The Lexington advertiser. [volume] (Lexington, Miss.) 1904-1985, 1961-04-13
Uhr Erxtngtnn Anurrtiarr
We Think Not
Must Racial Turmol Come To NissiHippi!

crimina' DRY and it is just a matter
of time until every one of them is
struck down in the courts. - if they
stay on The books long enough to be
assaulted.
Once the shock of removing discrimi-
naSsory laws is withstood people of both
races would proceed to go about their
business as usual in a perfectly normal
fashion = and there would be no great
upheaval in local customs and traditions
throughout the state. as SO many seem
to fear. Racial preference would still pre-
vail.
Discriminating Negroes prefer their
IVY kind. Just as discriminating white
people do. This is che of the facts of
life throughout the whole world, not just
the United States, as everyone should
know. But any self-respecting person will
fight for his legal rights.
1t is ironic and tragic that in the South
where the two races profess to know and
understand each other so we'll, in this
wonderful land where friendliness and a
gracious way of life endures, in the great
Bible Belt Of the nation where the Chris
tian ethic supposedly prevails, that we
whites and the Negroes should actually
have so little real knowledge and under
standing of each other, the detectives,
motives and ambitions of both races.
Prayerful understanding is the need
of A. l,@,. a - l. llz~
to both sides on this conflict, to con-
slider carefully and strive to find the an
swers to questions which are going to be
found, one way or another.
Whether the answers are to be
found by meeting on a common
ground and in a spirit of mutual
tolerance, trust and understanding,
best suited to the peace and progress
of both races, or whether the answers
are forced out of court litigation,
demonstrations, economic boycOtting
and picketing and other actions and
cross actions which will result in un-
told harm and irreparable damage to
race relations and our states prog 3
ress during the next twenty years,
is something that only the future can
tell.
The answer as to- which method shall
be pursued lies now in the hearts and
minds of thousands of private, citizens of
Mississippi, men and women of character,
judgment and good will who must exer-
else craftsmanship and leadership tran
slated into action if a peaceful solution
to the Forthcoming battle on segregation
is found.
One hundred years ago there were
other great questions before our state
and the politicians took us out of the
Union, refusing to let citizens vote on the
question of secession. There were only
fifteen men who stood up against the
group which seceeded-thereby embroiling
us in a bloody conflict which could have
been avoided if both sides in the nation
had been willing to reason. AS a result
Mississippi was set back more than a
hundred years, along with the rest of the
South.
Today in Mississippi we face another
great battle, a battle on segregation, a
battle that surely we know by now is
destined to become. the Second Lost
Cause.
How many men and women are there
today in Mississippi who are brave enough
to demand a peaceful settlement Of the
impending conflict and thereby assure
our uninterrupted and orderly march into
a glorious future for our state. a future
that is just now beginning? A future that
holds promise for all our citizens, white
and Negro.
The answer lies in our hands and
hearts.
The way the answer is made, whether
by action or inaction, is going to determine
Mississippi's future for many years to
come.
N Advertiser