought to free the Ne
gro, then must believe with YOU
the civil war was, indeed fought in
Dr.
what is meant by "free"? Is it your
idea that for white person to be
free he must be accorded political
equality, economic opportunity, civil
rights, justice before the law; equal
accommodation for equal money? If
so, we are of one mind. We people
of color ask no more, will be con-
tent with no less. 1t is this for
which the colored Americans (four
hundred thousand strong) contended
in Europe for the stranger, and
commended twelve million strong, for
everyone in America, even including
the Savage States" of the uncivil-
lied portion thereof.
The United States goes to war to
make Europe free for all peoples and
safe for democracy. We approach
the peace table with great protesta-
ton for the right of the governed
to choose those who should govern,
but in America we practice freedom
for whites only and make the coun-
try safe for the principles of the
Democrats as expressed by the ele-
ment in control, elected or appointed
from the Savage States" that
openly inform us "the Negro must
be kept in his place, and WE will
choose his place."
You chad supposed the Negro was
as free as any other citizen of the
United 'States!" I invite you to put
a little dark coloring on your skin,
and you will not need much j can
assure you, and try out his freedom.
Would you consider yourself free
if denied the ballot because of race
or color? If denied decent accom-
modations when travelling, altho pay
ing in full for same? Or a clean bed
in which to sleep? A decent place
to eat? You will not be compelled
to wander beyond the shadow of the
"Temple of Truth wherein is
housed your paper to find some of
these conditions. .z.
Inc american DTduu I'll uSluOC-
racy" as applied to colored people
was carried cover there with our
army. The rumor is persistent that
the colored troops were brigaded
with the French because the white
Americans objected to fighting with
them. When the American military
elements asked for the segregation
of the American Negro fighters in
France, Marshall Foch replied,
.fWhen Gen.. Pershing came to
France he found black man at the
head of the French Army. France
has no prejudice, and persecutes no
man on account of color Or creed. y
January Crisis" page 1877.
Is it in furtherance of that same
brand of democracy, the reason why
no fight pictures of Negroes are dis
played at 4th and Minnesota other
than two hideous caricatures?
Jose Il. Sherwood,
971 st. Anthony Ave.