Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1922-01-21


to tho statesman, who occupies the exc
cutivo chair OF the nation. lie contin.
ues.
There Is all but universal commen-
dalton Of your moral courage in inject
Ing an unwelcome issue at so critical
a Juncture Of the worlds affairs. I. is
only the intolerable type of Southern
opinion that questions either tho wis.
dom or propriety OF your doing so. AS
Republican, elected mainly by North
ern and Negro votes, ydu have gone in
to the heart Of what Mr.. Bryan woult
call the enemy's country, TO reatnrm n
doctrine which for two generations tho
white people OF that section have unit
ell In oath-bound allegiance to combat.
Every President Of the United States,
since Abraham Lincoln, with n single
= exception has INDUCED in public declar
alton on the race question Mr.. Wilson.
who relied OH the soothing balm Of
pleasing phraseology to- hold a restless,
world in poise, Is the only President
who did not deign q single word on
this subject during his tenure Of Office.
He probably felt that any utterancc
which he could afford to give would be
violative Of his declared principles or
universal liberty and equality, and.
therefore, preferred to remain silent
rather than convict himself OF illogical
ity and ethical inconsistency. The race
issue was always shunted by his single
track mind. 1t will not be regarded as
ungracious to say that he retires to
private life with the unanimous appro,
al or Tire Negro race. The esteem OF
the dosDiSed and neglected may seem
. to be Of little import to one who trcads
the highway Of world renown, but it Is
doubtful whether any American states
man, whatever his achievements, can
receive the highest need Of permanent
esteem If tho least Of his fellow citi-
zens justly have aught against him.
Ihis declaration in the language OF
The street is "a cracker jack" and vet
who will deny its accuracy or DISPUTE
its correctness? Certainly, no one, who
is acquainted with present day condi-
lions. He is free in his commentator
of President Harding and generous in
his analysis Of his motives, although
he is somewhat merciless in
handling some Of the dis,
tinguishcd statosman's leading utter
anccs, noticeably that one which pro-
nounccs racial differences fundamental
and inescapable. What better pro
nouncement could be made than is
here recorded in the following extract?
No President has spoken more clear
~ or with more genuine sincerity Or
with more evident indication Of COOL
Will and generous spirit than that
which characterizes your birmingham
address. But, Mr.. President, any doe
trinc originated or adopted by one IN
high authority will not be Judged IN
the future by the intention Of It's au-
thor but by the meaning and signifi-
canoe inherent In tho doctrine itself.
Shareholder penned the Declaration
OF Independence, but the motto. Cali
men are created free and equal" has
gained al Interpretation and signifi-
canoe that far surpass the restricted In
tontion of it's author and his aristocrat
&c compeers who adopted it as q revolu-
tionary watchword. Chief Justice Tan
ey was considered n courteous, kindly
and well-meaning jurist. His famous
obiter dictum, that "the Negro had no
rights which the white man was bound
to respect" expressed, as HE Judged.
with accuracy and appositeness the
state Of mind at the period which ne
undertook to describe; but the phrase
itself rendered nugatory his meaning
and purpose, and damns the author to
everlasting fame"
He Is citing history and while hu
does not say in so many words, he is
showing in a most positive way that /!
history repeats itself. There is little :
room for comment upon these deelaca-
tons Of eternal principles. They speuk :
for themselves. He says further: {
phrase may be more potent than
a fact. Opinion, crystalized in terso
ph1seology rules the world or shows
1t into confusion. The term Social
Equality" conveys deeper meaning and
eyokes quicker reaction than a volume
OF augmentation. The treatment
which the Negro receives is always the
outgrOwth Of tho estimate in which he
is hold by his white fellow.citizens wht.
for the time being occupy the superior
position In our social scheme. When
the Negro was regarded as beast with
cut soul to be saved, he was dealt
with in accordance with this low rs
sumption. So long as he was held H.
the estimate described by Justice
Tanoys dictum, his legal and social
status was adjusted in accordance. 1t
was only by reason of the moral ener.
gy aroused by the anti-slavery discus
sion that the essential human recognl.
ton Of the Negro found expression in
the 18th, 14th, and 18th Amendments
to the Constitution. The thought Is
greater than the thing. Ideals are bet.
ter than deals. A principle is greater
than program. Feeling Is not only
the greatest fact, but the greatest force
In the world. Keen thy heart with nil