St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1938-04-08
Here And
There
By w. M. Smith

arms of the government to the
Negro people.
/ voiced a protest I have long
held against that attitude, in that
it subjects the Negro group to the
most insulting and hurtful form of
discrimination in assuming that
rights, common to all the Ameri-
can people, can be withheld from
this group as a matter of course,
and that the group will accept it
without protest or comment.
1t is common knowledge that the
government, despite its fulsOme
invitation to the young men of
America, to ''iOin the armed forces
of the United States and see the
World" does not intend this infOr-
nation for its Negro citizens. If
they insist upon believing the in
vitatiOn was as inclusive as all
that, then he must understand his
place is that of a servant with no
hope of advancement in either
wages, rank or prestige.
The thought expressed in that
article has found Judgement in
other minds and has been published
in papers other than this. Bitter
protest has not failed on the part
of Negro editors. and Negro writ
ers. Attention has frequently been
called to the service the Negro has
gwen in the several wars in which
this nation has had a part. His
loyalty in the face of discrimina-
ton has been cited and the fact
that foreigners who come to our
shores shortly become eligible for
all the fine things open to all
Americans who elect to enter the
lighting forces of our country, save
only the Negro.
1t will probably be admitted by
myself and all Otner Negro writers
that the protests we nave given
vent to are not hopefully expected
to have the effect of having the
government cease It's unwise and
unjust position in refusing to the
Negro group a taIrer assignment
IN The ranks OF the Army and the
Navy. Rather is it our thought to
awaken the cOIOred people to
knowledge and a realization of the
shame that covers us all if voice
Iessly we submit to conditions in
themselves lntOlerable, if always
to endure and to assure them that
the very rocks will cry out If we
continue to humbly hold our peace.
1t is an excusable thing to ac-
cept an injustice that cannot be
helped; it is an entirely different
and ignoble thing to accept it in
silence.
But now comes an unexpected
reactiOn-in Congress last week,
arose Hamilton Fish-Republican
representative from New York, to
interrupt the argument upon one
of the important bills before that
bOdy-tO declare, in the most I'M
equIvOcable language, his disgust,
and his shame, at the intolerance
of the lawmakers of the land upon
this very matter. He further
served notice that he proposes to
do something about it. What he
intends to do is introduce a meas
ure making it mandatory upon the
government to accept the Negro
into it's armed forces on exactly
the same terms offered to his white
brother, to assign Negroes to the
academies of West Point and
Annapolis by presidential edict; to
establish, either separate units,
with all the officers, powers and
equipment now served to white
sailors and soldiers, at various
times and places or to integrate
cOlOred men into the regiments and
ships as they now exist.
When and if the congressman
does introduce such a measure, he
will surely be entitled to the
plaudits of his countrymen, white
and black. He will most certainly
receive from the Negro group it's
fervent support for its enactment
into law.