The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1954-05-21
Toward An Integral Nation

The momentous ruling abolishing segregation in
public schools handed down by the United States
Supreme Court this week takes its place with the
Emancipation Proclamation document estab-
fishing the morally rightful place of the Negro
citizen of the United States
What is looked upon by some, even those who
were not antagonistc, as legal action only Is IN
fact, great spiritual victory. And one that goes
a long way toward vindcating this country's ayoWed
policy of offering equal rights and freedom to all
its citizens
The effect of this ruling will not be visibly
noticeable in the greater part Of the country where
segregation as policy had been abandoned. In
some IL states though great material and physical
changes viii become apparent, as the ruling goes
into effect In all areas though, II Is an unmistakape
moral victory
Because Of the host of problems attendant upon
the eventual carrying out of the ruling specific
DEGREES viii be issued at later date. But In itself,
this ruling Is the basis for rghtin2 long standing
sociological wrong-one that could never be explain
ed in the light OF the principles which gave birth
to this country and which sustain its unique demo
cratic form of living among the nations of the world
On the fulfilling of principle alone, this country
gained immediate stature with this ruling of the
Court. And the effect of right principle applied IN
living reality can only result IN even greater
place of honor for this country of free men.
Already the expected clamor from some Of
those states vitay affected by the Supreme Courts
action has reached the Of the nation Many hot
and bitter words have been spoken; many more will
follow But we trust in the general fair-mindedness
of the American people TO overcome feelings, too
often engendered solely by environment, with Chris
tian good sense and good will
We have never thought that those who thrive
politically on higotry and discrimination like Her
man Tamadge. Jim Byrnes and their ilk-may their
tribe decrease-have ever spoken for all the right
thinking citizens of their areas.
We In no way wish TO minimize the problems;
there will be many But they will NOT be as drastic
and as generally widespread the prophets of
doom who have already spoken would have Us be
lieve The existing population breakdown between
white and Negro in the various communities af
fected will be the final criterion of the amount of
adjustment necessary to make the ruling workable
We certainly expect few die-hards TO argue 10
the end that this is problem peculiar to the South
and that the South can and is solving II in ITS own
way ie through the makeshiH of offering equal,
but separate facilities 10 Negroes This is bare
fiction even when carried out Which it seldom is.
The Constitution in ITS XIV Amendment makes
no mention OF facilities" equal or otherwise. II
deals with persons, human beings Equal facilities
do not make persons equal.
The recognition and acceptance Of fundamental
Christian teachings will insure the happy solution
10 whatever problems do arise. The dignity of the
human person and the brotherhood of all men under
God are the Gospel concepts which must smooth
the way for an integral, democratic, Godfearlng
America.