South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-01-31
WHIT OF THE NEXT 81 YEARS?

To-day Is the anr8versary Of the death OF human
slavery IN the United The amendment TO the
constitution which forever barred the ownership
, OF men women and children by other human be-
inas was ADOPTED 81 years ago today
It took a cruel bitter bloody, costly war 20
wipe from the minds Of the fixed belief that
The stronger and the educated mad a right TO own
the ignorant and the weaker Is subsection.
The men who fought that and who died
81 did have their real purpose the freeing
OF slaves They fought maintain the integrity Of
che ha- and the stability Of this land as a union
The freeing Of slaves was the unexpected result
that came as a result OF a determination to wipe
out the cause or cleavage between sections Of this
land.
Il Is dlfscuIt for men and women today to realize
that their grandfathers and grandmothers accept
ed the enslavement OF the dark a natural
thing that only few had risen in protest against
its inhumanities; that very few had attacked the
immortality Of slavery institution
The greatest protest came from the sentimental
compassion for the victims OF the brutalties that
accompanied slavery. rather than protest against
slavery in itself
The stories OF Uncle Tom, logged by an inhuman
taskmaster beaten and bleeding, aroused feelings
sympathy.
The picture Of children being placed upon the
slave blocks and sold away from their weeping
mothers filed the hearts OF mothers Of the north
with protests against the hedrtlesSness OF TINS
tragedy-but the feeling did not often extend to
the cause OF the tragedy conferred upon the
symptoms that the unusual accompaniment
OF the system.
Not every southern planter who owned slaves
whipped them nor was every black baby sold away
from its mother
Because they had always owned slaves these cot
ton growers of thu south believed that they would
go on owning slaves to the end Of time and could
be part
They foresaw only bankruptcy disaster the stop
page OF an industry for them if the institution
wiped out
Today. under free labor the south produces many
times the goods It produced under slave labor.
Today. with free man. it has great cities where
before there we're scattered villages. black
child who once faced an auction block now goes
TO school and learns to five or ten times
fu it could hope be under the lash OF enforced
toll
I'm So years. the thought Of the worss- toward
chattcI slavery has so changed that today few
realize that ever existed or that believed
# would be even profitable for it to exist.
Another amendment to the constitution is but
two years old That abolished thing that had
caused misery, had broken homes had filled asylums
for ages.
It is not only possible but certain that 80 years
from now men viii look back uron these days
and wonder why human beings ever believed that
IL necessary for them to ill up on poisons
order to be Joyous or happy contented
The doubt and distrust Of this amendment had
It's counterpart in the south 1867 when planters
were constructing their lives to conform the
new ideal of living. someday the poisoning of ones
self by whisky viii be recognized as just as
moral the poisoning of another person
What other chains will be broken in the next
&C years and what shackles viii men cast off as
the men OF 1850 cast aside the bondage of human
ownership?
VIII and jealousy be recognized as destroy
ing factors I'm human life and viii men and women
learn to fSee themselves from their devastating
nres?
VIII gossip be recognized as another shackle upon
Happiness and good viii and this habit be de-
stroyed By by huing humanity with
real sense OF brotherhood that has no room for
its poisonous fangs2
VIII those years bring real recognition Of the
slavery that exists in the employment children
who have no choice in the matter and TO whom
need and want and Erivatioa bitter task
masters was ever simon Legree?
WIZ the taking of "a child from its home to work
i'm factory IN mine or on a Texas farm be viewed
in the same light that the holding aIoft of black
baby for sale to the highest bidder was viewed by
the men and women who decreed human freedom
81 years ago?
VIII those next 81 years bring 70 man the knowl-
edge that the greatest slavery is imposed by HIM
self and that ne IS stu chained by prejudice by
passion. by degrading and destructive habits Of
mind and thought?
It took 1865 years OF Christian civilization to
throw of human slavery. IN the 81 years that have
followed have come the greater advances than had
occurred before And the world is just beginning 70
learn it4 real brutalities and its real masters
WILL NEU ANSHER HERE?