Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-08-05
SEGREGATION Approved

To the Editor OF The Star:
My emotions aside, it is difficult for me to
sympathize with the position of the South in
this civil rights fight. Along with the rest OF
the people Of the Nation, we have been too
prone to seek relief from the Federal Govern
ment for every ailment, serious or trifling, big
or little We have done this, if we have thought
at all, knowing that every time we turn to
the Government at Washington we do so at
the cost OF limitation on self-government and
at loss of self-reliance. We know, further
more, that every time we get help from
Washington, it is conditioned upon the sur
render of local control, yet we continue to
ask and to yield. We ask aid for local schools,
knowing full well that such aid carries sur
render of local control, the granting statute
to the contrary Notwithstanding.
But let's look at the picture realistically:
We have here in these United States of
America an area as large as that of Cont
mental Europe, and with climates and interests
as diverse as those of Spain and Scandinavia,
England and Russia, and composed of some
140-odd millions of people Ia veritable human
ZOO all, or practically all, speaking the English
language, with capabilities as varied as climate
and interests are diverse. Yet we contend
politically that there is no variation, that
there are no second class" Americans, while
we KNOW Oh our own ktlOWleuSe IlldJ IIcFe
are even third and fourth class citizens in
every community. The truth is that we are
nuts" politically, and, in our insane desire
for political preferment and power, we are
willing to jeopardize the civilization of great
area of the Nation.
To be specific: If We accept the Truman
civil rights program and apply it literally we
will have all of the eastern counties of North
Carolina subject to the control of our Negro
population, for in many of these counties the
Negro predominates numerically, and in the
others he would find enough accommodating
whites to give him complete control This, of
course, will not happen until, by the process
of evolution and development, the Negro has
achieved the capacity to govern, not by any
legislative fiat such as the civil rights pro-
mulgated by politically power-mad office
seekers.
Now, I am not a Negro hater or batter.
exult in the progress he has and is making
in North Carolina. The only limitation
would place upon him is the observance OF
the principle of segregation. We can't have
a mongrel race here in the South. And the
Negro who has any sense OF race pride is
not clamoring for the abrogation of the
doctrine of segregation.
oxford, N. c. JOHN W. HESTER
To the Editor of The Star:
It is significant that the people fwhlte)
who support anti-segregation legislation are
those who will not be Immediately concerned.
It is unlikely that any one OF the dele
gates who voted in favor of the Presidents
civil rights program at the Democratic Ma
tional Convention ever viii find it necessary
to gain admittance to charity hospital where
10 per cent of the patients are Negro. 1t Is
doubtful that their children ever VIII attend
a public school where more than one-third
would be colored should separate systems be
abolished. Those who support such legisla-
ton are those who are safe from any involve
ment geographically or are financially able
to buy certain degree of exclusiveness.
In the end, it viii be the little fellow VINO
will have to carry the burden OF tolerance
should antisegregation laws be enacted
In the meantime it makes swell tax, not