The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-10-26
VOTES FOR THE FIT
acontinued rron PaFs ons.l

for those who striye. equal admiration for
those who achieTeS in matters social and
own inherited traditions, preserving his
in things spiritual; agreed divergence in
the physical and material
Must Be Equality.
Here 1t has seemed to me in suggestion
of the true way out. Politically and econ
great and permanent itfferentiation for
limitations Of the individual's opportunity,
provided that on both sides there shall be
the physical and material II.
When l. suggest the possibility of eco
in precisely the same way and to the same
extent that would mem 1t if l spoke of
equality of no 4E "a d be
case l would mean equality proportioned
to the honest capacities and deserts of the
Men % Of both races may well stand IN
eompromisingly against every suggestion
Of Sf,I 9Gial egTait tg+ Indeed it W99ld be
accepted on both, sides, that; this is not
Of recognizing a fundamental, eternal and
unacceptable difference, We shall have made
real progress when we develop an attitude
both races which recognizes this. differ
ence., Take the political aspect. I would
say let the black man vote when he is
fit to vote; prohibit the white man voting
when he is unfit to vote. Especially would
1 appeal to the self respect of the colored
race. would inculeate in it the wish to
improve itself as a distinct race with a
heredity, set of traditions, an array of
aspirations all its own Out of such racial
segregations without narrowing any rights
such as are proceeding in both rural anu
urban communities now in southern states,
satisfying natural inclinations and adding
notably to happiness and eontentment.
ON the other hand l would insist upon
equal educational Opportunity for both.
This does not mean that both would be-
come equally educated within a generation
or two generations or ten generations.
plish such an equality as that, but there
must be such education among the colored
own leaders, capable OF Understanding and
sympathizing with such a differentiation
between the races as ! have Suggested
proper ideals of race pride, of national
pride, of an honorable destiny; and i'm
portant paEticipation in the universal eff
whole. Racial amA Ramatioh, there cannot
be. Partnership of the races in develop
ing the highest aims of all humanity there
must be, if humanity not only here, but
everywhere is to achieve the ends which
we have set for it.
both white and Black, that the time has
passed when you are entitled to assume
that this problem of races is peculiarly
more it is becoming q problem of North
more and more it is the problem of Africa
of democracy everywhere If we mean the
things we say about democracy as the ideal
political state
Must Avoid Groups.
1.-THE one thing we must seduIousiy avoid
is the Development of group and class or
CARNATIONS in this country. There has
been times when we heard too much about
vote, the Scandinavian vote, the Italian
vote and so on. But the demagogies who
would array class against class and group
against group have fortunately found little
TO reward their efforts. That is because
despite the defnagogies the idea Of our one
ness as Ame r has "a risen superiof to
SO l would wish 1t might be in this matter
OF our national problem of races. l would
accept that black man cannot be a white
man and that he does not need, and should
not aspire to be as much like white man
as, possible in order toaaccomplish the best
thht is possible for him. He would seek
to be and he should be encouraged to be
the best possible black man and not the
ut is matter of the keenest national
concern that the south shall not be encour-
aged to make it's colored population a vast
reservoir of ignorance to be drained away
by the processes Of migration into all other
sections. That is, what has been going on
That & 6as ease at this g Sn 81 e Ps
to be as have already said, no longer one
Of a particular section. just as do not
party, just rs L believe that IS bad for the
youth and for the rest of the country, as
well, SO | do not want the colored people
to be entirely of one party. 1 wish that
both the tradition of a solidly democratic
south and the tradition, Of a solidly re-
Neither political seetionaiism nor any sys-
TEN; of rigid groupings of the people will
IN the long run PROSPER our country.
with such convictions one must urge
Of their gsuPeriors understanding Of tits
problem and to ASSUME an attitude toward
1t that will deserve the confidence of the
cOlored people. Likewise 1 plead with my
own political party to lay aside every pro-
as mere political adjunct let there be
n END OF prejudice and of deldagogy in
this line Let the south understand the
menace which lies in forcing upon the
black race an attitude of political soIidari-
Education Must Be Intelligent. -
Every consideration it seems to me
education. When speak of education as
a part of this race question l do not want
the states or the nation to attempt to edu-
cate people whether willie or Black into
something they hre not fitted to be. I have
no sympathy with the half baked a1truism
lawyers, of whatever color and leave us
in need of people fit and willing to do the
manual work Of a workaday world. But
that would tit eT sss nam an e G6gca dnlP
to te.,, do nosi his PARTICULAR work as
plane if he would deserve it For that sort
Of education I have no fears, whether it
be given to black man or a while man
From that sort of education l believe black
men, white men, the whole nation would
draw immeasurable benefit
at is probable that as a nation we have
come to the end of the period of very
rapid increase in our population Re
stTieted immigration will reduce the rate
OF increase and force us back upon our
older population to find people to do the
simpler physically harder manual tasks.
ments.
I'm anticipation of such a condition the
south may well recognize that north and
west are likely to continue their drafts
the south wishes to Keep its fields produce
ing and Its industry still expanding 1t will
have to compete for the setvfces of the col
him and deal quite fairly with him, the
south will be able to Keep him in such