Evening star., 1935-10-11
Effect of Neutrality on
The Italians and Negroes

To the Editor of The Star:
Mr.. David Lawrence, the famous po-
litical analyst of The Star, has suggested
that the policy of neutrality in the
Italo- Ethiopian war might cause Presi-
dent Roosevelt the loss Of italian and
Negro support in the election Of 1895.
When the President admonishes all
Americans that they travel on belligerent
ships at their own risks he thereby un-
doubtedly alienates the support of thou
sands of Italian-Americans who yearn
to aid their mother country. The situa-
tion which confronts President Roose-
welt today Is quite similar to that which
confronted President Woodrow Wilson
during the World War; President Wilson
proclaimed neutrality and won his re-
election on the slogan "he kept us out
of war" Both the allies and central
powers were ruthleSSly violating our
immemorial doctrine of the freedom of
the seas. The sinking of the Lusitania
with American passengers on board
caused the administration to reverse its
policy of neutrality and to enter the war
on the side Of the allies 1t is of deep
seated and far reaching significance, not
without bearing on the present situation,
that William Jennings Bryan, then Sec
retary of State, resigned his position
because he could not agree with his chief
on the issues involved in the sinking
of the LuSitania.
BY joining the war on the side of the
allies, President Wilson's adminiStra-
tion alienated the political support OF
practically every German-American in
the United States. It is perfectly natural
that expatriated citizens feel the call of
blood when their native land is imperiled.
The loss of such political support will
be the lot Of any administration placed
in such a predicament, but should not
affect its patriotic duty.
American Negroes are not Ethiopians
and have no national ties or connections
with that far distant people across the
sea. They are bound to them only by
ties of common color There exists some
thing of friendly feeling among all Of
the darker and weaker people of the
earth against the hauteur and agrees
sion of the lighter and stronger ones.
But this indefinite bond of color breaks
down at the behest of national patriot
ism. The Negro fought side by side with
the Nordic American against the Nordic
German under the common inspiration
of a patriotic ideal.
Already there have been incidental
clashes between Italians and Negroes
over the Italo-E Ethiopian contest in GER
tain parts Of the country. But such
clashes are merely incidental without
any deep-seated or far-reaching signifi-
canoe. They are but the momentary
ebullition of feeling of these two excitAble
race varieties.
While the 1talo-American might feel
that neutrality works hardship against
his cause, the Negro can allege no such
racial complaint. The proclamation Of
neutrality incidentally works to the
benefit of Ethiopia because she has no
ships with which to trade or on which
to travel.
The Negro has absolutely no grievance
or complaint against President Roose-
welt on this score nor is there any reason
why he should forfeit his political sup
port in 1896 on this account.
A rather wide acquaintance with the
Negro press and other organs and
agencies of public opinion convinces me
that there is nowhere any indication that
the Negro is disposed to fall out with
President Roosevelt on account Of his
neutrality stand. KELLY MILLER.