Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1954-05-21
Supreme Court Takes
Stand For Right

Ae IT, A. Supreme court decision delivered May II, out
having public school segregation In OF the ~ states and
the District Of Columbia victory for right and justice
and victory for America IL was not alone triumph
for the civil rights Of the American Negro some observers
and edorasa assert but the decision In the long run will
be beneficial every American citizen and family The social
advance progress and justice inherent In such decision and
achieved by orderly constitutional processes will have the
eventual effect Of creating greater unity and understanding
among Americans and unity IL what needand must have
today-in America.
The Supreme Court recognized the time had for
literal application Of fundamentals Of the Constitution
and decided the merits and business OF the cases be-
fore rather than the backward egreab sectional pre-
JUDGES Of part Of country the existence OF which
have greatly harmed prestige nation In this connection
only those who have travelled the nonwhe countries stu
dents Of the AAac and African and State Depart
men really how costly segregation has been to
our international reputation Our daily by and large,
In the north have referred only casually to the criticism
abroad and the southern daily press not at ALL except in oA
cd instances
That our international reputation possible factor In
the underlying thinking Of the Justices Of will not be
openly admitted but The haste with which the State Depart
ent directed Voice OF America broadcast the decision
Earope and Asia gave validity 10 suggestion that con-
nued racial prescription In the chief democracy furnishes am.
munon enemies and that the Supreme Court decision
will offset Russian propaganda which pictures the United States
enemy Of the non.whe races Of the world.
Senator Hubert H. Humphrey Of Minnesota member Of the
u Senate foreign relations committee said Tuesday In
speech Minneapolis that the Supreme Court decision had
come two years ago. position the critical Far East would
be much better with the nations Of that area
without trying take anything away from the sincerity
and honesty Of the Supreme Court honest belief that
the decision would have been unanimous II there had
been international implications involved In the before H.
In these days OF One World domestic situation In nation
which dsuny apt TO affect the entire world Since
the United States has had world leadership Of the free
tons" thrust upon tit has the responsibility Of putting its
own house order and the Supreme Courts ouawng school
segregation part Of that whether the fact widely
admitted or not.
Actually educational segregation with It's tremendous in,
qualities was and national scandal Not until the pressure
In the by the NAACP did the south make any real at
tempt remedy the little consideration m dual school system
offered the Negro child Part Of this dsgracefu situation
was due indifference and the fear Of whites that ed
cation would make the Negro dissatisfied with his status and
part due the economic difficulties inherent In any gsnu
inc program equaEe the public schools In Of the IL
states which have segregated schools Residents OF these Twin
Cities whS know the burden involved in maintaining
good public school system should easily appreciate that the
would the forcSeeabe future been
able equaliEe school facilities for Negroes without bank
rupng Of the states Therefore the attempt convince
themselves and others that the best interests Of the country
whole would be best served by continuance Of segregated
education totally inconsistent with the economic facts of
life and with the type Of world In which live Granted
that there might have been reasonable for
aggregation southern public schools in the days Immediately
following the Emancipation Proclamation, those days far
behind country such a. ours
Even II the south 10 years ago, had gone about
iously trying sQualise school facilities later
the situation would have 10 b faced - for inequality
actual or implied II In conflict with the American Greed
Of human equality and the dignity Of the individual No
farmndSd American who 10 honest with himself actually
believes the separate but equal theory sxpOundSd by
civil rights opponents In the south elsewhere has
SquAty-he best Negro schools In the south have
never bean equal the best white SchOonor would they
ever BE- under the system which the Supreme Court de-
ciaion overtums.
The decision itself masterpiece Of democratic logic
rejected the theory that be quo Re
puhc on the relations The decision hit direct
" at the Negro children In citing the opinion Of lower
u court which stated Segregation Of white and eOOrcd
children In public schools has detrimental effect upon the
eoored children The impact when has the sanction
Of the aw for the policy Of separating the usually in
tepreted A dcnOtng the nferory % the Negro group
.enss Of lnferioriy affects the motivation Of child
segregation with the sanction Of Law" the opinion went
AN A av Assfors has tendency rstArd the educational
.nd mental development Of Negro children and deprive them