The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1957-03-09
EDITORIAL :

EXCERPTS OF SPEECH BY ROY WILKINS
following Separate Roy wilkins
Secretary
colcred People subcommittee Con-
Rights February 49, 1857 We reprint it guest
editorial of the week.
Mr. Chairman, l am making this statement separately
as one from the National Association for the Advance
ment of Colored People.
In th. period, Negro citizens have been outraged,
but they have been patient They have been patient
because they felt that they the side of the
law and the Constitution Against the great tempa-
ton to despair and perhaps to take defensive
action they placed the hopes they have always held
that the Congress- the Chief Executive, and the law
enforcement officers of government would protect
their rights
They look to this Congress to protect those rights.
But their first in this session has been
dimmed the days have passed and they have wit
messed the incredibly lengthy discussions of technical
language which, they told is necessary to protect
the constitutional rights of those who have made
out of denying Negro citizens their constitutional
rights!
The procedures and practices which this legislation is
designed to correct have been in open operation for
decades. No least of all offceholder who is the
beneficiary of such praces pretends not to understand
their function. No suggests soberly and with a
straight faces that these procedures are, in the real
sense, constitutional.
1t is recognized that they are device for main
tanning system Under that system, registrar Of a
board of elections the precinct level functions to
strict deny the registration of Negro voters and.
when his actions challenged violations of the
Constitution of the United States of the repre-
sentatves elected under that system function in far
away Washington attorneys for the defense,
in the knowledge that they will not be answerabe to
the victims at the ballot box.
Mr.. Chairman, this is vicious circle. 1t is more
1t is obscene comedy. Are great traditions
of freedom to be traduced in this transparent
manner? Is the enduring language of Constitution
to be perverted to maintain braZen, wicked and pro-
vncia conspiracy? Is there hope for frustrated and
beeaguered citizens beyond the despotsm of local
eruords? Is there United States of America? Does il
have Constitution and does that document have
ing for more than the cunning and the strong?
Thus far, Mr. Chairman, people have
maintained their hope in spite of specious talk
rebuffs, and violence Under the advice of
dedicated they have followed a non-volent
in the face of extreme provocation. Under
the advice of Others notably the NAACP, they
have placed their trust in the law, the courts, in
legislative bodies, and in the orderly processes of
government.
What they asking of this Congress, and what
sincere of both parties seeking to give Them II
minimum safeguard of the constitutional rights which
have been long denied them But in the face Of th
patience in the face of these provocations, th
minimum is being challenged
Mr. Chairman, cannot predict what mood will bt
ergendered if the system which has prevailed for egh
ty years should through Vaccinations of any Sort b
perpetuated in this enlightened middle of the Tween
tieth Century know only that it is terrible RESPONSE
bty for any OF in high offices to destroy thu
hope of any people that fair and orderly government
will to them their just heritage awabidnl
citizens.