The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-06-09
POLITICIANS HAVE BEFUDDLED


Where shall it be fixed?" the Louis
vile Courier-Journal, in an ably writ
ten editorial, comments upon the re-
cent race trouble at Tulsa.
The Courier-Journal editorial is re-
produced on this page of the current
issue of The Ardmoreite. We re-
produce it because it is replete with
deep thought, which carefully and
painstakingly analyses the situation,
gives the gist of the causes which
bring about race riots and states
frankly that the negro problem is
one which thus far has proven un-
, solvable, one for which no logical So
luton can be seen.
Quoting from the late Henry w.
Grady. that most gifted and thorough
ly informed editorial writer, the Cour-
ier-Journal says, of the negro. "Ras-
Gals have cheated him and politicians
have befuddled him" Further on the
Courier-J ournals editorial writer states,
politicians were especially active
among the negroes of Oklahoma in
last years campaign"
Tracing the race problem back to
its inception. with the elimination OF
the moral wrong committed when tht
first negroes We're brought to the New
World and sold into bondage, eliminat
ing, also. the question Of the lega
right OF the people OF the southern
l.. states to hold fellow beings in dur
ance. conceding the right OF the ma
jority OF the American people TO up
hold the proclamation of their presi
dent declaring the black race emanci
pated from slavery and to amend tn
national constitution so that the hold
ing in duress of any people shoul'
he in violation Of the law. and W
find that the grave. the unpardonablt
the fatal error was made the tact
cal blunder committed when the fed
eral government released peopl
from bondage IL which they. and thei
ancestors. had been bred and borr
and turned them loose ~ freemeT
vested with all the rights and civ
privileges OF the superior and dom
nant race.
This initial error, this monument
blunder laid the bars down, openC
the gates and invited the unscrup'
lous commercial robber and the equa
ly upscrupulous politician to walk /
the one to rob the newly freed bond
man. the other TO corrupt him-bo
TO cause him to be dissatisfied wi
conditions Of his existence and to CT
for that which no legal enactment,
constitutional amendment could, C.
or will give equal social rights q
privileges.
An unwise step taken at the tir
the negroes Of the United States We
cmancipated. taken contemporanect
ly with tho Lincoln Hroclamati'
gave To the ignorant slaves all
legal rights Of their former owns
and put them upon n footing OF pol
cal equality with every enfranchii
ctizen OF the Cslncasion race. IT
great stride. this gigantic leap fr
tho obsscurity OF slavery to the III
n full freedom. with full voice in
affairs OF the nation. was somoth
Unprecedented IN the annals Of
I wo.ld's history. II was someth
which brought the black people I
athc position where they could :
form duties with which they "
totally unfamiliar. where they co
exercise rights of citizenship for VII
they were untitled by either knc
edge or training
And. dazzled hy the great and
expected light. with minds untrai
10 reason from cause TO effect.
negroes fell an easy prey, In the
construction days, 60 the polit
vermn who drifted into tho 30,
ern states TO rob and pillage. as N
holders elcsted by the votes OF
newly enfranchised and igno'
blacks, fell nm easy prey to {
wlles. and hcarkcned to the du
songs which they sang OF "s'
equality"
Granted by one stroke of the
n fun emancipation, vested NJ
same time with all the civil right
the dominant race. II WIS but mat
that thoss who. but a few