The northwestern bulletin., 1922-06-10
UNJUST DEMOCRACY

Under the caption of "Democracys Enemy" the
following is part of an editorial published in the
st. Paul Pioneer Press this week.
"It is a strange example of our degree of pro-
gresS in civilization that a criminal attack on a
white woman by Negro in Texas should not be
a matter for punishment according to law but
signal for a battle between the two races in the
immediate locality. On the one side there is
fierce desire for revenge against innocent as well
as guilty members of the other race, and on the
other side an attitude of defense OF the guilty,
simply because of his race"
This situation is menace to democracy but we
fail to see it exactly as class war; In the eyes
of God, man is man whether he is black or
white but in these United States, supposed to be
the worlds example for democracy, if a man is
black he is denied the privileges enjoyed by
white man not only in the attainment of his am
biton along civic and economic lines, but in the
eyes of justice.
In Texas, in Georgia, in Mississippi or without
exception, in any of the southern states when
black man is accused of asSaulting a white wO-
man, his fate is doubtful until he is sentenced and
locked behind the prison walls, but when white
man assaults black woman, we have yet to hear
of mob of black men lynching him. Then why is
it not fair for the black man to assume an attitude
of defense in the face of these prevailing condi-
tions? The World War taught people to contend,
to fight for their rights, and certainly the Negro
was taught the same thing. 1t is wrong to say,
however, that the Negro assumes an attitude Of
defense for those guilty of crime simply because
of race. Yes, very wrong We are taught that
the due process of law should determine whether
man is guilty or not guilty but when the mob
takes the law into it's own hands by lynching or
burning at stake the accused under the very nose
of the authorities, is the black man supposed to-
sit by idly and allow his brother to be victim of
this kind of lawlessness when every man is en-
titled to fair trial in the courts of justice? Has
the black man no right to rise in defense of the
principles of justice when the law fails to take
its course?
True, the experience of the world is that demo-
craces have failed because of civil war among
classes. The twentieth century democracies will
fail too unless their issues are properly met and
dealt with. In America, the race problem as i'm
portant as it is, is constantly evaded by our gov
ernment. "Whte Supremacy propaganda is
flooding the country against its black ctizenry,
still the federal government refuses to deal with
the Ku Klux Klan. Lynching and mob rule is
virtually at it's height, still the U. S. Senate hesi
tates to pass the Dyer Anti-Lynchng Bill. How
then, are class struggles to be averted when the
government will not meet the issue?
Unceasng preaching and conviction of the prln-
cipe that no class can prosper long at the expense
of the general good is all very well. If the press
of the country would unite and insist that the gov
ernment meet and deal squarely with the race pro-
blem by passing necessary legislation aimed at a
remedy the solution of one of the greatest defects
of the American democracy will be found.