Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-07-30
Race Antagonis,n n Case of NERVES


WHETHER or not enemy propaganda and
w its direct offspring, Bolshevism and L.
w. w. ism, responsible for the flame OF
race antagonism that is alarming the coun-
try is a matter for speculation. II is common
knowledge that prior to the war and during
its early stages German propagandists were in
sidiously active among the negroes and srove
to stir them TO the point OF serious trouble.
Their efforts failed miserably in direct con-
sequences. The negroes we're loyal and
brave. and heroically did their full share i'll
winning the But it is possible that some
of the seeds of unrest then sown and since
that time carefully, though secretly. nourished
and cultivated are beginning to bear the IN
evitable fruit OF dissatisfaction and disorder.
1t is only reasonable to believe that there
must be some general underlying cause for
the recent outbreaks between the races Ill
Washington and Chicago, though it is by no
means certain-in fact, very improba BILE
that there is anything resembling an or
ganized movement. They can hardly be dis
missed with the explanation that they arc
merely sporadic disorders. What the future
will bring depends on the present good sense
and cooperation of the leaders of both races
and on Kidding the country of agitators who
mean no good to either
1t Is unjust TO place all the blame for in
creased racial antagonism on the negroes it
is equally unjust to lay it at the door OF tho
whites. Both have been guilty of contribut-
ing to 1t. Perhaps the greatest underlying
cause is the national psychological condition
the war 1t must be remembered
that this nation has just emerged from d
conflict which for two years strained every
nerve. With the tremendous tension relaxed
reaction has set in and the country has IA
plain case Of nerves" 1t is what the SOL
diers describe as 'jumpy," ready to fly into
passion and unconsidered action over causes
either trivial or purely imaginary. Possibly
among the negroes this condition is pa rticu-
larly acute, and not without legitimate rea-
son. with enemy propaganda still ferment-
ing among the more poorly informed of them,
other contributing factors are the increased
number of lynchings and instances of mob
violence while in the minds of many of even
the more enlightened the rumorcd revival OF
the ku-klux Khan has served as proof OF the
tales of white intentions that agi-
tators nave spread among them. That there
Is secret society which uses the name of
the old aftcr-the-war organization is we'll
known. but there is no reason to believe that
its object has anything to do with the negroes
from what has been learned OF it, it's object
Is the cultivation of real Americanism and its
defense against anarchy, Bolshe vism and kim
dred evils which at any time may seem to
threaten. With this its commendable object
1t may be granted that its selection of a name
has been an unfortunate mistake and should
be remedied forthwith.
quite naturally the unrest among the
negroes has added to the nervousness OF the
whites and to their fear that the United States
races real race crisis. Thus fuel is beiu;,
AIDED 10 the flames from both sides There
is. however, very little danger of any wide
spread race trouble. Before long sanity will
reassert itself and both whites and blacks will
realize that their differences have been
largely Imaginary and their scattered out
breaks the work Of irresponsibles. Tho
United States is big enough for both races,
ana there is no reason why they should not
a"eil III amlty as they always have done.
They can if they will but listen to wise conn
sci and be guided by IN I'D eratinn