The Miami times. [volume] (Miami, Fla.) 1923-current, 1957-01-05
Between The Lines. +.
THE FEAR APPEAL

The FEAR APPEAL
IYesteryeear there was a cur
rent saying to the effect that those
whom the gods would destroy
they first make man. This ~. If
suggestion must have given to the
modern politician his clue to the
current situation, for everywhere
there is but slight appeal to the
thinking of the average voter; in
stead there is a tremendous ap-
peal to his fears. Almost without
exception the politicians would
have the voters believe that un-
less he and his line are followed
chaos is certain and invitable.
During the past presidential
election each major party pre-
,dicted chaos and confusion unless
its nominees were elected. 1t has
been thus of years. There is what
the social psychologist calls a mass
mind that is activated 10y the
feelings rather than by serious
study and Interpretation of cur
rent events. In other words it
becomes easier to appeal to a
mans feelings and his nerves,
than to his reasoning and intel
lect.
There is that monumental diff
ference between the politician
and the statesman the former
appeals to the feelings and the
latter to the reason and intellect.
This explains why the politician
of the South is having a field day
in the face Of current events. In
the South today the politician is
literally running Wild.
AS the writer has pointed out
time and again heretofore, there
are many governorships and SEN
ate and house positions to say
anything of the local office en-
olumentS ready to be had for the
asking; If the current interracial
situation is exploited to the full
est. Already the gubernatorial
candidates are announcing their
states rights positions which in
the last analysis means the anti
Negro position. They would ex-
plot the current tensions for po-
litical advantage. Expediency ra-
ther than the common wealth be-
comes the major promise of their
political doings and sayings.
This appeal to fear has long
and checkered history and es-
pecially SO here in the South,
where the appeal to fear has been
made to thwart every forward
advance the Negro has attempted
to make. When the right to vote
was asserted by the Negro and
when this right was pressed by the
NAACP, one Of the first objec-
tons to allowing the Negro to
exercise the right of suffrage was
based upon the prediction that
there would be violence. 20
When the Negro was offered
for jury duty the objection was
the same-there will be violence.
When the question of the Negroes
using the dining car facilities of
the nations common carriers,
there was the waving of the
hands of horror with assurances
that violence in one of its bitter
est manifestation would rapidly
ensue, if Negroes were allowed
to use the dining car facilities.
They made at first compromise
with curtains between Negro and
white patrons. There was no vi
olence and all were merrier when
the curtains were torn down.
But when the question of integra-
ton was raised with regard to
the public schools, the calamity
with the same old line, "Integra-
ton will be followed by vio-
lence."
Wherever the citizens have the
courage to meet the issue square,
ly, there has been indignation
without violence. 1t is true that