Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1922-01-21
generation sows the seed, tho next en-
joys the fruition thereof.

This is terse way Of saying much
in little. He might have ended his dis
| cussion there for what follows Is moro
a matter Of detail than any thing else
but DR.. Kelly Miller had a purpose II,
pursuing the discussion further for he
continues:
The immediate effect Of your dcclar.
alton has been to bring the eternal Ne
gro question once moro to the forefront
of current discussion. There seems to
be conspiracy Of silence On part Of
tho organs OF public opinion to ignore
troublesome or distressing issues. Men
are prone by nature to seek easement
of conscience by affecting obliviousnoss
of obvious evils which menace private
repose and public tranquility. In this
way is cherished the vain dclusion
that we may gain surccase from me:,:
acing conditions which we lack the
moral courage to face. But the ghost
Of evil conditions will not down at our
bidding. The bronchial tickling and tho
occasional cough remind the over-salg
uine consumptive Of the faulty Of his
optimism. From the foundation Of tho
government until now there has been
no interval Of long duration when the
unwclcomc issue Of race has not forced
itself on public thought and action.
Just at a time when the South was flat
tering itself that it's provincial regm.
of political and civic inequity had re
ceiVed the approval, or at least the con
nivance OF the nation, and when the
sySrr ~l~ 4.
exploitation, that it's ear had grown
dull to tho complaints of the Negro,
you come forward with the courage.
may say without offense, with the
temcrity--to lend the weight Of yOu
high authority to renewed discussion
of an issue which tire people, if they
could, would gladly relegatc to the
realm Of oblivion.
This is the "conditiOn and not thee.
ry, which confronts u.s." This is Al:
accurate description of present day
conditions described by DR.. Kelly Mil
Ter with the pen Of philosopher Who
will deny his portrayal Of existing con-
ditions? Who will take issue with him
OH any part OF those utterances, VIII ich
he has been bold enough to say? He
continues:
The motive which prompted this
bold and courageous utterance on your
part has given rise to much speculn
ton. Some lave been disposed to con-
slider its timelineSS with reference to
the Disarmament Conference as a pre-.
liminary announcement on the great
issue Of race which lies in tlro back
ground Of the international gathering
now sitting in the city of Washington.
This conference is q result Of your
craftsmanship, and the world is look
ing with anxious expectancy to its ef-
feet upon the worldwide adjustment
OF nations and races. The race prob
lem in America casts a shadow OF sus
picion upon the claims of democracy
as the ideal form OF government. A
clear clarion pronouncement on this
subject, coming from Tire highest nu-
thority in the nation, might we'll serve
to allay this feeling of doubt rs to The
sincerity and gcnuincneSs OF Amer
cas- prctcnsions which the other ma
tons have right to entertain. Your
declaration has been construct
In some quarters rs the answer
which Great Britain and the
United States the two branches Of tho
Anglo-SaXon race, lrave agreed to rend
or In respect to JaDan'S demand for,
racial equality. 1t has been suggested
that you may have been voicing the
sentiment Of the more intolerant Ten.
tonic element Of the white race in its
endeavor to persuade tho moro liberal
Latin element that the whittier races
must adopt this policy in dealing with
the darker ones.
What is the matter with DR.. Kelly
Miller? Has Ire seen the light Of liber-
ty and has it blinded him to existing
and made him careless and
reckless as to his own financial safety?
Has he partaken Of the fruit from the
perennial gardens Of truth and Justice
and has it produced reflex action to
the extent Of emboldening him
to voice the doctrine Of tn.
stoics to all the world? 1t would
seem so He is voicing eternal
truths and propounding confmnding
questions. But in the midst Of it all,
unintentionally perhaps he is stir
ring up trouble, racial trouble
and prescribing solution Of one OF
the most embarrassing questions now
the peoples Of the world.
He says further
On the other hand there are those
who are inclined to believe that your
chief intention was to extend tho in
fluence Of the Republican party in the
Southern States which has, hitherto.
been reduced to a nullity by reason Of
the race problem. In the last election
the Republican party carried the Stat
es OF Maryland. West Virginia, Mis-
souri, Kentucky. Tennessee and Okla.
homa. You would probably have re-
ceived the electoral vote Of every State
n, TI,,;o H.