The monitor., 1928-09-21
THE NEGRO VOTERS IN REVOLT
By Kelly Miller
Howard University
Continued from Page One)

of prohibition. While l regret to say
that the republican party is not un-
equivocally committed to the moral
principle of prohibition, yet the dem
ocratic adversary stands for its i'm
mediate or ultimate destruction. Mr..
Hoover believes that the noble exper7
iment should be carried out construct
lively; Mr.. Smith thinks that the ex-
pertinent is vicious in principle and
should be frustrated without further
trial. The Negro can justify his vote
for Hoover on the ground of the con-
stitution, law, order and temperance.
A vote for Smith counts in the con-
trary direction. This he can do, with
seIf-respect, notwithstanding Kansas
City, Perry Howard and lily whites.
He must never, however, give Mr..
Hoover or the republican party to
understand that because he is voting
the ticket he is insensible to the out
rageous treatment received and re-
ceiving at their hands.
The colored press has commented
widely upon my open letter to Mr..
Finley Wilson, grand exalted ruler of
the Elks, in which | urged that the
movement of political revolt which he
headed should vote for Hoover on the
temperance issue, but hold the party's
feet to the fire for its past and pres
ent transgressions. Some said that l
argued for Smith and concluded for
Hoover ;others that l was carrying
water on both shoulders rather
delicate compliment to the perform
er's steadiness and poise. This ! ap-
prehend is far preferable to the at
tempt to carry water on one shoulder
and beer on the other as the wet Ne
gro republican is essaying to do. Still
others mistook open mindedness for
double mindedness. The old line pol
itician says that he who is not for us
is against US. But the old line politi-
clan never did comprehend the moral
significance of the utterance of the
Christ This applies only to the
sharply contrasted issues of right and
wrong, truth and error, Righteousness
and sin. Neither the democrats nor
the republicans are all right or all
wrong on great public questions.
There is strange and confusing mix
ture of vices and virtues in both
camps. The Kansas republicans are
dry, the New York republicans are
wet. Mr.. Work strikes hard for the
Negro vote in the north but soft ped
dies the 18th amendment in the
south. The voter must select for
himself the political or moral issues
which he deems vital.
In my letter to Mr.. Wilson, drew
up a partial bill of indictment against
the G. o. P. which / urged him to
keep alive in the mind of the Negro
"oter and before the republican rul-
ers. The campaign season is the psy-
Geological moment for any aggrieved
group to emphasize its wrongs. Those
who seek his support will naturally by
soft persuasion urge him to forget
them until the issue is settled. Help
us win the war, and we will remedy
your complaints after the victory is
won" The gullible Negro has listen
ed to this artful guile with amazing
credulity for ten quadrenniums. 1t
is with astounding effrontery to the
Negroes intelligence that the same old
trick is still resorted to. If the Ne
gro consents to forget his grievances
while the campaign is on, the winning
party will surely ignore them when
the campaign is over.