Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1949-04-02

inevitably incident to such ex-
periments, and the degree of per
manent harm thereby engendered,
are beyond calculation. Certainly
no friend of either race will even
conference any such vicious and
hopeless undertaking here.
We hear good deal these days
about the effects of certain de-
cisions of New Deal Federal
Courts. Where such decisions
have been of any value whatever
to the Negro race, it is only be-
cause they have been in line
with local public sentiment and
have only supported or acceler-
ated sentiment already in favor
of doing more for Negro edu-
cation or for other movements in
the Negroes behalf. No law, no
court decision, hostile to public
sentiment, has ever stood up for
considerable period of time, any.
where in the English speaking
world.
The so-called Civil Rights Com
mission of Mr.. Truman recognized
the truth of this proposition in
its report to the President in the
matter of trying to enforce civil,
religious, political, and educa-
tional privileges through COM
pulsory statutory processes, and
in defiance of public sentiment.
Thus far, I am willing to let
the report of Mr.. Truman's COM
mission speak for me, both as a
private citizen and as the Gov
ernor of Southern State. On
page 103 of that report, the Com
mission made a concession to
hard boiled truth and to the facts
of the situation, in the follow
ing language:
Gin certain areas the states
must do far more than parallel
federal action. Either for consti-
tutional or administrative rea-
sons, they must remain the pri-
mary protectors of civil rights.
This is true of Governmental eff
forts to control or outlaw racial
or religious discrimination prac-
ticed by privately supported pub
lic-service institutions such as
schools and hospitals, and of
places or public accommodation
such as hotels, restaurants, thea
tiers, and stores. Furthermore,
government action alone, whether.
Federal, state, local or all COM
blned, cannot complete protection
of civil rights. Everything that
government does stems from and
is conditioned by the state of pub
lie opinion. Civil rights in this
country will never be adequately
protected until the intelligent will
of the American people approves
and demands that protection"
AS outstanding members of
your race, as leaders Of your
people in this State as teachers
in the schools of your counties
and towns, L ask you what could
your people gain in any contest
between outside efforts and the
force of fixed and determined
public sentiment? I do not hest
tate to say that the people who
advocate such a contest, regard
less of their alleged motives, are
your enemies and not Your
friends. The loss of the friend
ship and good will of your To-
cal white people is the price you
would have to pay. And this
means you would lose even if
you won.
With that general statement of
segregation let me now state my
position in plain, easily under
stood words so that everyone will
know on what basis I propose to
work with you on any program
we may agree to be mutually be-
neficial. Whether a public Off
cial or a private citizen, I shall
believe in, work to sustain, and
insist on adequate but separate
educational institutions. This po-
sition is taken because, in my
heart, / believe it to be the only
sane, sensible and workable sys-
tenn for the best interest of both
races. Many people may think
and say that I am bigoted; am
prejudiced against the Negro; and
would like to hold you down and
deny you your educational oppor-
tunlties and chance to better
yourselves. Erroneous Opinions
others may have of me never