The Washington times., 1921-10-26


all sections and OF both races, I'm
whose solution the best intelli-
gence of both must be enlisted.
Indeed, we will be wise to recog-
nize il as wider yet Whoever will
take the time to read and ponder
Lothrop Stoddard's book on
The Rising Tide of Color" or, say,
the thoughtful review of some re.
cent literature of this question
which r. ID. Lugard presented
in a recent Edinburg Review, must
realize that OUR race problem here
in the United States is only a
phase of a race issue that the
whole world confronts. Surely we
shall gain nothing by blinking the
facts, by refusing to give thought
to them. That is not the Ameri-
can way of approaching such
issues.
In another way the world war
modified the elements of this prob.
lem. Thousands of black men.
serving their country just as pa
triotically as did the white men,
were transported overseas and cx-
perienced the life of couptries
where their color aroused less of
antagonism than 1t does here. Many
of them aspire to go to Europe to
live. ..,- rs
Adjustment to Come.
a high grade colored soldier told
me that the war brought his race
the first real conception of citizen
ship-thc first full realization that
the flag was their flag. to fight
for, to be protected by them, and
also to protect them. He was sure
that the opportunity to learn what
patriotism meant was a real op-
portunity 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 citi-
zenship, the full measure of use
fulness to the country and of OPP
portunity for themselves. and in
which recognition and reward shall
at last be distributed in proportion
to individual deserts, after sur
veying the worlds problem of
races, concludes thus:
Here then is the true conception
of the interrelation of color-com-
plete uniformity in ideals, absolute
equality in the paths of knowl-
edge and culture, equal opportunity
for those who strive, equal admira-
tion for those who achieve; IN mat
ters social and racial a separate
path, each pursuing his own inner
tied traditions, preserving his own
race purity and race pride; equal
ity in things spiritual; agreed di-
vergence in the physical and ma
terial."
Here, 1t has seemed to me, is
ct ion of hn trt.n
Politically and economically there
need be no occasion for great and
permanent differentiation, for limi-
tations of the individuals oppor-
tunity, provided that on both sides
there shall be recognition of the
absolute divergence in things social
and racial When / suggest the
possibility of economic equality be-
tween the races, / mean IL in pre-
cisely the same way and to the
same extent that l would mean it
IL | spoke of equality of economic
opportunity as between members
of the same race. In each case
/ would mean equality proportion
ed to the honest capacities and de-
serts of the individual.
Men of both races may well
stand uncompromisingly against
every suggestion of social equality.
Indeed, IL would be helpful to have
that word equality" eliminated
from this consideration; to lrave
1t accepted on both sides that this
is not a question of social equal.
ity, but a question of recognizing
"A fundamental, eternal. and ines
capable attitude in the public and
community thought of both races
which recognizes this difference,
Colonizing countries everywhere
have in recent times been more
and more dealing with the prob
lem from this point of view. The
British commonwealth of nations
and races confronts It, and has
been seeking its solution along
the lines here suggested There
Is possibility of our learning some.
thing applicable to our own coun.
try from the British. 1t is true
that there is a great difference
between bringing into our own
land and subjecting Il and its
people to the rule of an alien
race. Yet the two cases have so
many elements OF similarity that
It seems to me the experience OF
each must furnish some light upon
the other.
Take first the political aspect.
i would say let the black man
vote when he is fit to vote: pro.
hiblt theI white man voting when
a.