The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1942-11-28
DR.. C. WESLEY
WARNS ALL OF.
WAR REACTION.
Speaks Before 5000 In
Public Hall In
Cleveland

WHEREFORE. Ohio - Urging
his interracial audience Of 5000
assembled on the Armistiee day
at the Public Music Hall in cleve-
land ito face particularly the issue
OF race; to accept the challenge
which is found in is many-sided
aspects; and 10 declare themselves
openly for the freedom of the in
dividual person, the equality Of op-
portunity for all peoples, the con-
version OF peoples from potential
liabilities into active assets, and the
realization on the part Of all peo-
Piles that rights are also accom-
panied by duties" President Charles
II. Wesley Of Wiloerbrce univer-
eity, declared that ~uch an asser-
ton woulc be one means Of spread.
ing democracy 10 all the world and
the ultimate participation in their
own governments by the peoples OF
Asia, Africa, the Americas and the
Islands CT the Sea.
Reviewing the turning points IL
the present world war from its be-
ginnings in 1899. DR.. Wesley assert
ed that the final turning point
in this war will be when the united
nations face the issue OF race There
was a wide gulf between the war
, aims Of our leaders and the de-
sires Of the peopl- in 1918 when
President Woodrow Wilson enun-
cisted the famous Fourteen Points,
No fault was found with them, AMI
they were regarded as our objec-
tives, but when the war terminated
and Armistice day came, the Amer
lean people seemed to forget the
ideslism OF their leader. Are we
sure that our present program will
be a different one? II our aims 10
create a League Of Nations and a
World Court for the nations failed
then, while the popular will trsiled
behind, how can we be confident
now that the -Four Freedoms are
meant for all peoples and races
eyerywhere2
I'VE seem still indifferent 10 any
other purpose except the general
outcome OF winning the WAR, al
though some OF US have thought Of
winning a real PEACE, whatever
this may mean. We wanted 10
make the world safe for democracy
when we entered the first Cworld
war even though we had not made
democracy safe either for itself or
for the world. Our leaders would
spread our freedom over the world,
but will we. the people. permit
our leaders TO run ahead Of us, as
we did in the former world war,
and then so hamper their endeav-
ors through reactionary influences
that we shall cause these efforts to
collapse and find ourselves return
ing to our old processes Of exploit
tsion. Subjugstion. self-seeking
greed. Anglo-Saxon pride, and i'm
perislism? Only a resurgence Of
the popular will 10 build a new
world and the acceptance Of these
new aims as our own crussdins
purpose Can lead to an actual new
order o. democracy. For, even
now, there are reactionsries who
-ozty awsT= the winning of the-war
in order TO plan to return to the
Gtatus quo ante bellum just as they
did in the first world war"
Continuing, DR.. Wesley suggest
ed the adoption OF the following
crussding program that will help
US not to break faith with those
asleep in Flanders field
|. Let us unite all liberals, and
all colors, creeds, and conditions
tor the m; intenance Of democ-
rscy in fact and not only word.
2, Let US support all organiza-
tons recognizing the principle of
equality Of opportunity for all men
and all women.
3 Let us recognize the respons
bility 10 support democracy by
thought word, and deed, for only
thus can freedom continue TO live
4. Let u develop the conhden
belief that Negroes in the United
States have the ability and that
they should have tneNopPortunity
10 prepare 10 be in the front ranks
OF achievers and contributors 10
American life.
5, Let US maintain the belief that
The so-cslled Colonial peoples Of
the world also have a stake in
this war, whether they are in In
dia, Africa. Burma, China, the Is
lands Of the Sea, or any other
country, and that cur cry shall
be al peoples up and none down.
Dean Pickens Of the Treasury
department denounced as wholly
foolish the notion that the Negro
had any common bond with the
japanese and declared that America
belonged 10 all OF Us He urged
all Americans TO back this war
with bonds not because they loved
war, but because they wanted 10
protect this most enduring OF DEM
ocrscies,
Appearing with Dr.. Wesley on
the same program were the we'll
known columnist Dorothy Thomp-
son, Dorothy Maynor the celebrat-
ed soprano, whose singing Of Schu-
bert's ave Maria and the spiritual
Ride On Jesus, Conquering King
drew prolonged and enthusiastic
applause; Brigsdier General Spen-
Ger c. Dickerson, retired; Brlgsder
General william J. Warheld, re-
tired; First Lieut. Grant Reynolds;
Dean Pickens Of the Treasury de-
pertinent; Mayor Frank j. Lsuche
Of Cleveland; Percy Brown, NJ. c.
Clarke and Harold X. Bredlow and
several other important persons.
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