Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-10-26


generation or two generations or ten
generations. Even men of the same
race do not accomplish such an equality
as that. But there must be such educa-
tion among the colored people as will
enable them to develop their own lead
ers, capable of understanding and SYM
pathizing with such differentiation be-
tween the races as l have suggested
leaders who will inspire the race win
proper ideals Of race pride, of national
ride, of an honorable destiny and I'm
portant participation in the universal
effort for advancement Of humanity as
whole. Racial amalgamation there can
not be. Partnership of the races in
developing the highest aims of oil hu-
manity there must be, il humanity, not
the ends which we have set for it.
"I can say to you people of the
South. both white and black. that the
time has passed when you are entitled to
assume that this problem of races Is
peculiarly and particularly your prob
lem. More and more it is becoming
problem of the North more and more 1t
is the problem of Africa. of South
America. of the Pacific, Of the South
Seas. Of the world. 1t Is the problem
of democracy everywhere, If we mean
the things we say about democracy as
the ideal political state.
Glass Organizations Decried
1.-THE one thing we must sedulously
avoid is the development of group and
class organizations in this country.
There have been times when we heard
too much about the labor vote, the bust
ness vote. the Irish vote, the Scandi-
nuvian vote, the Italian vote. and so on.
But the dcnagOgues who would array
class against class and group against
group have fortunately found little to
reward their efforts. That is because,
despite the dcmagOgucs, the idea of our
oneness as Americans has risen superior
to every appeal to mere class and group.
And SO I would wish it might be in
this matter of our national problem of
races. / would accept that black man
cannot be q white man. and that he does
not need and should not aspire to be as
much like white man a. possible in
order to accomplish the best that Is pos
sible for him. He should seek TO be. and
he should be encouraged to be, the best
possible black man, and not the best
possible imitation of white man.
1T IS a matter Of the kecnest national
concern that the South shall not be
encouraged to make its colOrcd pOpula-
tion vast reservoir Of ignorance, to
be drained away by the processes of
migration into all other sections. That
Is what has been going on in recent
years Mt n rate so aCCcntuated that 1t
has caused this question of races TO be.
as I have already. said. no longer one
of Il particular section. Just rs / do not
wish the South to be politically entirely
one party; just as I believe that Is bad
90, N1,A ,,,l g.. . L. ,,fN . l,x
country as well. so | do not want tho
colored people to be entirely of one
party. ] wish that both tradition Of a
solidly Democratic South and the ira
ditiOn of a sOlidly Republican black rae"
might be broken up. Neither political
sectionalism nor any system OF rigid
groupings of the people will in the long
run prosper our country.
Elimination of Prejudice Urged
"With such conditions one must urge
the people of the South to take advan-
tage of their superior understanding of
this problem and to assume an attitude
toward it that Will deserve the confidence
of the colored people. Likewise, | plead
with my own political party to lay
aside every program that looks to lining
up the black man rs Il mere political
adjunct. Let there be an end of preiu-
dice and Of demagogy in this line. Let
the South understand the menace which
lies in forcing upon the black race an
attitude Of political solidarity.
"EvGy consideration, Il seems 70 me.
brings us back at last to the question Of
education. When ] speak of education
as q part of this race question. | do
not want the States or the Nation to
attempt TO educate people, whether white
or black. into something they are not
fitted to be. ! have no sympathy with
the half baked altruism that would
ovcrstock us with doctors and lawyers.
Of whatever color, and leave us in ncnd
of people fit and willing to do the
manual work of workHday world. But
I would like to see an education that
would fit every man not only to do his