Evening star., 1938-04-10
To the Editor of The Star:

To the Editor of The Star:
When the thirty ninth signature scratched
its way across that soul-inspiring document
on September II, 1787 the destinies of the
greatest democracy on earth were prophe-
sled. The rewards so deserved by free
and enlightened people were at least to
become reality. The final draft OF the
Constitution had been made and incorpo-
rated within its structure were provided the
sacred guarantees of republican form of
government for the members of the union.
AS Benjamin Franklin arose to address the
convention on the commendable work they
had done, he quickly called attention to
the chair in which Washington had been
sitting. On the back of the chair half
sun was emblazoned with brilliant rays of
gilt. Franklin, in his astute use of the
parable, predicted the greatness of the
republic in the following manner: "Mr.
President, as have been sitting here all
these weeks, I have wondered whether
yonder sun is rising or setting. But now
know that is rising SUM-"
Truly enough it was rising sun. 1t has
shown brilliantly through many generations
for those residing In the States, but as fate
will sometimes have it, those same rays of
political justice have been erased by the
clouds OF ignorance and have plunged the
people OF the District into the darkest of
Clmmerian deserts. Some day perhaps 1t
will be our good fortune to see the light, but
for the present We must be content to carry
on as public-spirited. intelligent and pa
triotic citizens receiving no more political
recognition than some poor serf laboring
in the sweat of the Belgian Congo.
The right of suffrage in a democratic
republic such as ours is a privilege which
cost the lives of many public spirited men,
a privilege which we should. and believe
do, cherish with much reverence. To the
people OF the States this right is not only
one OF privilege and one of responsibility,
but one of duty as well. 1t is through this
medium that the needs and desires of our
whole body polite may be met.
The citizens of this city have no vote.
no chance of expressing their desires for
the one whom they think should pilot the
ship OF state. They must be content to sit
on the sidelines and watch the game as it
is being played without themselves taking
any active part. And why? Are they not
citizens of the United States? Do they not
pay taxes IA great deal more than many of
the States) and assume other responsible
tiles as honest citizens should? They most
heartedly believe in government of and
by the people and stand ready to defend the
rights and citizens of such in times of
international conflict. Their forefathers
fought side by side with the ancestors of
the people of the States in cause for DO
litical and social justice. which their con-
science commanded them to believe was
right
There have been and still are those who
persist stubbornly that because of the col
ored population in the District it would be
unW1se to render us the right of suffrage,
Listen to the statistics made public by no
less citizen than Theodore w. Moves as
regards the Districts colored population.
These figures, given before the Committee
OF Judiciary, House of Representatives. rel
S-'> w oAiS oAACAl pSllO1llS OIL. II. y. HeSO.
luton 18, proposing an amendment to the
Constitution of the United States providing
representation for the people of the District.
state that: The District has the average
Negro population percentage of neighboring
States and cities, Maryland, 169 and Vir-
ginia. 29.9; average. 23.4, as against the
Districts 25.1." He states further that
If Washington is unfit for Americanization
because Of 25.1 percentage, are not Balti-
more. with 14.8: Atlantic City. 216; Rich
mond, 31.5, and Norfolk, 375 (averaging
26.3) also unfit" It is true that these
figures were given out in 1928, but in so far
as refutation is concerned they would apply
equally as we'll today as the influx of white
population since that time has superseded
the colored.
Senator Arthur Capper states the follow
ing in regard to District suffrage: Here at
the very heart of the Nation are half a
million as good Americans as are to be
found any place under the Stars and
Stripes. They are intelligent, public
spirited, loyal and patriotic, but when it
comes to their possession and enjoyment of
vital and fundamental rights they are
rated in the same class as the criminal, the
idiot and the lunatic"
Fellow citizens, appeal to you, we cannot
afford to let such = condition continue to
exist. Ours Is the right to the sacred
heritage Of suffrage, and should we be de-
prived of 1t, when some alien who has been
here only comparatively short time takes
out citizenship and assumes and exercises
this privilege? Is it that he is firmer
believer in the principles of democracy
than we are? The people Of Washington
should be recognized as our forefathers
wished to be $50 years ago. Give us this
right so that we, too, may look with pride
on Government in which we have part.
BENJAMIN r. sT1CKNEY, Jr.
Army Day Reflections