The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-10-29
PRESIDENT
HARDING
ON RACE ISSUE
Head Of Republican
Party C O e S O n
Record Against So
cial Equality of Ne
roes' Aspirations

Birmingham, Ala, Ocl. 20"
The right of the American negro
to broader political, economic and
educational advantages, based On
pride of race, but never on an as
piration for social equality was
championed by President Harding
here today in plainly worded
enunciation of his views on the
whole American race problem.
These are some of the principles
on which the president appealed to
the nation to clay aside old preJu-
dices and old antagonisms,' and
give support to constructive po-
Icy Of racial relationship.
Politically and economically
there need be no occasion for great
and permanent differentiation on
both sides there shall be recognl-
ton Of the absolute divergence in
things social and racial
II would say let the black man
vote when he is fit to vote; prohio-
it the white man voting when he
is unfit to vote
Il wish that both the tradition
of a soiid,y democratic south and
the tradition Of solidiy republican
black race might be broken up
81 would insist upon equal edu-
cational opportunity for both.
Men of both races may we'll
stand uncornpromisingly against
every suggestion of social equality.
This is not question Of social
equality. but question of recog-
nizing a fundamental, eternal, in
escapable difference"
Racial amalganation there can
not be. Partnership Of the races
in developing the highest aims of
all humanity there must be if hu-
manity is to achieve the ends which
we have set fer it.
"The black man should seek to
be and he should be encouraged to
be the best possible black man and
not the best possible imitation of a
white man."
The presidents address, which
brought him from Washington on
his first extended trip into the
south since inauguration. was de-
livered at a semi-centennial cele-
bration of the founding Of the city
of Birmingham. 1t was devoted
almost exclusively to the race
question, although Mr.. Harding
also took occasion to praise for its
industrial recovery and to renew
his faith in the world leadership
of a reunited nation. He said In
part:
The world war brought us to
full recognition that the race prob
lem is national rather than mere
ly sectional. There are no authen-
tic statistics, but it is common
knowledge that the world war was
marked by great migration OF
colored people TO the north sand
west. They were attracted by the
demand for labor and the higher
wages offered 1t has brought the
question Of race closer to north
and west and I believe it has served
to modify somewhat the views OF
those sections on this question. 1t
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. l should say that it
has been responsible for larger
charity on both sdies, beginning
of better understanding; and in the
light of that better understanding
perhaps we shall be able to con-
slider this problem together as a
problem of all sections and of both
races. in whose solution the best
intelligence of both must be en-
listed.
Indeed. we will be wise to rec
ogniZe it as wider yet. Whoever
will take the time to read and pom
der Dir. Lothrop Stoddard's book
on the rising tide of color. or say.
the thoughtful review Of some re-
cent literature of this question
which Mr.. F. D. Lugard presented
in recent Edinburgh review.
must realize that our race problem
here in the United States is only
phase of a race issue that the
whole world confronts. Surely we
shall gain nothing by blinking the
facts or refusing to give thought
to them. That is not the American
way of approaching such issues Mr..
Lusard. in his recent essay. after
surveying the worlds problem OF
races. concludes thus: Here then
is the true conception Of the inter-
relation Of color-compl"tlon UNI
formitv in ideals. absolute equal
itv in the paths OF knowledge and
culture. equal opportunity tor
those who strive. equal admiration
for those who achieve; in matters
social and racial a separate path.
each pursuing his own inherited
traditions. preserving his own race
purity and race pride. equality in
things spiritual; agreed divergence
in the physical and material.
Here, it has seemed to me. is
suggestion Of the true way out. Po-
litically and economically there
need be no occasion for great md
permanent differentiation. for I;nli-
tations of the individuals oppor-
tunity. provided that on both sides
there shall be recognition OF the
absolute divergence in things So