St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1952-09-26
Stevenson Faces The Issue Down South

illusion that Gov Adai Stevenson gong TO cater
to the hysrca antNego sentiment prevalent in the South
land TO get elected President dispeed September 90
when the Democratic candidate boldly, plainly told Rich
mond Virginia audience that he backed the par plank on
civil rights including the Dxiehated federal FEPC legislation
Stevenson's courage and honesty this issue, demon
straed his integrity and sincerity and direct contrast
the position taken by his Republican opponent, Dwight
Eisenhower standard bearer campagned throughout
south and only and only obquey referred to
the rights section of the nation where that issue
is No. l in the minds of the people.
Mr. Eisenhower's chief contribution on this issue his
reported which said effect that democracy should
encompass Americans whether they black white
which in the atmosphere and in which was
spokenwas nothing than pous platitude-especay
when addressed southerners-many Of whom willing
that democracy encompass white Americans only.
In definite and unmsaable contrast right down in the
South right in the home ground of Sen Byrd of the most
espicabe kind of Dxecras faced squarey with
equvocaon evasion the issue which had caused many
southern Democrats including three to switch to-
support of Eisenhower Since most of these people think more
superiority snobbry than they do Of their party
their countryhey still political threat to the faint
hearted candidate might be constrained put political
expediency above principles
The great courage which exhibited last Satur
day night further heightened when it understood that to
this date the Republican candidates views of the question of
civil rights nearly approXmates the outmOded attitudes
relations of the South of the Dxcras 1t does not
such emotional diehards that the continued existence
Rghs-that the situation is asSduousy used against by
international opponents for world leadership They place
sectional interests above American interests Mr. Stevenson
fuses to do this.
Mr. Stevenson high mark for statesmen who have
the courage discuss civil rights problems when he said
But do not attempt to justify the unjusable whether
it is of antiNegrosm in place anSemitsm in another
of for that matter, antsouhernlsm in places And
neither can justify self-righteousness anywhere"
Candidate Stevenson reiterated the obvious but too seldom
spoken truth when he told his Virginia listeners and neren
TALLY the entire nation:
LET of us be SNUG this score, nowhere
the nation have to that state of harmonious amy
between racial and religious to which aspire
In cOndemnng both parties for using the question
political weapon Mr. Stevenson high ethical ground
but he ignoring the historic and practical fact that the Ne
gro has been tremendously important factor and issue in
American politics since shortly after the War of 1912 The Ne
gro will continue to be until he granted wins the basic
equality which the u S. Constitution him He
factor before he granted his freedom.
might be WELL to here point out that the American Ne
himself not too comfortable happy about his position
in his native land of being used political weapon
instrument by the political parties The circumstance of
his making Both major parties have used the problem
ed to the hilt.
The COP used Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation
political tool to keep the freed Negro slaves in political ensav
ment to that party for period of sixty years-when
downright tratorOus in the minds
of them vote anything but the straight Republican ticket
Some Democrats think the Roosevelt Truman programs of
the 20 should for that party perpetual aeg
lance of the Negro American Too many this
completely obvious of the fact that the increasingly
and terate Negro cannot be held alone by the
FDR the rugged logged of Trumana President
who has tried to do something about racial and religious
equality
OF the two candidates. Stevenson alone that each
generation of American Negroes will have be sold
present promise well past record This is in the sound
tradition OF intelligent American voters thinking and
The things for which Adlai Stevenson spoke the other
mght-hamony between our various racial and religious
groupsand the things which he criticised he political abuse
OF the problem of discrimination in employment the expoa
ton of the racial aspirations the hand racial pre-
judiee the oheral for votes will be swiftly swept
from nation when it elects like Stevenson who calls
such appeals "a dangerous thing and revolving spectacle
our political lfe'
The Illinois governor also touched the key the at
uudes existent today in the South when he described how
much the prevailing have been through
years by the economic situation in the land of cotton" He
placed the blame where belonged the shoulders
economic interests which made money off the racial tensions
in the souh and contributed the low wage structure and
the misery of whites and poorer Negroes fighting each
other for the few crumbs in jobs available.
people of the South admire courage and truth and