Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1951-12-15

when she set up de-facto Government at the free
choice of the native peoples and opened the door to the
ultimate status of Statehood with representation in the
Congress of the United States whenever the people,
through performing the functions of local sefgovern
ment at home will have demonstrated their fitness for
stable and orderly government.
The people of those islands belive that they have
passed the experimental stage and they have already
made application for statehood and representation in
the American Congress; and it looks though among
the early acts of the next Congress will be bill admit
ting the islands to the status of statehood with all the
rkhts privileges, and mnunities appertainng thereto
-one more stubborn fact demonstrating Americas
faith in the democratic process and in the fundamental
right of people to themselves when they have
proven their ability to do
Mssissippi's Chance
Back to the original subject of theme: some APP
proach should be made to the Negroes in those few
States Congressional districts and counties in our
country where the Negroes predominant in the popua
ton And, instead Of pursuing obstructive tactics to
prevent the Negroes from qualifying and voting, the
white people should forgive and forget the errors we
made under Reconstruction indeed what people
occupying the status that occupied at that time
would not have made mistakes just ludicrous ?-and
as big brother and older in the art of autonomous
eminent, help to emulate their example, and in that
respect and follow in their footsteps
So with the white race so overwhelmingly outnum-
bering all other races in practically ali the States and
in unquesoned control politically in all the States as
long the Negroes in the majority in few con-
gresslonal districts and in few of the counties that
make up those DISTRICTS and long according
profession, we place human rights above property
rights, what more convincing proof could give to
the world of faith and belief in the elemental prac
tees OF Democracy; and what gracious attitude
could the white people assume in those districts and
counties where the Negroes predomnate than to grant
mot grudgingy, but encouragngly and helpfuly, the
Negroes the right to have their voluntary choice of
representatives in the Congress and the State Legsa
tre and other places of representative responsibility
To Mississippi, one of the few States Of the Union
with relatively heavy Negro population has come the
opportunity for each individual to test for himself
fn 70
for his nation to demonstrate to the world its real faith
and belief in the democratic way Of life.
In the latest report of the United States Bureau
of the Census for the decade ending with the year 1850
it brought out that for the second decenna report
now the majority of the population of the State of Mis-
ssslppl has been made up of members of the white
race and that that majority which barely attained
by the 1940 has been considerably enlarged and
made definitely safe to white control according
to the report of 1850
Nobody questions the right and appropriateness of
that majority TO CONTROL and believe safe to say
that every citizen, Negro as we'll white, accepts that
the appropriate status and says in his heart of
hearts: THAT is as it should be-"
But in the breakdown Of the census report for
1850 where the numerical strength of various of
the peoples who make up the total population is shown
by Congressional districts and by countless the report
shows that there three Congressional districts and
in those districts there ten counties in which the
Negro population predominates In the face of such
situation, Mississippi could make definite contribution
to the of real Democracy and / appeal to the
white people in those districts and counties where the
that the Negroes there not only not ntimdated in
their efforts to qualify and vote but rather that they
helped and encouraged to meet their legal require
ments for qualification and discharge their full respons
Utilities as citizens of the State.
There are questions before the State today. like
crime arrangement vice and liquor control gambling
vagrancy prostitution getsomething nothing atti
tude in which the better element of Negroes feel that
the life of their group is at stake and that their
hands tied where they denied the right vote
and to add their feeble efforts to the efforts of the
white people who wrestling with these problems
by other things voting into office of cour
and character who not afraid to stand up and
call spade spade
| am aware that when the pressure is released and
Negroes granted the rights as white people
to exercise the privilege of the franchise they re going
to make mlstakesyes, and lots of them, Gust their
white brothers have done before the and doubtless
more, because it will be newer business with them)
but with the white peoples help their big brother
attitude, for which plead, and their fully democratic
spirit the Negroes mistakes will be fewer and thew
will intimately learn the perfect way as they have
learned SO many of the other worthwhile things of life
from them. To my honored white fellow citizens This
is your high challenge To meet becomes the great
people that you are is the acid test of your real demo-
cratic faith
Humbly yours,
P. S. BOWLES