Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1921-10-26

| Africa, Of South America, of the Pa
cific, Of the South Seas, of the world
| It is the problem Of Democracy ev-
crywhere, if we mean the things we
say about Democracy as the ideal po-
litical states.
| Avoid Group and Glasses.
The one thing we mus sedulously
avoid is the Development OF group
and class organizations in this
country. There has bsan time when
we heard too much about the labor
vote, the business vose, the Irish vot-
er, the Scandinavian vote, The Italian
Y ote and SO on. But the demagogues
who would array class against class
and group against group have fortu-
nately found little to reward their ef-
forts. That is because. despite the
demagogucs the idea Of our oneness
ar Americans has risen superior to
every appeal to mere class and group.
And so would wish it miglt be in
this matter Of our national problem
cf races. | would accept that a black
man cannot be white man, and that
he does not need and should not
;apire &c be as much Hike a white
man as possible in order 20 accomp-
lsh the best that is possible for him.
lie should seek to be, and he should
be encouraged to lee, the best possible
black man, and not the best possible
unit a ion of a Nsrhttp man
at is matter of the keenest ma
tional concern chat the South shall
not be encouraged to make its color
cdpopuation vast reservoir Of ig
nolance, to be drained away by the
processes Of migration into all sec
lions. That is what has been going
on in recent years at a rate so ac,
Centuated that it mas caused this
question of races to be, as | have al
ready said, no longer one Of a par
tiCular section. Just as | do not wish
the South to be politically entirely
of one party; just as | believe that
is bad for the South, and for The rest
Of the country as WELL SO | do not
want the colored people to be entire
ly of one party, wish that both
the tradition Of solidIy Democratic
South and the tradition of a solidly
Republican black race might be brok-,
en- up, Neither political nor sec
tionalism nor any system of rigid
groupings of the people viii in The
long run prosper in our country.
A Duty of the South.
With such convictions one must
urge the people of the South to take
advantage Of their superior under
standing of this problem and to as
sumo an attitude toward it that will
deserve the confidence of the colored
people. Likewise, | plead with my
own policital party to lay aside every
program that looks to lining up the
black ma mas a mere political ad-
junct. Let there be an end Of preju-
dice and Of demagogy in this line.
Let the South understand the menace
which lies in forcing upon the black
race an attutde Of political eolidiari-
| ty.
Every consideration, it seems to
| me, brings us back at last to The
question Of education. When speak
OF education as part Of this race
question, do not want the states or
me nation to attempt to educate peo-
| rle, whether white or black, into
something taey are not fitted to he.
| ! have no sympathy with the half
baked altruism tha, would overstock
US with doctors and lawyers, of what
| ever color, and leave US in need or
people fit and willing to do the man
uaI work Of workday world. Rut /
would like 10 see an education that
would fit every man not orlv to do
, his particular work as well as posi-
bic, but to rise to a niger plane if
ne would deserve it. f, r that sort
Of education | aave no fears, wheth.
er 1t be given a black man or a
white man. From thai sort Of educa-
! ton, ] believed black men, white
men, the whole nation, would draw
immeasurable benefit.
Drafts &c North Not Ended.
1T is probable that as nation
we have come to the end of TIE Pc
ridd Of very rapid increase in our
| population. Restricted immigration
will reduce the rate Of increase and
force us back upon our older popu-
lation to find people 80 10 the simp-
| Ter, Physically harde. manual tasks.
This will requile some difficult ad-
| justments. In anticipation of such
i condition the South may well recog-
nize that North and West are likely
to continue their drafts,uro its col
ored population and that if the South
{ wishes to keep is fields producing
and its industry still expanding it
viii have to compete fer the services
/ of the colored man. If it will realize
/ It's need for him and deal fairly with
7 MIN, tae South will be able to keel
him in such numbers as your activi
tie make desirable.
as it not possible then, that il
the long era Of readjustment upoa
which are entering for the nation I'd
lay aside old prejudiees and old
antagonlsms and in the broad, clear
light of nationalism enter upon a
I