Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1924-04-09
Brains and Integrity Know
No Color or Race Line.

4
No Color or Race Line.
The matter of selective immigration
| will come up in congress if investiga-
tions ever cease. The present tendency
| seems to be toward apportioning the
quotas on the 1890 census basis, which
means that foreigners will be admit
ted according to the proportion of
their race in this country 35 years
ago. This all goes in favor of the
north Europeans, the Germans, Eng
| lish, Irish, Scotch, Scandivanians,
etc. The bulk of the south European
and Mediterranean immigration has
| taken place in the thirty years past.
Considerable howl exists over this,
especially from south Europe where
the population pressure is the great
est. Opponents of the plan say that
Brains and Integrity know no color
or race line. They aver America is
cheating itself when it draws bars
against the Latins or the Semitics,
notably the Jews.
From an intellectual basis we must
agree with this. Jesus was Jew, a
Syrian Of Semitic ancestry Confucius,
honored by the Chinese as we honor
our Lord was a Mongol Calico,
ian. So was Leonardo Da Vinci and so
was Michael Angelo. So was Column
but and so were hundreds of others in
the galaxy of history's great names.
But why go on? The balance in great
ness is probably against rather than
for the Nordics from which we come
Nevertheless, we are here and have
something to say about it. Admitting
all that history says our feeling is
that we prefer people of blood like
ours should inherit America rather
than Semitics, Asiastics or augmented
peoples. Our feelings in a matter like
this dominate our intelligence.
This is getting long, but to the
point If you think that Brain power
is exclusive with the white race and
the Nordic section at that, read the
following from the pen of a negro ed
itor. He is talking to his own people
on the Teapot Dome scandal and ap
plying a lesson. Could any white man
have stated the case better?
THE RACE CAN GET A LESSON FROM
MIR. FALL.
There is a lesson for Negroes in the pub
lies attitude toward the former cabinet
lands to oil companies, is being investi-
gated Mr.. Fall is charged with having
prot1ted in his own purse, near the same
time. The coincidence is impressive, so
much so that few offer any defense for the
accused official.
1t was not always true that the people
looked with adherence upon the use of
public office for private profit. We used to
justify act of a public servant whenever
he made money out of it. Graft is the one
outstanding characteristic of government in
America-or rather, was, for new day
seems to have daWned. The fall of Mr..
Fall admits of no misconception of the de-
mand that public service be treated as
trust
So it should be with us. Men who lead US
can be a great blessing. If they take their
positions seriously, and really wish our re-
| spect, they will serve That is what we
want them to do. The practical unanimity
of our demand for real service was shown
on Sunday afternoon, when after several
| speakers had dWelt upon the rosy side or
| Negro business, Rev. J. w. Nurse spoke,
| laying down the minimum demands which
the race makes on the doctor, the lawyer,
the preacher and the teacher. The people
applauded until the rafters rang. There was
no installing the sincerity of public opinion
on the shortcomings of those who seek it's
endorsement and patronage. And after all
Rev. Nurse is right! A good dollar deserves
to be earned The doctor cannot do too
much for his patient; nor the lawyer. The
preacher who Sights his sacred calling,
for whatever reason, deserves little; and
the teacher who does not give the child the
best she has, who puts salary above ser
vice, is a public menace
AS to the more public positions, those
places in politics, and social service, they
especially should be marked by real effort
to push the race ahead. It used to be the
common practice in politics to sell out"
the race, that is to make pure money
proposition out of standing as a leader
The Fall incident shows that no such prt-
waite advantage can be sought any longer
with mpunity, and should be OF the
same mind No more graft from politics!
No more jobs for lf-seekers! No more
soft snaps in social service work! No more
fat trustees flching pennies from the col
lection plate! No more thieving lodge Off
Gals! No more fat Iitigations in public and
semi-public matters! No more honors for
schemers and loafers! This is a work-a-day
world and every man has a duty. One
reason he will do his part is the lively
public opinion which we all must exert with
leaders by demanding the last uttermost
part of what they owe US.