Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-09-17
SHADES OF OPINION
Court Speaks and Public Replies

stitution of the United States.
It is true that "a we'll reg
ulated militia is necessary to
the security of the State"
1t must be remembered, how
ever, that the militia is sup
posed to maintain order with
in a State. When a Governor,
on the contrary. uses State
soldiers to collaborate with
a mob, in depriving citizens
OF their constitutional rights,
it is folly to expect inactivity
on the part of the National
Government.
1t is also true that the
founders of our Constitution
left education to the States.
Here again, some States have
been derelict in their duty.
For more than half a century,
many Of them made no Sc
rious effort to provide equal
educational opportunities for
their citizens. That is one
reason for increasing pressure
for Federal control of educa-
ton.
Likewise, States cannot ex-
pect to preempt certain areas
in dealing with sedition, while
some Of their chief executives
are fomenting internal strife
and promoting diSunion in a
time of national crisis. The
protagonists of States rights
and local autonomy cannot
have their cake and eat it.
If they wish to keep what is
left of their power and pres
tige, they must face up to
their duties and responsible
tiles under the Constitution
of the United States.
Don b. GOOdlOe.
y
It seems strange. indeed,
that the supreme Court
should be so adamant in its
decision as to what is right
when it has been such a poor
example of same.
Since this country began
there have been appointed to
the Supreme Court bench
only white judges. Why?
That is a clear-cut example
of discrimination which
should be corrected with all
possible speed.
r. Campbell.
y \ 4
The issues concerning
school migration have been
crystalized and thinking has
been set. Little can be ac-
complished now by way of
perSuading those whose
minds have been made up
and whose attitudes are firm.
In time, minds may be
changed and a willingness
developed to accept what is
not now acceptable. But be-
fore that time arrives some
thing will be done.
What will that something
necessarily be? One need not
be a prophet; careful ref1ec-
ton on the factors involved
points the way, and the con-
cluSion can be briefly stated
if We omit details concerning
those factors.
Whatever their opposition,
Segregationists are faced with
a final decision or a series of
final decisions which they
cannot soon reverse. Since
only few are willing to join
in what might be regarded
as Indictment to rebellion,
and since any such attempt
would be defeated, there is
no present alternative to ac-
cepting, obeying, and follow
ing the Federal court deci-
Sions.
An alternative has been
frequently cited: refusal to
obey, as in the case of the
Eighteenth Amendment, with
ultimate repeal or reversal.
But in the case of prohibition,
enforcement was impossible
since so many violators were
private citizens in their homes
or relatively private sur
roundingS, and everybody
can't be sent to jail"
In the present situation, on
the other hand, court orders
need be directed against rel
atively few officials, and
against these such orders can
readily be enforced. AS for
private citizens literally TAX
ing up the cudgels, the num-
Der willing to do that is rel
atively small; and their activ-
tiles must be in public, where
they will lack the support
which attaches to the con-
cept of private activity.
If this analysis be correct,
whether it pleases or dis
pleases one side or another is
quite irrelevant. Galatians
iv,ls. Lloyd Buchanan.