The Colorado statesman., 1921-06-11
DENVER, COLORADO. SATURDAY. JUNE II 1921

and the Marne will reflect their gal
liant patriotism until time shall be no
more.
And now, what verdict will history
pronounce on a civilization that per-
mits class of its citizens to die for
its protection and refuses them an
equal right to the privileges they
helped to preserve? What more dis
couraging or deplorable can there be
than the winning of great battle IN
the interest of human freedom and
have it followed by the deliberate
abandonment or perversion of its re-
suits.
Just as legitimate results of the Civil
war were perverted by constitutional
amendment or mob rule, so the World
was for real democracy is barren of
the results for which it was waSed, in
so far as the Negro is concerned,
through Il ceaSeless, vicious propagan-
da of discrimination and disparage-
ment.
The recent sufferings and sacrifices
of Negro soldiers and citizens are but
all forgot and the soldier is lynched
because he refuses to take off his uni
form: or is offered n laborer's place
ship; and although his feet were blis-
tered by the hot sands of Carrisal and
though they carried him over the top
i'm defense of civilization, he is told
that his toes are bumped and for that
reason he cannot be permitted to walk
the streets of Washington as a police
man.
In an address that is unapproached
for lofty thought and terse and force
full phrase. Mr.. Lincoln said mt Get
tysburg: "The world will little note
nor long remember what we say here.
but it can never forget what they did
here" vet, and n pity tits, tbs so, we
do forget, or forgetting not, are care
full to withhold the rewards which
should accrue in equal measure TO
all our citizens. 1t is freely conceded
that the World war was won as much
by and through the sacrifice and hero
ism of the Negro citizens and soldier
as by that of any other class.
The pennies and dollars of the for
mer added much to the mighty flood
of wealth that poured increasingly in
TO the chest of war; and the latter Of
fered themselves promptly and contin-
uously to the hardships of camp, the
relentless grind of intensive training,
and with splendid heroism faced the
murderous shell and deadly gas of
masterful foe on foreign soil.
Well may the inquiry be made OF
these as was so eloquently of the fam
Gus six hundred at Balaklava:
"When will their glory fade,
oh, the wild charge they made,
All the world wondered"
And yet, and it is charge that may
not be disputed and should bring
blush of shame to the cheek of every
true American, that had it not been
for the dominant impulse towards fair
dealing. Justice and equality. so inner
emf i'm the character of the noble
French, their fame, the fame of our
black soldiers may have been forever
furnished through the malignant pref
udice and vicious propaganda of their
own comrades in arms of the other
race.
History will have no more shameful
story to tell than that which unfolds
the contemptible attitude of the white
American soldier on the battle fields
of Europe towards their black com
rades. Entering the ranks at the be-
hest of the President and the man
date of the Congress "tO make the
world safe for democracy" they hes
itated not to fight a war 1000 miles
from home, with the same fervent pa
triotism and with the same lofty ideals
as those which carried them to Cuba
more than twenty years ago. In the
one instance they were to battle for
the liberties of the world; in the other
to strike the shackles, both moral and
physical, from n struggling neighbor
people; in both there was the impas-
stoned hope, the resistless thought
way down in each black soldier heart,
a real freedom for the Negro in Amer
lea may be won, if bravely l do my
part.
And now, the victory won and the
world made "safe," have the sacrifice
and devotion borne their anticipated
and legitimate fruit? Has America,
the self-appointed administrator of
world justice. been made safe" for its
Negro citizens? and its heroic Negro
soldiers?
, In all directions throughout this
broad land has been seem and heard
and felt the relentless hate and perse-
cution with which dominant America
seeks to cruelty the impulse towards
equality. of citizenship in Negro Amer