The Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1931-1952, 1948-06-16
The Mad Columbia Spares None, Red Cross AidsA|
AMERICAS SHAME

I1tIt - pilcOuo nIaAS VI CaA-
ing story. The other day fifty
one children won medals in New
York's school safety patrol con-
test sposored by the Automobile
Club of New York, the New York
City Board of Education, and the
parochial school.
A trip to Washington was also
part of the award which they
received. The children looked for
ward to 1t trip to Washington
the White House. the Congress.
the Washington Monument. the
Lincoln Memorial, the Smithson-
ian Institute. A trip to Washing
ton the capital of America. the
capital. in a sense. of the whole
world.
A trip to Washington symbol
of mans freedom in a nation
dedicated to freedom, light Of
liberty in a world where so many
knew liberty no more. Yes, they
were going to Washington. AZ
white children. Negro children.
But, it was not to be after all.
For. Americans in New York
had forgotten that Americans in
Washinton have segregation rules
which bar Negro children from
living with white children. Hotels
would not accommodate them to-
gether. So, New York authorities
cancelled the trip.
We do not, we can not, view
this national disgrace with equan-
unity. If ever any thing showed
up the shameful nature OF racial
discrimination we have it before
US today in this revolving spec
tacle of American children pre-
vented from visiting the capital
and shrine of our nation together
because the segregation rules Of
Washington, d. c. forbid colored
and white children to live in the
same hotels.
This infamy should be denounc-
ed from one end of the country
to the other. 1t should be held
up to scorn as a foul deed which
denies Americanism. 1t should be
exhibited in its ugliness as the
kind of disregard for the sacred
ness of human life which we de-
cried when the Nazis practiced 1t.
The fact that some Americans
bend their knees before the same
devil of intolerance makes their
evil more heinous. For America
has all her reasons for being in
her dedication to the rights of
all men, of all races, all colors,
all creeds.
If this is not Americanism,
what else is? If we want to be-
lieve in and practice RACIAL In
tolerance, we should not be Amer
leans, but Nazi Fascists. II we
want to believe In and practice
class intolerance, we should not
be Americans, but Communism.
But il we believe In Americanism,
We must proclaim the doctrine
that all men are created equal
and must be so regarded.
In the presence of injustice
Americans are compelled to speak
as William Lloyd Garrison did
against slavery in 1881 when he
said. L am aware that many
object to the severity of my Ian
guaue; but is there not cause for
severity? I will be as harsh as
Truth, and as uncompromising
as Justice. On this subject l do
not wish to think, or speak, or
write, with moderation. No! No!
Tell a man whose house is on
fire to give a moderate alarm.
tell him to moderately rescue
his wife from the hands of the
ravisher; tell the mother to grad
ually extricate her babe from the
fire into which it has fallen. but
urge me not to use moderation,
in the cause like the present
I am in earnest, will not equi-
vocate, I will not excuse, will
not retreat single inch, and /
will be heard
Nuocf Ediforio1