Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1921-12-10
GREAT MANIFESTO OF
Continued From First Pagc)

some OF them, has usually declined
even to try to train black and brown
men in real sc.f.goyernmcnt, to rccos.
nizo civilized black folks rs civilized
or to grant to colorcd colonies those
rights of sef-gov rnment which it free
~ gives to white men.
Belgium is II nation which has but
recently assumed responsibility Tor
her colonies. and has taken some Steps
to lift them from the worst abuses Oh
the autocrutic regime; but shu mas
not confirmed to Tire people the posses
sion OF thsir land and labor, and she
shows no disposition to allow the mas
tiveS any voice II their own govern
mCnt or to provide for their political
future. Her colonial policy is still
mainly dominated by the banks anu
great corporations. But we are gIad
to learn that the present government
Is considering liberal program of
reform for the future.
Portugal and Spain have never
drawn g legal caste line against per-
sons of culture who happen to be OF
Negro descent. Portugal has Il hui
name code for the natives and has be
gun their education in some regions.
But unfortunately, the industrial con-
cessions of Portuguese Africa are ALL
most wholly in the hands Of foreig
ners whom Portugal cannot or will
not control and who are exploiting
Land and re-establshing the African
slave trade.
The United States Of America after
brutality enslaving millions of black
folks suddenly omancipated them and
began their education; but it acted
without system or forethought, throw
ing the freed men upon the world
penniless and landless, educating them
without tlroroughneSS and system, and
subjccting them the while to lynchiGg.
1awlessncsS, discrimination, Insult and
SANDER, such us human beings have
seldom endured and survived. To save
their own government, they enfran
chized the Negro and then when dan
ger passed, allowed hundreds Of thous
ands of educated and civilized black
folks to be lawlcssly DISTINGUISHED
and subjected to a caste system; and,
at the same tins, in 1176, 1912, 1861
1897 and 1917, they asked and allow.
cd thousands Of black men to offer up
their lives as q sacrifice to the coun.
try which despised and despises them
France alone Of the great colonial
powers has sought to place her cultur-
cd black citizens OH Il plane Of abso.
Lutte legal and social equality with her
white and given them representation
i'll her highest legislature. In her col.
onies sire has u widespread but still
imperfect system Of state education.
This splendid beginning must be com.
pleted by widening the political basis
OF her native government by restor.
ing to the indigences the ownership
OF the soil, by protecting native labor
against the aggression OF established
capital, and by asking no man, black
or white. to be u soldier unless the
country gives him n voice in his own
government.
The Independence OF Abyssinia, LII.
IBERIA. Haitiand San Domingo, Is aDso.
lutely necessary to any sustained be-
lief of the black folk in the sincerity
and honesty Of the white. These nj.
lions have earned the right to be free.
they deserve the recognition OF the
world; notwithstanding all their faults
and mistakes, and the fact that they
"a" 'tii'ia ltlS IlSSI itlSuIccu ClSlllZu-
ton OF the day, nevertheless they com
pare favorably with the past, and even
more recent. history of most Europ.
can nations and it shames civilization
that the treaty of London practically
invited Italy to aggression in Abyssn
lla, and that free America has unjuSt.'y
and cruelty seized Haiti, murdered
and for Il time cnsavcd her workmen,
overthrow her free institutions by
force, and has so far failed in return
20 give a single bit OF help, aid, or
sympathy.
What do those wish who see these
evils OF the color line and racial dis
elimination and who believe in the
divine right OF suppressed and back
ward peoples to learn and aspire aud
be free?
The Negro race through its think-
ing intelligentsia is demanding:
Tho recognition Of civilized mel
as civilized despite their race or color
H--Local self government for back
ward groups, deliberately rising as en-
perience and knowledge grow to com.
pletc self government under the linn,
tations of a self governed world.
I11-Education in self knowledge,
in scientific truth and in industrial
technique, undivorced from the art OF
beauty.
IV-Freedom in their own religion
ana social customs, and with the right
to he different and non-comformist.
Incorporation with the rest of tho
Wor!d in government, industry ard
art on the basis of Justice, Freedom
and Peace.
Vl-Thc ancient common ownership
or the land and its natural fruits ana
delence against the unrestraincd greed
OF invested capital
Vll--The establishment under the
s afuS OF E (or s of an
lens.
VllI-The establishment of an inter
national section in the Labor Bureau
OF the League of Nations, charged