Evening star., 1952-12-17
Segregation and Coercion

My appreciation of States rights has
been intensified by the current interest
OF the public in the conStitutionality Of
segregation in public schools and the
establishment of private school systems
in States whereby segregation can be
retained.
The public school system is a corner
stone OF democracy. However, I would
not close the door by any conjecture that
no other system will suffice. For example,
it was an "experiment" which brought
forth our Nation. We need have no fear
of tyranny SO long as the substance of
education Is democratic in the home and
school. The establishment of political
and social divisions is the manifestation
Of inalienable rights. Not all divisions
are harmful.
No generation should deny its children
the freedom Of choice which was its own
inalienable right. Choice occurs repeti-
tiously in history without any malicious
intent. Choice may be two-way street
built upon the rock of natural law and
not upon the quicksands of dictatorship.
The limited freedom of segregation
as we'll as the limited freedom of nom
segregation is our inalienable right.
Segregation has been the nature OF man
and lower forms of animal life. Brother
hood is the aspiration of all good men.
OF course. it is illusory to speak of un-
limited freedom as an individual or
group. And to confuse civil rights with
unlimited freedom is to help create
preiudices and to dull the effect of moral
laws upon society as whole. To extend
my right would create a wrong instead
and expose the wrong to the claim of
others.
Regardless of color or creed, integra-
ton should not be forced upon school
children The power to coerce groups
is the power to destroy freedom of move
ment. II power destroys freedom of
movement, then the power itself will
be weakened or destroyed, because the
power cannot long survive that freedom
which made its birth possible. The power
OF the Federal Government to lay with
one hand on the inalienable right of
group, and with the other to bestow it
upon favored groups is none the less
coercion because it Is done under the
forms Of law and is called equality.
The norms and customs of a nation or
the parts thereof should not be pro-
hlblted unless they are immoral or shock
the consciences of good men.
Imminent threats to our democracy do
not come from true craftsmanship or
social and religious divisiveness in our
country, but. on the contrary, they come
from the Capitalization of power in
Washington, demagoguery and COM
munism
Thomas Jefferson we'll knew that
uniformity of opinion is unattainable by
coercion. He wrote: "IS uniformity at
tainable? Millions of innocent men,
women, and children, since the intro
duction OF Christianity have been burnt,
tortured, fined. imprisoned: yet we have
not advanced one inch towards uniform
ity." Regardless Of color or creed, the
establishment of segregation or nom
segregation will not insure equal psy-
Geological effects to any student, because
opinions know no color line Like or
unlike opinions reacting to equal or un-
equal tangibles or intangibles can never
guarantee equal psychological effects.
This IS a truth, both in fact and in
natural law. The reason is simple. What
is confirmed in the nature of things can
be repealed by no man-made law.
Those who strive to increase the
powers delegated to the Federal Govern
ment by devitalizing the Constitution are
engaged In overthrowing the Govern
ment. The people may desire to increase
the power Of the Federal Government.
II so, it might be futile for me to speak
Of States rights. But as an American
citizen, I have the right and duty to
insist that the Constitution should be
changed only by amendments as required
by the Constitution.
The Constitution has been devitalized
during almost decade by self styled
liberals who favor that elasticity of
the Constitution which goes beyond its
letter and spirit. Without malice, I
believe that the Supreme Court doctors
offer little hope that the Constitution
can be saved. If the people desire to
restore government and to protect