The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1943-12-31

the year 1874 viii have dawned
upon Us. Resolutions shall have
been made By q motley crowd Of
humans who have no intentions
OF observing them. Others VIII
assay the task OF summing up
the assets and debts accrued
during the past year. To me,
the big JOB IS looking ahead at
the possibilities in the new year
and gearing ourselves 10 the
program that viii aid in the fun
realization Of them. Paramount
u reconsideration should be the
role that colored Americans viii
play In the political life Of the
nation since this is the year for
the election OF 2 president, many
members OF Congress, q substan-
tial list Of Governors and other
lesser political Iuninaries. How
can We consolidate the gains
made n 1882 With which party
should our racial group identity
themselves2 What roads shall
We travel in order TO achieve fun
citizenship? Surely, these CUES
tines call for sound thinking and
planning If the maximum re-
suits are To be achieved.
Similar problems confronted
Us IN the days prior 70 the Civil
War. Colored political leaders
broLe away from the traditional
parties and made their presence
felt in such organizations as the
Liberty and the Free Soil Part
man. Frederick Douglass did
les. Slavery vas z question Of
supreme Importance 70 the black
not hesitate IN carrying the IS
sue 70 all political groups. IN
the early uineties. The Populist
political movement sought the
aid Of colored people in order
TO improve the condition Of
western and southern farmers.
Even in the far South in such q
state as Georgia. political rival
~ forced the sons Of former
slaves into action. The notorious
Tn Watson running for Office
in that state in 1892, vas eager
70 enroll colored men II the
Populist ranks. watson had z
man Of color placed on the State
Executive Committee. He sp-
pealed 70 white farmers IN his
native state TO join hands with
black agrarians. He denounced
lyncning and when democrats
threatened 70 lynch z staunch
coIored supporter. ne collected z
posse Of Two thousand white
farmers who rode all night to
save Henry Doyle from tns
hands Of an angry mod. Imagine
such thing happening in
Georgia over sixty years ago. L
was not the great love that Tom
watson had for colored people
but Just plain, simple, political
expectancy.
Experiency is much needed in
1874. If We are 70 save the FE.
PC, If We are TO have an anti
pol tax law on the statue books
OF our nation, il We are 70 en-
act into law the Dill granting
soldiers the right to vote. If We
are 10 break up segregation. if
We are 70 abolish segregated
units N the armed forces, black
America must forget party af5l-
iation, present the issue square
y 70 the candidates for Office
a1d demand as their price the
pledged word from each eandi-
date that he or she VIII sup
port by action and deed our
just demands. That simple
platform should be our political
CRY for 1874. Every candidate
from president TO d0g-cascher
must subscribe TO it. If z poll
teal aspirant refuses then We
must follow in the steps Of Cot
ton Ed Smith and nominate 2
candidate who viii subscribe
The question Of how many votes
he received is net the issue. Il
is a question Of open revolt
against second-clsss citizenship.
Every frsternal group. social
club, social institution and ed