The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1924-10-28
The Color Line North and South.


That the people of the north and the people
of the south regard the relation OF white PEG
pie and negroes quite differently is an !ndis-
putable fact.
Whether the northern and southern view
is the more correct is a question we are not
now considering. That IS another matter to
be considered apart from the fact that the
two views are in marked contrast II not IN
sharp conflict Incidents and events OF daily
occurrence show this acute divergence OF
northern and southern opinion on the subject
of the color line
A few days ago a dispatch of the Associat-
ed Press told how at the session OF the Pitts
burg (Penn) presbytery of the northern
Presbyterian church there were two men
who were candidates for the position OF mod
orator, a negro preacher and a white preach
err When the ballots were counted 1t was
discovered that each had received the same
number of votes as his opponent The retlr-
ing moderator broke the tie by casting his
vote for the negro, who was thereby elected
moderator.
AT the general conference of the northern
Methodist church five white ministers were
elected to the office of bishop, and when they
were ordained Bishop Matthew Clair, ne
gro bishop elected four years before, was
one of the bishops who offciated at their
ordination.
Some months ago Dartmouth college, at
Hanover. N. H. (the alma mater OF Daniel
Webster), engaged as OF the lecturers IN
the Amos Tucker School of Business Admin
stration and Finance a negro pullman por-
ter, John Baptist Ford of New York, and
it was reported that 'he captured his audi
ence by his exposition OF the human side OF
porterng.
These typical examples reveal the northern
view. but none of them could have occurred
in a southern assembly or college.
No southern presbytery would choose
negro moderator.
4 southern Methodist general conference
would not have a negro bishop to participate
in the ordination OF white men to the Epls-
copal Office.
There is not in all the south college or
university for white students that would en-
ploy a negro pullman porter to give lectures
in any of its departments.
Nevertheless, the southern people treat the
negro with kindness and generosity. They tax
themselves to the amount of many millions OF
dollars annually to provide clinics, hospitals
and schools for the negroes.
But the southern people are unwilling to
have negroes exercise authority over them,
whether they be moderators, bishops, lectur-
Iers or judges.
1t is worse than useless for northern men
to try to bring the southern people to accept
the northern view OF the color line. Such
efforts irrtate and~injure all concerned. The
negro is not denied any right by the refusal
of the southern people to submit to his ex-
ercisng authority over them.
The southern and northern Presbyterian
churches are not likely to unite, if negro
moderators are to preside over presbyteries
and synods
Southern white students would not consent
to be taught by negro teachers and lecturers.
An institution in the south attempting such
program would doom ITSELF to neglect and
death And how would that benefit any ne
gro?
Thes facts may as we'll be recognized. No
propaganda, however artful and persuasive,
will be able to change them.
The north and south will have to agree to
disagree on this subject, and let the matter
go at that