The Colorado statesman., 1922-09-09

wv HERENER Il certain CLASS oL
w American tourists go in Europe
they continually and industri-
ousIy endeavor to convince Europeans
that the Negro in the United States is
ignorant, criminal, vicious and above
all a rapist, ever ready to criminally
assault white women and restrained
only by sheer brute force in the form
of lynching,' was the statement made
today by Arthur r. Long, principal of
a large public school in Indianapolis
Ind, who has just returned after
spending more than two months in
France, Germany, Italy and Switzer-
land, according to announcement by
the National Association for the Ad-
vancement of Colored People.
"They never tell of the decent, self
respecting, progressive colored people"
Mr.. Long continued, ''the best that
they ever say is usually some story
about a good darky' or coon I'm
fortunately, this work has been car
ried on so extensively that it is be-
ing felt in countries where few years
ago there was no thought of race pre-
iudice. Americans, spending lavishly
are naturally catered to by French,
German and other merchants and bus
mess men. Thus economic pressure is
making people free from prejudice
bow to American racial bitternesses."
"On the other hand, there seems to
me to be considerable knowledge in
Europe of the facts about the race
problem in America. Largely due to
the attempt of America to assume the
moral leadership of the world as well
as the financial mastery, Europeans
consider the race question in America
and the burning alive of human beings
to be the acid test of the genuineness
of American moral ideals. Europe
wants to know the real facts about the
race problem in America, and it is to
be regretted that there seems to be no
adequate means at present of getting
the real truth before Europe"
"All Americans who 20 to Europe
can be divided, with only few eX-
ceptions, into two classes. One of
these is that group l have already
spoken of-those who deliberately
spread lies about the Negro. The 9th
err class is composed of those who say
nothing about the problem. Very few
white Americans ever take the time
or the trouble to tell the truth, even if
they themselves. know it. 1t is a sad
but true fact that in all the time [ was
in Eprope, the only really good things
said about the Negro We're said by
Frenchmen and Englishmen."
Mr.. Long was asked about the truth
of the charges made in the United
States Senate, on August 3lst'
by Senator Hitchcock of Nebras-
ka that French colored troops
We're committing excesses on German
women in the occupied zones. He re-
piled, 81 was in Germany two weeks
and during that time, though l was at
Mayence where French troops are
quartered. as well as at Cologne where
the British troops are stationed, and at
CoblenZ, where the American forces
are, I never heard one word of any
such charges. 1t does seem to me that
if there had been the slightest grounds
for such charges I would have at least
have gotten an inkling of it. The real
reason is easy to understand. The
Germans naturally want the occupa-
ton forces removed. They are wise
enough to know that Americas blind
spot is her race prejudice, and that an
appeal to that race prejudice is the