Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1924-04-12
SECRETARY JOHNSON AND
CARNEY.


the National Association for the Ad
vancement of Colored People, Mr..
James Weldon Johnson sends us leL-
ter for publication, in which he takes
issue with us in our editorial in our
issue Of March goth and gives his reas
ons for mot letting Marcus Garvey
alone" He makes strong presenta-
ton of his case and we are reproducing
IN full all that he was frank enough 70
say.
He mildly criticizes us for not pro-
ducing the original criticism of Garvey
as sent out by his organization and 1t
may be that in the interest of absolute
fair play, we erred in not doing so. AS
y matter of fact, we did not see the need
so to do as there was absolutely no
denial of the citations accredited to
the redoubtable leader of the Universal
Negro Improvement Association. He is
"brutally frank" both at home and
abroad and we accept at it's face value
all that Mr.. James Weldon Johnson
says concerning his utterances.
Our point was that Hon. Marcus Gar
vey represented one school of thought
among Negroes and Secretary James
Weldon Johnson and his brilliant asso-
ciate, DR.. w. E. B. Du Bots another. 1t
is a case where both sides could afford
to "agree and disagree. There can be
no straightforward denial that Marcus
Garvey has large following in this
country, but this following represents
a far different type Of colored people
from that element led by the great Or
ganization, of which Mr.. James Weldon
Johnson is the distinguished secretary.
Mr.. Johnson and his organization
have made record unequaled in the
history Of this country by any similar
body of people, during our day and
time. They represent the American
citizens of color, who know and support
no other land or government, but the
United States of America. They see and
recognize no other flag, but the stars
and stripes. They cherish and support
no other Fatherland, but that founded
by the colonists, who found haven on
these shores some centuries ago.
We take it then that white citizens
would be just as much justified in at
lacking Marcus Garvey as we would be.
He wants to go back to Africa and
those associated with him want to do
the same thing. Let them go. Why
should we hinder them in this under
taking or impede their progress? II
they are correct in their theories and
conclusions, they will ultimately win.
If they are incorrect, they will have
their trouble for their pains. They are
fanatics and argument cannot change
them or disconcert them in their pur-
poses.
AS matter of fact, in this land OF
plenty" it would be far better fol- a
large element or class of people to go
to another cline, where they can be
content, than for them to remain here
to spread thai, Gogmas of discomfort,
Those of us, who remain here will con
tinue to contend for all of our rights
and privileges under the American con
stitution, do what we can to make
friends with the large body of white
people and by upright conduct, indus
| trial progress and the accumulation of
wealth win over those who doubted our
ability to prove ourselves to be an as
set instead of liability as free,
American citizens.
We take it then that our brilliant CO.
laborer, is losing valuable time in COM
batting the theories, plans and Purposes
of the Hon. Marcus Garvey That is
why we remarked, "Let Garvey alone,
he is joined to his Africa" In doing
this we were paraphrasing the Scrip
tural injunction, Let Ephraim alone,
he is joined to his idols" Marcus Gar
vey is modern political economist
and reformer and is in the class with
Ghandi in India. Furnishing and osrra
cising him will only serve to make him
martyr in the eyes of those, who be-
lieve in him.
1t has had the same effect in all ages.
People, who are to undermine and de-
stroy Garvey must come from among
his own followers. Leaders of other
movements, who attack him only so
lidify the support he is receiving
from those, who believe in him and
many of them will face death for him
and the flag which he has made an
emblem of the great kingdom he hopes
some day to see established in Africa.
True, the republic or kingdom or en-
pire exists only in his own imagination
today, but it nevertheless has thous-
ands of devotees, just as the Pope at
Rome has an empire with princes of
nd In fo1I 30