The New York herald., 1921-10-27
HARDING URGES POLITICAL
EQUALITY FOR THE NEGROES

SO fast that we are wont to forget
lur yesterdays before our to-dayS are
fairly begun; so absorbing in Its con-
Germs of the present THAI too often
we have neither time nor interest
for the morrow. Yet there never was
a time when we needed so much to
study our past and. i'm the light of it's
lessons give earnest thought to the to-
morrows So / have thought that here in
your magic city, whose story seems a
very compress of yesterday to-day ana
tomorrow, II may be proper to suggest
a few thoughts regarding the critical
times which are faced by our country
and an countries and some of the issues
which command ot'r consideration.
"F,xhausted and afrrighted by the hor-
rors of the world war. the nations are
seeking means to prevent repetition of
such an experience. They see the need
for effective reform in international rela-
tionships. and, along with this, for mHnv
alterations and pdaptations OF domestic
institutions which will better fit them
for the new time. Our own country.
though its necessities are less onerous.
it's difficulties not 40 grievous as those
of many others, has yet occasion 10
consider wherein it may better its meth
ods. adjust itself TO the new relation
ships. and equip itself for the new sort
of struggle that lies ahead. Concerning
ona ohase of ttic r~4ianel problem, /
want to say few words.
"If the civil war mt the beginnings
of fndustriaIisrn In a South which had
previously been almost entirely agricul-
turaI the word war brought US to fuil
recognition that the race problem Is ma
tional rather than merely sectional.
There are no authentic statistics, but IL
is common knowledge that the world
t,t.rn t,tF
of colored people to the North and West.
They were attracted by the demand for
labor and the higher wages offered. The
slow movement had been in progress for
decades before, but 1t was vastly ac-
CELEBRATED because of the war; and has
continued at only a sIackened pace since.
II has brought ther question OF race
closer to North and West. and / believe
II has served to rnodify somewhat the
views OF those sections on this question.
I, has made the South realize its in
dustrial dependence on the labor of the
black man and made the North realize
the difficulties OF the community in
which two greatly differing races are
brought to live side by side. ] should
say that it has been responsible for a
larger charity on both sides, a begin
ming of better understanding and in the
light of that better understanding per-
hars we shall be able to consider this
problem together as problem of all eec-
tions and of both races, In whose solu-
ton the best intelligence of both must be
enlisted.
whole World Confronts Issue.
Indeed. we will be wise to recognize
| It as wider yet. Whoever will take the
time to read and ponder Mr. Lothrop
| Stoddards book on The Rising Tide OF
Color or, say, the thoughtful review
7, Of some recent literature Of this qres-
ton which Mr.. IT. d. Lugard presented
in n recent Edinburgh Rerfetr, must re-
alize that our race problem here In the
United States is only phase OF race
issue that the whole world confronts
Surely we shall gain nothing by blink
ing the facts, by refusing to give thought
to them. That is not the American way
of approaching such issues.
"In another way the world war modi-
fed the elements of this problem. Thou
sands of black men. serving their coun-
try just as periodically as did the white
men, were transported overseas and ex-
perienced the life OF countries where
their color arouser less OF antagonlsn
than It does here. Many OF them aspire
to go to Europe to live.
"a high grade colored soldier told me
|
| real conception of citizenship[-the frs'
| full realization that the flag was then
! flag, to fight for, to be protecSed pS
them and also to protect them. He was
1 sure that the opportunity to learn wha
patriotism meant was a real opportunity
| to his race
These things lead one to hope that
we shall find an adjustment OF relations
between the two races, in which both
can enjoy full citizenship. the full meas
ure OF usefulness to the country and OF
opportunity for themselves. and In which
recognition and reward shall at last be
distributed in proportion to individual
deserts, regardless of race or color. Mr.
| Lugard. In his recent essay. after sur
veying the worlds problem of races, con-
cludes thus:
"'Here then Is the true conception oi
the interrela.ion of color-complete uni
formity in ideals, absolute equality ir
the PATHS of knowledge and culture
equal opportunity for those who strive
equal admiration for those who achieve
in matters social and racial n separate
path. each pursuing his own inherited
traditions. preserving his own race pur.
ity and race pride; equality in thing:
spiritual agreed divergence in the phys.
ical and material
Here, II has seemed to me, Is sugges
tion of the true way out. Politically