The Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1931-1952, 1948-07-14
THE BELL TOLLS
BY LEONARD H. BELL

Longstreet's prize-winning speech
for 1948.)
Denial of the ballot, the high
est privilege of American citizen
ship, is confined mainly to the
Solid South operating under the
subterfuge of white primaries, de-
clared unconstitutional by the U.
s. Supreme Court. 1t is only by
an amendment to the u. S. Con-
stitution that the Negro can be
stripped of his right to vote; but
there is not enough bigotry and
hate among the United States
electorate to secure the passage
of such an amendment.
During long, remorseless years
of servitude the Negro wrote on
the pages of history record I'M
matched by any other race of the
earth. From 81 to IS the fideli-
ty of Negro slaves protected the
helpless white women and chill
dren of the South. Southern sol
diers went serenely to death on
distant fields, comforted by the
knowledge that a black mans
loyalty stood guard at their
hearthstones.
Sixty years ago the late Henry
Grady, statesman and editor, told
a sublime story and fixed noble
racial standards. Said Mr.. Grady:
I'VE remember with what fl
deity, for four years, he (the
Negro) guarded our defenseless
women and children when hus-
bands and fathers were fighting
against his freedom. To his eter-
nal credit be it said that when
ever he struck a blow for his own
liberty, he fought in open battle,
and when at last he raised his
black and humble hands that the
shackles might be struck off those
hands were innocent of wrong
against his helpless charges. Let
us give him his uttermost rights
and measure out justice to him IN
the fullness the strong should al
ways give to the weak. What
ever we take from him in vio-
lence, that is unworthy and shall
not endure, and out of it shall
come peace"
Southern people owe the Negro
a debt of gratitude that can never
be discharged. Do you wonder
that l wanted to build monu-
ment to the slaves of the Confed
eracy 40 years ago? Today I
would build a monument to the
fidelity of the Negro American
and l would make it as tall as
Washington's monument on the
Potomac.
Under horrible provocation our
Colored citizens have continued
loyal to the land of their birth.
No act of disloyalty to his coun-
try has ever been lodged against
an American Negro. The eau
casian race has produced our
Benedict Arnolds and Aaron
Burrs. American Negroes have
never led coal strikes or commu-
mist picket lines. The white race
has given us our Lewises and
Communist traitors.
No race known in history has
made greater progress under
more frightful handicaps than the
Negroes of our United States
since the Civil War. Through
tides of hate. persecution and in
justice, black leaders have emery
ed to add luster to the name
Americanl
In this hour it is we'll to recall
that in the birth charter of the
United States was written for the
first time in the history of gov
ernments a declaration of mans
right to the pursuit of happiness
as well as to Life and Liberty,
Justice and Equality of opportu-
nifty. To guarantee these basic
rights. our forefathers gave their
lives, their fortunes, and all their
energies of mind, body and spirit.
They endured privation and hard