Evening star., 1948-10-20
Appeal to the South

The first of the two addresses made by
President Truman at Raleigh, North Caro-
lima, was plainly an appeal to the South
to remain in the Democratic family not
withstanding its hostility toward the So
called Civil Rights program. The second
was merely political harangue. It can
be put aside, for it is the first address
which deserves attention.
Mr.. Truman sought by implication to
draw parallel between his position and
that of Presidents Jackson, Polk and
Johnson. At times he was conciliatory.
For instance, he spoke of how hard it was
for Andrew Jackson to tell "his own people"
that they were wrong, the harder because
"he knew in his heart that they had some
cause for discomfort" There was a note
of conciliation, too, in his assertion that
"the way to correct injustice in q democ-
racy is by reason and debate, never by
walking out in huff," and in his further
contention that ito attempt to correct
injustice by disunion is to apply remedy
that is worse than the disease"
It is possible to draw from this language
the inference that Mr., Truman has not
view, that there remains room for the
application Of reason and debate to this
Civil Rights issue which is splitting the
Democratic Party and which may well cost
Mr. Truman the presidency. But this is a
matter of inference only, and at best 1t
Is an inference which tends to be vitiated
by some Of Mr.. Truman's other comments,
such as: do your duty, and history will
do you justice"
recognized that Mr.. Truman Is in tight
political spot. There is good reason to
believe that the Administrations all-out
advocacy Of civil rights was dictated by
political considerations by the desire to
hold the Negro and left-wing vote in States
like New York and Pennsylvania. This
belief is strengthened by the administra-
tons unsuccessful effort to soft-pedal civil
rights in the party platform after the seri-
BUSINESS of the Southern revolt had become
apparent. When that gesture was vetoed
by the more extreme elements in the party,
Mr.. Truman found himslf in dilemma
in which he must risk the loss of support
in the South or in key areas Of the North
and East. The Raleigh speech was an
attempt to regain ground in the South
without losing any on the New York
Pennsylvania front. But 1t will not do
the trick.
The President suggested that the people
of the South have been taken in by smooth
this is a very unrealistic view. The people
of the South understand the civil rights
issue perfectly we'll. The rank and file may
not be greatly interested in the larger
constitutional question the issue of
States rights-but they are well aware
of what the Presidents legislative pro-
posals, if enacted, would do to the struc-
ture of their society Furthermore, they
suspect that Mr.. Truman does not
stand on any high ground of principle,
but rather that he IS actuated by political
motives which they regard as betrayal
of the vital interests Of the South.
There is only one way for the President
to meet this situation, and that is to meet
it head-on. Civil rights were never men
toned at Raleigh, nor has the President
spoken of them anywhere in the South.
But he will not be able to smother this
issue and suppress the political revolt by
talking around them in vague terms of
principle. If he really believes that it is
his duty to impose the Civil Rights program
on the South through Federal legislation,
then he ought to 60 into the South and
say why he thinks it is his duty to do this.
and explain how he believes this can be
reconciled with the powers reserved to the
States under the Constitution. 1t is much
too late for evasive tactics. If it is possible
to repair any of the damage which has
been done to the Democratic Party in
the South, which Is extremely doubtful,
it can be done only by an open, candid
and full presentation of whatever case the
President may have.