The Dallas express. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1893-1970, 1921-06-11
THE DISGRACE or TULSA.
lEroo fha Tulsa naiIv World


Pround. matchless Tulsa, comes be-
fore the bar OF Christian civilization
this day. and, with head bowed, the
mantle OF shame upon her cheek. and
we sincerely hope, with deep. regret
in her heart asks that she be par
citizens committed during Tuesday
night and Wednesday morning.
There Is not man worthy OF the
name whose heart is not afire with
indignation against that which has
been done. Members OF a superior
race, boastful OF the factestCC ODD
themselves TO degenerate into murder
ers and yandals. permitted themselves
to deal their home community the
foulest blow 1t has ever received In
its history.
Tulsa boosted that she was not
Ardmore And now negligible num-
Der of men have plunged the reputa-
ton of the fair city into the depths
OF infamy. Language Is incapable OF
painting the wrong which has been
committeed against the community
and its peaceful, law-abiding citl-
zens or of expressing the indignity
one inevitably feels toward men In
capable of controlling their passions
and their pretudices.
II is true that the pride OF race AZ
well as its prejudices Is consuming
fire in the veins of every nationality,
On this ground one would like, If II
were at all possible, to condone or
excuse the hysteria Of Tuesday even
ing and night, when the streets of the
city were suddenly Transformed into
a raging torrent of hate-impelled men.
The imprudence Of the Negroes in
arming themselves and visiting the
county Jail permits something TO be
said for those who responded to the
riot impulse and set out TO satiate
the blood lust or racial pride.
But nothing that the mind is cap
able of conceiving permits word
Of defense or excuse, for the muir
derous vandalism which set In at day
light the next morning. Hundreds of
thousands Of dollars worth of proper
ty--the homes OF women and child
rem. bla x in color, 70 be sure, but
guilty q no other offense-went up
in smoke Semi -organized bands of
white systematically applied the torch
while others shot on sight men OF
color.
wiped out. and a long line of hope
less, destitute pitiful refugees fled
northward from the burning town. The
German invasion OF Belgium with Its
justified or characterized with any
greater cruelty. In the conflagration
a splendid church but recently erect
ed and one Of the handsome educa-
was lost. To such property the van
dals applied the torch to make sure
OF their terrible purpose.
The entire race war" was as UNI
Ju6tifled as IL was unnecessary. BE-
cause OF il Tulsa Is bazoned as a
community where tolerence does not
exist, where the constitution of the
United States can be enforced or
suspended at viii: where prejudice
and race bigotry rules, and where law
and order haltingly flexes the knee
TO outlawry. Ten thousand citizens
have been rendered homeless Ind
made exiles on the face OF the earth.
VIII Tulsa accept such reputa-
ton willingly? win this city toll
crate such njustice--accept meeklyI
the sudden ending of its dream of
prlmacy and glory? II not, then the
substantial, constructive citizenship
must Immediately get into action
can rehabiiitate itself either in it's
own eyes or the eyes of the outside
world. That Is by rebuilding that
which has been destroyed.
Vandalism has taken the homes and
the savings OF thousands of people
been taken. The sins of a compare
tive few are thus visited upon the
whole community But II Ia cross
that must be shouldered willingly and
heroically. This restitution not be-
cause Of affectionate regard for the
Colored man, but because of an hon
orable and intense regard fol, the
white race whose boast of superiority
must now be justified by concrete
acts.
Not else can the wound Of passion
be healed or the scars Of intolerant
men OF Tulsa stand at the crossroads
in the citys destiny. One way leads
to greater and more glorious flu
ture; the other certainly leads TO re-
Progression and decay. There must not,
there cannot. be any hesitating.